BUFFALO CHICKEN MACARONI AND CHEESE

INGREDIENTS:

7 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for the dish 

  1# Any pasta (I used penne pasta)

  2 stalks celery, finely chopped

  1 small onion, finely chopped

  3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken (or 5 chicken breasts)

  2 heaping tablespoons all-purpose flour

  2 cloves garlic, minced

  1 cup hot sauce (preferably Frank's)

  2 teaspoons dry mustard

  2 1/2 cups half-and-half or a little more as needed

  8 ounces pepper jack cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)

  2/3 cup sour cream

  1 pound yellow sharp cheddar cheese, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 3 1/2 cups)

  1/2 cup cheddar

  1 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)

  2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Directions

  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil; add the pasta and cook until al dente, about seven minutes. Drain.

   Meanwhile, melt 3 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and celery and cook until soft, about five minutes. Stir in the chicken and garlic and cook two minutes, then add 1/2 cup hot sauce and simmer until slightly thickened, about 1 more minute.

    Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the flour and mustard with a wooden spoon until smooth. Whisk in the half-and-half, then add the remaining 1/4 cup hot sauce and stir until thick, about two minutes. Whisk in the cheddar and pepper jack cheeses, then whisk in the sour cream until smooth.

   Spread half of the macaroni in the prepared baking dish,

 then top with the chicken mixture 

and the remaining macaroni. 

Pour the cheese sauce evenly on top.

  Put the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl and microwave until melted. Stir in the panko,  cheese and parsley. Sprinkle over the macaroni

 and bake until bubbly, thirty to forty minutes. Let rest ten minutes before serving.