Oh yes 😍—classic comfort food combo: creamy mac n’ cheese with crispy fried chicken. Here’s a full, easy-to-follow recipe:
🍗 Mac n’ Cheese with Crispy Fried Chicken
Ingredients
For the Crispy Fried Chicken
- 4 chicken thighs or breasts (boneless or bone-in)
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cornstarch (for extra crunch)
- Oil for frying
For the Mac n’ Cheese
- 8 oz elbow macaroni
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk (whole milk preferred)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella (optional)
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- Optional: ¼ tsp smoked paprika or mustard powder
Instructions
1. Marinate Chicken
- Mix buttermilk with paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Submerge chicken in the mixture and refrigerate at least 1 hour (up to overnight).
2. Prepare the Mac n’ Cheese
- Cook macaroni according to package instructions; drain and set aside.
- In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour to make a roux, cooking 1–2 minutes.
- Gradually whisk in milk until smooth. Simmer 3–4 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Remove from heat, stir in cheeses until melted. Season with salt, pepper, and optional spices.
- Mix in cooked macaroni. Keep warm.
3. Fry the Chicken
- Heat oil in a deep pan or skillet (about 350°F / 175°C).
- Mix flour and cornstarch in a bowl. Dredge marinated chicken in flour mixture.
- Fry chicken until golden brown and cooked through (internal temp 165°F / 74°C), about 6–8 minutes per side for boneless, longer for bone-in. Drain on paper towels.
4. Serve
- Plate a generous scoop of mac n’ cheese, top with crispy fried chicken, and enjoy!
- Optional: garnish with chopped parsley or a drizzle of hot sauce.
🔥 Pro Tips
- Extra creamy mac: Stir in a little cream cheese or heavy cream with the milk.
- Crunchier chicken: Double dredge (flour → egg wash → flour).
- Make it baked: Transfer mac n’ cheese to a baking dish, sprinkle extra cheese and breadcrumbs, broil for 3–5 minutes for a golden crust.
If you want, I can make a “one-pan version” where the chicken and mac n’ cheese cook together for less cleanup and faster prep.
Do you want me to do that?
