Easy Chicken Mac and Cheese Recipe

Name: Easy Chicken Mac and Cheese
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 65 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: For the Chicken Mac and Cheese; 8 ounces dry macaroni; 1/2 sweet onion, chopped; 1 clove garlic, minced; 1/4 cup unsalted butter; 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 2 cups whole or 2% milk; 2 cups grated cheddar cheese; 1 teaspoon dried mustard (optional); 2 cups shredded cooked chicken (See Recipe Note); 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; For the Crispy Breadcrumbs:; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter; 3/4 cup breadcrumbs, such as panko

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As I’ve grown as a home cook, prioritizing flexibility in recipes is something I’ve learned to truly cherish. Especially now that I’m a busy parent, I find myself asking a series of questions any time I approach a recipe:

Can I substitute leftovers for an ingredient in a recipe I want to make? Can I serve this meal in a variety of ways? Is it doable to make this on a weeknight, or can I change it a bit to make it special for a weekend dinner party?

When it comes to this Easy Chicken Mac and Cheese, the answer to all of those questions is “yes!”

Macaroni and Cheese with Chicken add the pasta to the sauce — Nick Evans

We make this recipe frequently at my house because it’s so flexible and delicious. My kiddos like it right out of the pot—it’s so creamy and cheesy!

Meanwhile, my wife and I usually like it dressed up a bit, either by adding a handful of crispy breadcrumbs as a topper over each bowl for a little texture, or by mixing in some roasted veggies.

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.

What to Serve on the Side!

Easy Chicken Mac and Cheese

Prep Time 20 mins

Cook Time 45 mins

Total Time 65 mins

Servings 4 to 6 servings

For the chicken, you can use leftover chicken, a rotisserie chicken from the deli, or quickly poach a few chicken breasts.

Oven-baking instructions: If you’d prefer a casserole-style mac and cheese, you can transfer the contents to an 8x8 baking dish, top it with breadcrumbs, and bake it at 350°F for 20 minutes. This is a great option if you want to make the dish in advance.

For the Chicken Mac and Cheese

8 ounces dry macaroni
1/2 onion sweet onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups whole or 2% milk
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon dried mustard(optional)
2 cups shredded cooked chicken (See Recipe Note)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

For the Crispy Breadcrumbs:

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3/4 cup breadcrumbs, such as panko

Cook the pasta:

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.

Nick Evans
Cook the onions and garlic:

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.

Nick Evans
Stir in the milk, mustard and cheese:

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.

Nick Evans
Stir the chicken and pasta into the sauce:

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

Nick Evans

Nick Evans
Cook the breadcrumbs:

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. 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.

Nick Evans
Serve:

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

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
552	Calories
34g	Fat
35g	Carbs
27g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories	552
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 34g	43%
Saturated Fat 18g	88%
Cholesterol 118mg	39%
Sodium 507mg	22%
Total Carbohydrate 35g	13%
Dietary Fiber 2g	7%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 27g
Vitamin C 3mg	17%
Calcium 411mg	32%
Iron 2mg	13%
Potassium 360mg	8%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.