Chicken Mac & Cheese
Get ready for comfort food at its finest! This Chicken Mac & Cheese is creamy, cheesy, and loaded with tender bites of chicken—perfect for a cozy night in.
Ingredients:
Macaroni & Chicken:
8 oz pasta
1 tbsp butter
2 cups cooked chicken
5 slices bacon, cooked and finely cut into pieces
Topping:
2/3 cup panko breadcrumbs
2 tbsps butter, melted
1/2 tsp sea salt
Sauce:
4 tbsps butter
1/3 cup flour
3 cups whole milk, warmed
2 cups freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
1 tsp sea salt
Seasonings:
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp dried oregano
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Cook pasta according to the package, drain water, and add 1 tbsp butter.
In a bowl, combine the topping ingredients and set aside.
Make roux: In a large oven-safe skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add flour to the pan and cook while stirring constantly for 1 minute.
Add 1 cup of the milk and mix to dissolve. Then add remaining milk and mix until lump free, using a whisk.
Mix in salt and Seasonings.
Cook, whisking regularly, for 5 to 8 minutes until it thickens to a creamy consistency.
Remove from heat, add cheese, and stir - cheese doesn’t need to melt.
Adjust salt to taste. Stir in cooked pasta, cubed chicken, and cooked bacon. Sprinkle with breadcrumb topping.
Bake for 25 minutes or until the top is lightly golden. Garnish with chopped parsley & black pepper to taste and enjoy!
Recipe Courtesy of Munchkin Time Blog.