Chicken and broccoli mac and cheese is an easy weeknight meal loaded with sharp cheddar cheese, juicy chicken, and tender broccoli coated in a super creamy cheese sauce.
Why You'll Love this Recipe
- It's creamy and cheesy.
- It's a balanced meal with protein and vegetables.
- It's MAC & CHEESE. What's not to love!!
Ingredients
- Pasta: Cavatappi is my favorite pasta shape for mac and cheese. You can use any shape you'd like: macaroni, penne, bowties, shells, or rotini.
- Broccoli: I used fresh broccoli but frozen also works here.
- Chicken: To save some time, you can use cooked rotisserie chicken instead of chicken breast.
- Garlic: I love using fresh garlic, but ½ teaspoon of garlic powder also works.
- Milk: Half and half is a good alternative.
- Cheddar: I wanted to keep this recipe simple with just cheddar cheese but you can also mix in other cheeses like parmesan, pecorino romano, fontina, gruyere, asiago, or mozzarella.
How to Make Chicken and Broccoli Cheddar Mac and Cheese
- Cook the pasta in salted boiling water. When the pasta is 3 minutes away from al dente, add in the broccoli. Drain and set aside.
- While the water is heating and pasta is cooking, cook the chicken in a large skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet on medium low heat, melt the butter then sauté the garlic for 30 seconds.
- Whisk in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Slowly add milk a little at a time, whisking thoroughly until incorporated between each addition.
- Mix in the dijon mustard, cheddar cheese, paprika, salt, and black pepper until the cheese is melted. Turn off the heat.
- Slice the chicken into bite sized pieces.
- Add in the chicken, pasta, and broccoli to the cheese sauce and mix until well combined.
Tasty Tips
- Add milk a little at a time and whisk thoroughly into the roux before each addition. this will ensure a smooth sauce with no clumps.
- Mix in your favorite cheeses along with the cheddar.
- Sneak in more vegetables like spinach or cooked shredded carrots to get those picky eaters to eat more veggies.
FAQs
How do I store leftover chicken and broccoli mac and cheese?
Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
How do I reheat leftovers?
Reheat on the stove with a splash of milk or directly in the microwave until heated through.
More Pasta Recipes You'll Love
- Creamy Cajun Salmon Pasta
- One Pot Sausage Peppers & Onions Pasta
- Spinach Artichoke Pasta Bake
- Buffalo Chicken Pasta
- Garlic Butter Miso Pasta
Chicken Broccoli Cheddar Mac and Cheese
Chicken and broccoli mac and cheese is an easy weeknight meal loaded with sharp cheddar cheese, juicy chicken and tender broccoli coated in a super creamy cheese sauce.
Ingredients
- ½ pound cavatappi pasta
- 3 cups broccoli florets
- 1 teaspoon canola oil
- 1 chicken breast
- ¼ cup butter
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ cup flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt the water and cook the pasta. When the pasta is 3 minutes away from al dente, add in the broccoli and cook until the broccoli is tender crisp and the pasta is al dente. Drain and set aside.
- While the water is boiling and pasta is cooking, season the chicken with salt and pepper to taste. In a large skillet on medium heat, add oil and cook the chicken for 6-10 minutes, flipping halfway, until cooked through. The cooking time will depend on the thickness of the chicken.
- Set the chicken aside and in the same pan on medium low heat, melt the butter then add in the garlic and sauté for 30 seconds.
- Whisk in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Slowly whisk in the milk ¼ cup at a time, whisking thoroughly until incorporated between each addition. At first, it will be a thick paste but as you add more milk, the mixture will be smooth with no clumps.
- Add in dijon mustard, cheddar cheese, salt, black pepper, and paprika. Whisk until the cheese is fully melted. Turn off the heat.
- Slice the chicken into bite sized pieces.
- Toss in the chicken, pasta, and broccoli into the cheese sauce and mix until well combined.
Nutrition Estimate
Calories: 572kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 32gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 19gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 112mgSodium: 718mgPotassium: 547mgFiber: 3gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 1243IUVitamin C: 42mgCalcium: 537mgIron: 2mg
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