Description
A comforting and flavorful dish combining tender chicken with creamy macaroni and cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook the macaroni according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, cook the chicken pieces over medium-high heat until browned and cooked through. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Gradually whisk in the milk until smooth. Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens.
- Stir in the salt, pepper, and paprika.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese until melted and smooth.
- Add the cooked macaroni and chicken to the cheese sauce and stir to combine.
- Pour the mixture into a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Sprinkle the panko breadcrumbs evenly over the top.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the casserole is bubbly.
- Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For extra flavor, you can add a pinch of garlic powder to the cheese sauce.
- Feel free to add other vegetables like broccoli or peas to the dish.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 45 min
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
Keywords: chicken, mac and cheese, casserole, comfort food, cheesy, baked pasta