Description
A comforting and healthy dish combining macaroni, chicken, and broccoli in a creamy cheese sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups Elbow Macaroni (Cooked al dente)
- 1 pound Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast (Cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 2 cups Fresh Broccoli Florets (Blanched briefly)
- 2 cups Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese (For a robust flavor)
- 8 ounces Cream Cheese (Adds creaminess to the sauce)
- 1 cup Whole Milk (For a smooth sauce)
- 2 tablespoons Unsalted Butter (For the roux)
- ¼ cup All-Purpose Flour (To thicken the sauce)
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder (For flavor enhancement)
- Salt and Pepper (To taste)
Instructions
- Cook the macaroni according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- In the same pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add flour and whisk for 1-2 minutes to form a roux.
- Gradually pour in milk while whisking. Cook until thickened, about 3-5 minutes.
- Stir in cream cheese until melted.
- Mix in cheddar cheese until fully melted.
- Season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- In a skillet, cook chicken until golden brown. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add broccoli to the skillet and sauté until tender.
- Combine macaroni, chicken, and broccoli with the cheese sauce.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and transfer mixture to a greased baking dish.
- Top with extra cheddar cheese if desired and bake for 20-25 minutes.
- Let it rest before serving.
Notes
To save time, use pre-cooked rotisserie chicken. For added nutrition, incorporate other vegetables like peas or bell peppers.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 70mg