Easy Chicken Mac and Cheese

By zhanghengshuo

6 Person

65 Minutes

0 Calories

Chicken and cheese are made for each other in the ultimate comfort food — easy chicken mac and cheese. It’s so creamy and cheesy! Top with crispy breadcrumbs for the perfect finish! You can make this recipe frequently at home because it’s so flexible and delicious. The leftovers also reheat well. Add a splash of milk and heat it in a pan over low heat until it’s melted and creamy again, or microwave to reheat.

Ingredients

Crispy Breadcrumbs

3/4 cup breadcrumbs
2 tbsp. unsalted butter

1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. salt
2 cups shredded cooked chicken
1 tsp. dried mustard, optional
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
2 cups whole or 2% milk
3 tbsp. all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 sweet onion, chopped
8 oz. dry macaroni

Method

01

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.
02

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.
03

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.
04

Once the cheese is melted, stir in the chicken and cooked pasta. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.
05

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.
06

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.
07

Serve: Ladle the cheesy chicken macaroni right out of the pot when it’s super creamy, and top it with crispy breadcrumbs.

Related Tags

Mac and Cheese Recipes

Easy Chicken Mac and Cheese

3.5

( By zhanghengshuo )

01 Information

Grade easy
Serving 6 servings
Prep Time 20 Mins
Cook Time 45 Mins
Total Time 65 Mins

02 Ingredients

Crispy Breadcrumbs

3/4 cup breadcrumbs

2 tbsp. unsalted butter

1/4 tsp. black pepper

1/4 tsp. salt

2 cups shredded cooked chicken

1 tsp. dried mustard, optional

2 cups grated cheddar cheese

2 cups whole or 2% milk

3 tbsp. all-purpose flour

1/4 cup unsalted butter

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 sweet onion, chopped

8 oz. dry macaroni

03 Method

Step 1

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.

Step 2

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.

Step 3

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.

Step 4

Once the cheese is melted, stir in the chicken and cooked pasta. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.

Step 5

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.

Step 6

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.

Step 7

Serve: Ladle the cheesy chicken macaroni right out of the pot when it’s super creamy, and top it with crispy breadcrumbs.

04 Author