Description
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this Chicken Parmesan Mac and Cheese recipe. Creamy, cheesy pasta is combined with tender chicken, marinara sauce, and savory seasonings for a delicious twist on classic mac and cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Mac and Cheese:
- 8 oz elbow macaroni or pasta of choice
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Chicken:
- 2 cups cooked breaded chicken, diced (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella (for topping)
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan (for topping)
- Chopped fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Boil pasta according to package instructions, then drain and set aside.
- Make the cheese sauce: Melt butter in a saucepan, stir in flour, then gradually add milk. Stir in cheeses, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- Combine ingredients: Add cooked pasta to the cheese sauce, then fold in diced chicken and marinara sauce. Transfer to a baking dish.
- Bake: Top with additional cheeses and bake at 375°F for 15–20 minutes until bubbly and golden.
- Garnish: Sprinkle with fresh herbs before serving.
Notes
- Rotisserie chicken can be used for convenience.
- Unbreaded chicken can be used if preferred.
- For a crispier top, broil for 2–3 minutes at the end.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 640mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 46g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
