Description
A heartwarming dish of creamy chicken, sharp cheddar, and perfectly cooked macaroni, perfect for chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3–4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb)
- 8 oz elbow macaroni
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 cups whole milk
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ cup breadcrumbs (optional for a crunchy topping)
Instructions
- Boil salted water and cook elbow macaroni until al dente, about 7-8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- In a skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter, add cubed chicken seasoned with salt and pepper, and cook for 5-7 minutes until golden and cooked through.
- In the same skillet, melt remaining butter, stir in flour to make a roux, and gradually whisk in milk until thickened (4-5 minutes). Add cheddar cheese, stirring until melted and smooth.
- Fold in cooked macaroni and chicken until coated in cheese sauce. For a crunchy topping, transfer to an oven-safe dish, sprinkle breadcrumbs, and bake at 350°F for about 20 minutes.
Notes
For a vegetarian option, replace chicken with sautéed mushrooms or zucchini. You can also use lower-fat milk or different types of cheese for variety.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: mac and cheese, creamy pasta, chicken dinner, comfort food