Chicken and Cheese Pasta (Printable Version)
Tangy BBQ chicken and creamy mac and cheese come together in this satisfying, quick-to-make, protein-packed meal—ready in less than half an hour.
# Ingredients:
→ Main Things You'll Need
01 -
1 cup of any milk you'd like (low-fat works best)
02 -
1 pound (450g) of shredded, cooked chicken breast
03 -
2 cups cheddar cheese, grated
04 -
1 tablespoon of olive oil
05 -
1 cup mozzarella, shredded
06 -
1/2 cup of your go-to BBQ sauce
07 -
1 teaspoon each of garlic powder and onion powder
08 -
500g (8 oz) of macaroni or any pasta you prefer
09 -
1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika
10 -
A sprinkle of chopped parsley (optional, just for looks)
11 -
Salt and pepper, as much or as little as you like
# Steps:
01 -
Follow the steps on the package to cook the pasta. Once done, pour out the water and set it aside.
02 -
Pour olive oil into a big pan and warm it up over medium heat. Toss in the chicken and cook for 2-3 minutes until it's heated through.
03 -
Add some BBQ sauce, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, plus a bit of salt and pepper. Mix everything together well to coat the chicken nicely in the sauce.
04 -
In another pot, slowly heat the milk over medium heat. Add both types of cheese and keep stirring until it turns into a creamy sauce.
05 -
Mix the cooked pasta into the cheesy sauce and then stir in the BBQ chicken. Keep stirring till it's all well combined.
06 -
Taste and check if it needs more seasoning—add salt or pepper if you think so. Serve while it's still warm and add a bit of parsley on top if you'd like.
# Notes:
01 -
To save time, use up any leftover chicken or grab a store-bought rotisserie chicken.
02 -
Want more flavor? Throw in bacon crumbles or cook up some onions and mix them in.
03 -
This holds up well in the fridge! Store in a sealed container and eat within 3 days.
04 -
Crispy topping idea: sprinkle breadcrumbs on top and broil for a couple of minutes.