Healthy chicken broccoli mac and cheese
Healthy chicken broccoli mac and cheese is a family favorite recipe that's loaded with creamy macaroni, tender chicken, broccoli florets and an irresistible cheesy, buttery breadcrumb topping. Everyone will want seconds!
(Pssst… cheque out the recipe video beneath!)
Hellooooo there Mon!
Information technology was a fun weekend of testing out our new burn pit 🔥, leap cleaning and watching a moving picture with the kiddos. We also fed some ducks, ran some errands, prepped some foods and played all the games. My soul feels good and I'thou fix to face a new week.
Soooo… here's what I'g craving this week that goes in the cheesy, creamy delicious pasta dinner recipe categories.
My healthy chicken Alfredo with broccoli is i y'all'll definitely want to bank check out and my one-pot creamy chicken and mushroom pasta with peas is another favorite effectually here.
Today though, we're revisiting a classic.
My son J, who is four 1/2, is my mac and cheese maniac.
That male child seriously loves him some carbs and he orders mac and cheese every single time we become out for lunch.
So of course, I try and make it on the regular at home besides!
Sometimes, I'm just mixing up the basics and serving it as quick as I can if the kids are eating before than us. (AKA, piece of cake stovetop mac and cheese.)
But other times, I like to care for us all to a really fantastic, actually creamy and cheesy dish. Something a little more special.
And while our baked mac and cheese is a archetype, I also like to play with the flavors.
And this good for you chicken broccoli mac and cheese is a HUGE favorite for all of us!
J'due south reaction the first time I made information technology for us a year or and then ago: "So yummy! Thank you mommy!"
And his big sister M'south reaction: "All-time dinner ever!" 🤗
I mean, you just can't beat that! 🙌
My husband and I devoured it too. And so of form I have information technology on our regular rotation at present.
The crunchy, buttery breadcrumb and cheese topping is what will pull you in first. That texture is just killer!
And below it is perfectly tender, perfectly flossy, perfectly delectable pillowy bites of macaroni, along with tender chicken and broccoli and a creamy cheddar cheese sauce.
Everyone will be going back for seconds for sure!
Notes on healthy chicken broccoli mac and cheese:
- I usually use a rotisserie chicken to make things easy, only a leftover roast chicken or some grilled chicken would work well too.
- You technically can skip the breadcrumb topping and skip baking it. This mac and cheese is pretty delicious just all mixed together without the crunchy topping. Just make certain the noodles are fully cooked and stir in all the cheese (instead of saving some to sprinkle on height before it bakes).
- The crunchy topping really is killer though, then I highly suggest adding that step. 👌
- You lot can use a different blazon of pasta if y'all adopt. (I did for the recipe video below.) Just check the cooking time and add the broccoli when needed.
Want a bit of spice?
You can stir in 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper when yous add the cheese and salt and pepper to the sauce. You lot can also add some hot sauce at the table. (I do this and then the kids tin have a not-spicy version).
Practiced news, likewise, yous can prep this casserole ahead of time. 👍
Brand-alee tips for salubrious craven broccoli mac and cheese:
– Make the mac and cheese and assemble the goulash without adding the breadcrumb topping. Refrigerate.
– When you're read to bake it, take it out of the fridge while the oven is pre-heating.
– Add the breadcrumb mixture, then bake, adding five-10 minutes to the cooking fourth dimension.
The leftovers are great too! They'll keep in the refrigerator for 4-5 days and tin exist reheated in the microwave or in the oven. Hither's the details.
How to reheat leftover healthy chicken broccoli mac and cheese:
– You can reheat single servings easily in the microwave, starting with nearly 45 seconds to a infinitesimal, then stirring and adding additional time until it's nice and hot. This keeps everything moist as well.
– Pro tip: Embrace your basin or plate with a damp paper towel to help the food stay moist as it reheats in the microwave.
– You tin likewise transfer leftovers to a smaller goulash dish and warm it in the oven. I commonly cover it with aluminum foil and bake at 325 for 15 minutes, then uncover and bake 5-10 more minutes until it's heated through. (Be sure to bank check it. Sometimes information technology needs longer.) The broiler will help bring dorsum the crisis in the topping. Just keep an centre on it so it doesn't burn.
Just be conscientious non to dry out out the dish with the oven method. Honestly, I prefer the microwave because it's faster and gets the dish overnice and piping hot again.
Can I freeze the leftovers?
Absolutely! Freezing leftovers is a great way to cut downward on food waste, especially when a dish like this makes a lot. You'll accept dinner ready to go some other night!
Simple let the leftovers cool down, then transfer to a freezer-prophylactic plastic bag or container, label it, and proceed in the freezer for 4-five months.
Defrost it overnight in the fridge and and so reheat in the microwave or in a small casserole dish (details in a higher place).
The crunchy breadcrumb topping volition lose its crunchy, simply it's still delicious.
When you are looking to knock dinner out of the park, I highly recommend you lot endeavour this broccoli chicken mac and cheese.
It's condolement food at its all-time — and slightly lightened upwardly besides, and so yous can experience good about giving your family unit a wholesome meal.
Happy cooking!
XO,
Kathryn
P.Southward. Yous may too want to check out my like shooting fish in a barrel chicken dinner recipes and my chicken recipes in under thirty minutes for some more inspiration!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Melt Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 (ane lb.) box elbow macaroni (whole wheat if you tin can detect it)
- ane large head broccoli, cut into florets and roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons flour of choice
- 2 cups skim milk (or utilize 2%)
- three cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 2 cups cooked craven, diced
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher common salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- three/4 cup plainly breadcrumbs
- three tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400.
- Bring a big pot of water to a boil. Add a small handful of salt and add pasta. Cook pasta according to package directions. Add broccoli to the pot for the final 5-6 minutes of cooking, until tender.
- Remove and drain macaroni and broccoli. Set bated.
- Meanwhile, in a big pot, melt two tablespoons of butter over medium oestrus. Add flour and cook for two minutes, stirring constantly.
- Slowly add in milk, whisking constantly, until the mixture is smoothen.
- Add together 1 1/2 cups of cheese and stir until melted. Remove from heat.
- Add cooked pasta, broccoli, craven, salt and pepper to the cheese mixture and stir well to combine. Taste and conform seasonings.
- Transfer to a greased 2- to iii-quart casserole dish. Top with remaining 1 1/2 cups of cheese.
- In a small basin, combine breadcrumbs with 3 tablespoons of melted butter and stir to combine.
- Sprinkle buttery breadcrumbs on top of the casserole.
- Bake at 400 for twenty minutes, until hot and bubbly. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
You can prep this casserole ahead of time.Make the mac and cheese and assemble the goulash without adding the breadcrumb topping. Air-condition. When you're read to bake information technology, take it out of the refrigerator while the oven is pre-heating. Add the breadcrumb mixture, then bake, adding 5-ten minutes to the cooking time.
I utilize a rotisserie chicken when I'm looking to make things piece of cake, simply a leftover roast chicken or some grilled craven would work well too.
You can apply a different blazon of pasta here if you lot prefer. (I did in the recipe video.) Just pay attention to the cooking fourth dimension and add the broccoli when needed.
Want a bit of spice? You can stir in one/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper when y'all add the cheese and salt and pepper. You can also add some hot sauce at the table. (I do this so the kids can accept a not-spicy version).
The leftovers are peachy! They'll proceed in the refrigerator for 4-5 days and can be reheated in the microwave.
Nutrition Data:
Yield:
eight Serving Size:
ane
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 412 Total Fat: 27g Saturated Fat: 14g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 10g Cholesterol: 94mg Sodium: 614mg Carbohydrates: 21g Fiber: 2g Sugar: 5g Protein: 23g
Source: https://www.familyfoodonthetable.com/healthy-chicken-broccoli-mac-cheese/
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