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Easy Chicken Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 8 ozdry macaroni
- ½sweet onion
chopped
- 1 clovegarlic
minced
- ¼ cunsalted butter
- 3 tbspall-purpose flour
- 2 cwhole or 2% milk
- 2 cgrated cheddar cheese
- 1 tspdried mustard
optional
- 2 cshredded cooked chicken
see recipe note
- ¼ tspsalt
- ¼ tspblack pepper
- 2 tbspunsalted butter
- ¾ cbreadcrumbs
such as panko
Directions
- 1
Cook the pasta: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente, or according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking and keep the pasta from sticking together. Set aside.
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- 2
Cook the onions and garlic: In a large pot over medium heat, add butter. Once the butter is melted, add chopped onions and cook for a few minutes until they turn translucent. Then add garlic and cook for another 30 seconds. Stir the flour into the onion and garlic mixture and cook for a minute.
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- 3
Stir in the milk, mustard and cheese: Slowly add the milk while stirring. The flour and onion mixture will thicken as you add the milk. Once all the milk is added, stir in the grated cheese and mustard. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the cheese has melted.
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- 4
Stir the chicken and pasta into the sauce: Once the cheese is melted, stir in the chicken and cooked pasta. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.
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- 5
Cook the breadcrumbs: Whenever you have a few spare moments while assembling this pasta (like, while cooking the onions or while waiting for the cheese to melt), cook the breadcrumbs. Melt the butter in a small skillet over low heat. Stir in the breadcrumbs until well combined. Continue to stir over low heat until the breadcrumbs are browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool. Breadcrumbs can also be toasted ahead of time and stored in an airtight container.
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- 6
Serve: Ladle the cheesy chicken macaroni right out of the pot when it’s super creamy, and top it with crispy breadcrumbs.
Easy Chicken Mac and Cheese
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About this Recipe
Ready for the ultimate comfort food that's also incredibly simple to make? This Easy Chicken Mac and Cheese delivers a deeply satisfying dinner experience perfect for any night of the week.
What makes this dish a true standout is the perfect marriage of tender shredded chicken with a rich, creamy cheese sauce, all crowned with a golden, crispy breadcrumb topping. It’s the classic mac and cheese you love, elevated with savory chicken for a complete meal that truly warms the soul.
When you dive into this dish, you'll be treated to a symphony of textures and flavors. Expect creamy, gooey cheese enveloping perfectly cooked macaroni, complemented by succulent pieces of chicken. The optional dried mustard adds a subtle, tangy depth to the rich cheddar, preventing the sauce from feeling one-note and enhancing its overall savory profile. Each bite finishes with a delightful crunch from the buttery breadcrumbs, ensuring a truly satisfying meal that appeals to both kids and adults. It's a straightforward recipe, making it an approachable yet impressive dinner option.
While cheddar cheese is a classic for this dish, you can experiment with a blend of Gruyère or sharp white cheddar for added complexity in your cheese sauce. For the shredded cooked chicken, using leftover rotisserie chicken is a fantastic time-saver, or you can poach and shred chicken breasts or thighs. If you’re looking to add a pop of color and extra nutrition, stirring in some blanched broccoli florets or frozen peas before baking can be a delicious addition.
This hearty chicken mac and cheese is a complete meal on its own, ideal for cozy family dinners or a comforting gathering with friends. Serve it warm straight from the oven for maximum deliciousness, perhaps with a simple side salad to balance the richness.