If you're looking for a comforting and flavorful dinner that the whole family will enjoy, consider macaroni chicken dinner. This classic dish features juicy chicken breast or thighs smothered in a rich, creamy sauce served over tender macaroni noodles. It's a one-pot meal that's easy to prepare and can be customized to your liking with various ingredients and seasonings.
Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!
CHICKEN AND BROCCOLI MACARONI AND CHEESE
Mix Cheddar, Pecorino-Romano and Parmesan for an extra-cheesy chicken mac and cheese.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Time 35m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and broccoli and cook for 5 minutes; the pasta will only be about halfway cooked. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water, then drain the pasta and broccoli and return them to the pot.
- Meanwhile, sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes; set aside.
- Put the pot with the pasta and broccoli over low heat. Stir in the milk, flour, mustard, Worcestershire, 1 teaspoon salt and the remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring, until the sauce thickens and the pasta is al dente, 3 to 5 minutes. Turn off the heat, add the Cheddar, Pecorino-Romano, Parmesan, cooked chicken and 1/4 cup of the reserved cooking water and stir until the cheese melts. Gradually add the remaining cooking water as needed until the pasta is creamy and saucy. Serve hot.
CHICKEN-MACARONI CASSEROLE
Make and share this Chicken-Macaroni Casserole recipe from Food.com.
Provided by ratherbeswimmin
Categories < 60 Mins
Time 1h
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- In a large skillet over med-high heat, saute onions in butter until onions are tender.
- Add in soup and 1 ½ cups cheese; gradually stir in milk.
- Cook over medium heat until cheese melts; stir in chicken and macaroni; taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Transfer mixture to a greased 2 ½ quart casserole; sprinkle with cracker crumbs.
- Bake in a preheated 350° oven for 30 minutes or until heated through.
- Top with remaining ½ cup cheese and bake 5 minutes.
MACARONI AND CHEESY CHICKEN BAKED CASSEROLE
Take your mac and cheese weeknight dinner to a whole new level with this veggie-kissed casserole. The crunchy cheese and bread crumb topping makes a perfect finish for the creamy filling.
Provided by By Brooke Lark
Categories Entree
Time 1h5m
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. Cook and drain macaroni as directed on package, using minimum cook time.
- In 5-quart Dutch oven, melt 4 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Beat in flour, onion salt, garlic salt and pepper with whisk until thickened. Cook 1 minute longer. Beat in milk. Heat to boiling over high heat, stirring frequently; boil and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in 3 cups of the cheese until melted. Stir in macaroni, chicken and frozen broccoli. Pour into baking dish. Sprinkle remaining 1 cup cheese on top.
- In small bowl, mix bread crumbs and melted butter; stir until combined. Sprinkle over macaroni mixture.
- Bake 33 to 36 minutes or until mixture is bubbly (at least 165°F in center) and bread crumbs are browned.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 550, Carbohydrate 44 g, Cholesterol 100 mg, Fat 3, Fiber 2 g, Protein 28 g, SaturatedFat 16 g, ServingSize About 1 1/4 cups, Sodium 720 mg, Sugar 6 g, TransFat 1 g
MACARONI CHICKEN DINNER
My family considers this dish a complete dinner all by itself. When I'm having company, I add green beans, hot rolls and chilled mixed fruit for a quick yet nutritious meal.-Zetta Harberts, Beattie, Kansas
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h
Yield 10-12 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a large bowl, combine the soup, broth, milk and cream. Stir in the chicken, macaroni, cheese, celery and eggs. Transfer to a greased 3-qt. baking dish., Cover and bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Combine bread crumbs and butter; sprinkle over top. Bake, uncovered, 15-20 minutes longer or until macaroni is tender. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 285 calories, Fat 15g fat (8g saturated fat), Cholesterol 131mg cholesterol, Sodium 514mg sodium, Carbohydrate 18g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 19g protein.
CHICKEN MACARONI
"I often put together this yummy chicken and pasta combination for my daughter and her family," writes Donna V'Dovec of Veradale, Washington. "All she has to do is heat and serve it with a salad or vegetable for a filling meal that tastes great."
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 40m
Yield 4 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- In a bowl, combine the first five ingredients. Fold in the macaroni and chicken. Transfer to a greased 1-1/2-qt. baking dish; sprinkle with cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30 minutes or until bubbly.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 268 calories, Fat 8g fat (0 saturated fat), Cholesterol 40mg cholesterol, Sodium 420mg sodium, Carbohydrate 31g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 19g protein. Diabetic Exchanges
CREAMY CHICKEN MACARONI
Fill up your bowl with this delicious Creamy Chicken Macaroni. Make a recipe that's sure to impress all of your family for mealtime. Creamy macaroni and cheese mixed with broccoli make this dish stand out.
Provided by My Food and Family
Categories Home
Time 30m
Yield Makes 4 servings, 1-1/4 cups each.
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Heat oil in large skillet on medium-high heat. Add chicken and onions; cook and stir 5 min. Add paprika; cook and stir 1 min.
- Stir in water, broccoli and Macaroni; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover. Simmer 10 min. or until macaroni is tender and chicken is cooked through, stirring occasionally.
- Add Cheese Sauce Mix and sour cream; stir until well blended. Cook 2 min. or until heated through, stirring occasionally.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 420, Fat 14 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 95 mg, Sodium 500 mg, Carbohydrate 0 g, Fiber 3 g, Sugar 0 g, Protein 33 g
Tips:
- Choose the right macaroni: Elbow macaroni is the classic choice for macaroni and cheese, but you can also use other shapes like penne, shells, or rotini. Just make sure the macaroni is cooked al dente so it holds its shape when baked.
- Use a flavorful cheese blend: A combination of cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheeses gives macaroni and cheese a rich and gooey texture. You can also add other cheeses like Gruyère, Gouda, or Fontina for a more complex flavor.
- Don't be afraid to add mix-ins: Macaroni and cheese is a great dish to customize with your favorite ingredients. Try adding cooked bacon, diced ham, crumbled sausage, or chopped vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, or zucchini.
- Top it off with a crispy breadcrumb topping: A crispy breadcrumb topping adds a delicious crunch to macaroni and cheese. To make the topping, simply combine breadcrumbs, melted butter, and grated Parmesan cheese. Then, sprinkle it over the macaroni and cheese before baking.
- Experiment with different cooking methods: Macaroni and cheese can be baked, fried, or even grilled. If you're looking for a quick and easy weeknight meal, try frying macaroni and cheese in a skillet. Or, if you're looking for a more decadent dish, try baking macaroni and cheese in a casserole dish with a crispy breadcrumb topping.
Conclusion:
Macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It's a versatile dish that can be customized to your liking with a variety of ingredients and cooking methods. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy meal, or a special dish to serve at a party, give macaroni and cheese a try. You won't be disappointed!
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love