Air-Fryer Buffalo Chicken Mac Pots

AF-200 Crew Recipe

Air-Fryer Buffalo Chicken Mac Pots

Some comfort food doesn't need introducing. Creamy macaroni cheese loaded with juicy Buffalo chicken, topped with bubbling mature cheddar and finished with a cool ranch drizzle. Rich, spicy, cheesy and ridiculously satisfying, this is the sort of dinner that disappears long before the washing-up starts. Proper fakeaway comfort in a bowl.

Air-Fryer Buffalo Chicken Mac Pots
Air-Fryer Buffalo Chicken Mac Pots preparation stage

You’ll Need

For the Chicken
600g chicken thigh fillets, cut into bite-sized chunks
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp garlic granules, 1 tsp onion granules
1 tsp sea salt, ½ tsp black pepper

Buffalo Sauce
80ml Buffalo hot sauce, 30g butter
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp honey

Mac & Cheese
300g cooked macaroni, 200ml double cream, 150ml whole milk
150g mature cheddar, grated, 50g mozzarella, grated
30g cream cheese, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, ½ tsp black pepper

To Finish
50g grated mature cheddar
2 spring onions, finely sliced

Optional but Dangerous

Ranch dressing

Blue cheese crumbles

Crispy bacon pieces

Jalapeños

Garlic bread

Method

Preheat your air fryer to 190°C.

Toss the chicken with the olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic granules, onion granules, salt and black pepper.

Air fry for 10–12 minutes, shaking halfway through, until lightly browned and cooked through.

Meanwhile, gently warm the Buffalo sauce, butter, Worcestershire sauce and honey until smooth.

Toss the cooked chicken through the Buffalo sauce until evenly coated.

In a large bowl, mix together the cooked macaroni, double cream, milk, grated cheddar, mozzarella, cream cheese, Dijon mustard and black pepper.

Fold the Buffalo chicken through the macaroni mixture.

Divide between four oven-safe ramekins or transfer to one large foil tray.

Sprinkle the remaining cheddar evenly over the top.

Return to the air fryer and cook at 180°C for 8–10 minutes, until bubbling and golden.

Finish with sliced spring onions and a drizzle of ranch dressing if using.

Serve immediately while the cheese is still molten and gloriously stretchy.

Lad Tip: Don't drown the chicken in Buffalo sauce before mixing it into the pasta. A light coating lets the heat run through the whole dish without overpowering the creamy cheese sauce, giving you the perfect balance in every mouthful.

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