This High Protein Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese is so creamy and satisfying and will keep you full for hours. It’s packed with 45g of protein per serving and 9g of fiber! This high protein dinner recipe will have your tastebuds dancing – the bold buffalo flavor gives a rich, slightly tangy flavor with a bit of spice. It’s also gluten free and only takes about 30 minutes to whip up!
Why You’ll Love This Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
- Full of Flavor. Healthy food doesn’t have to be boring. This high protein buffalo chicken mac and cheese is bold, satisfying, and seasoned to perfection.
- High Protein. With 45g of protein per serving, this recipe will help you hit your macro goals.
- High Fiber. It’s not just about protein when it comes to eating healthy. Fiber matters too! One serving of this packs in 9g of fiber! I sneak extra veggies into the buffalo sauce to pack in the fiber.
- Gluten Free. For this high protein dinner, I’m keeping it gluten free by using chickpea pasta. The chickpea pasta also helps to pack in more protein and fiber.
- Meal Prep Friendly. Best of all, this recipe can be meal prepped up to 5 days in advance making it perfect for your weekly dinner meal prep rotation.
How To Make High Protein Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
This high protein dinner can be whipped up in about 30 minutes as everything is done on the stovetop. Here’s how to make it.
- Cook the Chicken. After cutting and seasoning the chicken breasts to perfection, cook them up in a skillet until golden.
- Boil the Noodles. Using gluten free elbow pasta noodles, boil them until tender.
- Prep the Sauce. Using a combination of greek yogurt, cottage cheese, buffalo sauce, cheddar cheese, and spices/seasonings, add all sauce ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.
- Mix and Serve. Add the cooked noodles, chicken, and sauce to a large pot. Mix thoroughly and serve with a side of steamed vegetables or celery sticks!
Why This Is Perfect For Meal Prepping
- Macro-Balanced. A well rounded meal is what I aim for when it comes to healthy meal prepping. This high protein dinner recipe contains a good balance of healthy fats, proteins, carbs, and fiber making it super filling and satisfying but also healthy and macro-friendly.
- Satisfying. Because it’s packed with fiber, fats, and protein, this meal will keep you full for hours so you’re not constantly snacking in between meals.
- Stores Well. This recipe is very “saucey” which allows the ingredients to continue to soak up flavor the longer it sits in the fridge. It also helps to keep the noodles and chicken moist.
Storage Tips and Substitution Ideas
- For Storage. This will last in the fridge for up to 5 days and in the freezer for up to 2 months.
- Noodle Substitution. If you’re not gluten free, you can use regular wheat-based elbow pasta noodles.
- Dairy Free Option. Feel free to use dairy free alternatives for the sauce (i.e. dairy free yogurt, cottage cheese, shredded cheese, etc.)
- Chicken Substitution. You can substitute the chicken breasts with chicken thighs to make it even more savory (or even ground beef). This recipe is very flexible and forgiving.
More High Protein Dinner Ideas
If you’re on the search for more healthy, high protein dinner ideas that are also meal prep friendly, here are a few of my favorites. All of these are gluten free and high protein.
High Protein Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
This high protein buffalo chicken mac and cheese is perfect for meal prep. It's packed with 45g of protein and 9g of fiber per serving. It's healthy, gluten free, and very satisfying. High protein dinner.
Video
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 1 lb Chicken Breasts, cut into small cubes
- 1 tsp EACH of sea salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika
- 1/2 tsp EACH of dried oregano, black pepper, and poultry seasoning
- 1 Tbsp Avocado Oil (for cooking)
For the Noodles:
For the Buffalo Sauce:
- 1/2 Yellow Onion, chopped
- 1/2 C. Carrots, peeled and chopped
- 1/2 C. Chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 C. Plain Greek Yogurt
- 1/2 C. Cottage Cheese (room temperature)
- 1/2 C. Buffalo Sauce (I use Primal Kitchen)
- 1/2 C. Cheddar Cheese, freshly grated
- 2 Garlic Cloves, peeled
- 1/2 tsp Paprika
Instructions
For the Chicken:
- Cut the chicken breasts into small cubes about 1/2-1 inch in size. Add chicken to a large bowl along with the seasonings. Toss to combine.
- Add the avocado oil to a skillet over medium heat. Let the oil heat through then add the chicken cubes. Cook until fully done and golden. Remove the cooked chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Into that same skillet, add the chopped onion and carrots. Saute until carrots are soft and the onions are translucent. Remove from skillet and set aside.
For the Noodles:
- Cook the noodles according to the package instructions. Drain and rinse with cool water. Tip: Sometimes gluten free noodles need to cook longer than what the package suggests. So, always taste test the noodles to make sure the texture is to your liking.
For the Buffalo Sauce:
- Add the sauteed onion and carrots to a blender along with all of the other sauce ingredients. Add 1 Tbsp of water. Blend until smooth. Tip: You can also use a food processor for this.
Mix Together:
- Into a large pot, add the cooked noodles, buffalo sauce, and chicken. Stir until everything is fully combined. Let heat through on low-medium heat for about 5-10 minutes before serving. Tip: If you want a creamier consistency, add 2-4 Tbsp of any type of milk.
- When ready to serve, feel free to top with sour cream, hot sauce, chives, chopped parsley, etc. and a side of steamed vegetables.
Notes
- Noodles: For the gluten free elbow pasta, I’m using chickpea noodles to pack in more fiber and protein. But, any type of elbow pasta noodle works.
- Containers: Glass Meal Prep Containers I’m using
- Storage: This high protein buffalo chicken mac and cheese will last in the fridge for up to 5 days and in the freezer for up to 2 months.
- Reheating. When reheating, add a splash of water or milk to bring back the creamy consistency.
Nutrition
Serving: 1servingCalories: 540kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 45gFat: 21gFiber: 9gSugar: 4g
Did you make this recipe? Be sure to tag me on Instagram!@KaylaJChandler or #FeelinFabWithKayla
This was easy to make and OMG so good. It’s going to be on rotation in my house for sure.
Very delicious. Thank you.