Why this one is so good!

• 40g of protein in a bar-food dinner that takes one mug, one spoon, and zero pots
• buffalo sauce does the heavy lifting on heat and flavor, so there is no spice rack archaeology happening
• blended cottage cheese makes it creamy without a real cheese sauce or a roux situation you will not finish
• the Hot Cheetos on top go on LAST so the crunch stays loud, not soggy
• scales to a full meal or a late night “I need something salty and hot” snack without guilt

Kel’s Tips

• Blend the cottage cheese, always. Unblended cottage cheese in a buffalo mug is a crime scene. Thirty seconds with an immersion blender turns it into the creamiest cheese sauce you have ever not made.
• Frank’s vs. Primal Kitchen. Frank’s is the classic Buffalo Wild Wings flavor you expect. Primal Kitchen’s buffalo is the cleaner pick if you are dodging seed oils or preservatives. Both work, they are just different personalities.
• Push past 40g of protein. Stir in an extra 2 tbsp of the blended cottage cheese, or sprinkle a tablespoon of grated parmesan into the sauce. Easy win.
• Too spicy? Cut the buffalo sauce to 1 tbsp and add 1 tbsp of plain nonfat greek yogurt with the cheese. Still buffalo flavor, way less wreckage.
• Hot Cheetos on last, every time. This is the hero shot on video and the textural moment in real life. Do not pre-mix them in.

Nutrition (per mug)

Macros estimated with Banza elbows, Good Culture 2% cottage cheese blended, Cabot 50% reduced fat sharp cheddar, Frank’s RedHot buffalo sauce, and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos crushed. Numbers shift slightly with brand swaps, especially on the pasta and the cheese.

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Buffalo Hot Cheeto Mug Mac

A single-mug buffalo mac and cheese with crushed Hot Cheetos on top, blended cottage cheese for the creamiest sauce, and 40g of protein per serving. Microwave only, no stove.

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Keyword buffalo, high protein bounty milkshake, mug recipe

Prep Time 2 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 7 minutes minutes

Servings 1 mug

Calories 440kcal

Ingredients

• 50 g high-protein elbow pasta Banza or Barilla Protein+
• 0.8 cup water
• 0.5 cup low-fat cottage cheese blended smooth
• 0.33 cup shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar
• 2 tbsp buffalo sauce Frank's RedHot or Primal Kitchen
• 0.33 tsp kosher salt
• 1 fresh jalapeño diced (optional)
• 3 tbsp crushed Hot Cheetos or chili-lime rice crisps

Instructions

• Add the pasta and water to a large microwave-safe mug. Microwave uncovered on high for 4 minutes, stopping at the halfway mark to stir so it does not boil over.
• While the pasta cooks, blend the cottage cheese in a small blender or with an immersion blender until completely smooth.
• Check the pasta. It should be al dente with a little starchy water left in the mug. Too wet, microwave 30 more seconds. Too dry, splash in a bit of water.
• Stir in the blended cottage cheese, shredded cheddar, buffalo sauce, and salt. Microwave 45 seconds. Stir hard for another 20 seconds until the sauce tightens up and coats every elbow.
• Top with the diced jalapeño and the crushed Hot Cheetos right before eating so the crunch stays loud. Eat directly from the mug.

Nutrition

Calories: 440kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 14g