Description
A comforting dish combining creamy cheese, tender chicken, and hearty macaroni, topped with a crunchy layer of breadcrumbs.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3–4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb)
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup whole milk
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ cup panko bread crumbs
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cook the elbow macaroni according to the package instructions until al dente and set aside.
- In a skillet, melt some butter over medium heat and sauté chopped chicken until browned and cooked through (6–8 minutes). Season with salt and pepper.
- In a saucepan, melt more butter and whisk in flour, cooking for 2 minutes. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly until thickened. Stir in cheddar cheese and garlic powder until melted.
- Combine chicken and cheese sauce with the cooked macaroni, ensuring all pasta is coated.
- Pour the mixture into a greased baking dish. Top with panko breadcrumbs and grated Parmesan cheese. Bake for 20–25 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
Notes
For a gourmet touch, add herbs to the breadcrumb mixture. Leftovers can be transformed into a casserole.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 25
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 37g
- Cholesterol: 110mg