Description
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this Chicken Parmesan Mac and Cheese recipe. Creamy, cheesy pasta loaded with breaded chicken and marinara sauce, then broiled to perfection for a crispy topping.
Ingredients
Scale
Macaroni:
- 2 cups elbow macaroni (uncooked)
Cheese Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Additional:
- 2 cups cooked breaded chicken (chopped or sliced)
- 1 1/2 cups marinara sauce
- 1/4 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook Macaroni: Prepare macaroni according to package instructions, then set aside.
- Make Cheese Sauce: In a saucepan, melt butter, whisk in flour, then slowly add milk. Cook until thickened, then stir in cheeses, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder until creamy.
- Combine Ingredients: Add cooked macaroni to the sauce, mix in breaded chicken and marinara sauce.
- Bake: Transfer to a baking dish, top with breadcrumbs mixed with olive oil, and broil until golden and crispy.
- Serve: Garnish with parsley and serve hot.
Notes
- Use store-bought chicken tenders for convenience or leftover homemade chicken cutlets.
- Swap elbow macaroni for shells or rotini if preferred.
- Mix in red pepper flakes for a spicy variation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop + Broil
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
