Time: 35 min.
Complexity: easily
Servings: 6

This American take on mac 'n' cheese is ready in just half an hour and requires no oven baking. In addition to cheese sauce and pasta, it also includes pieces of fried chicken and blanched broccoli florets. It's hearty, juicy, and healthy. All the ingredients—chicken, broccoli, and pasta—are boiled separately and then combined in a rich cheddar sauce. Paprika, Dijon mustard, and a touch of cayenne pepper add a subtle tang to the dish, pairing beautifully with the creamy flavor of mac 'n' cheese.

Ingredients:

• 2.5 cups raw broccoli florets
• 2 tbsp. l. olive oil
• 450 g chicken fillet, cut into pieces
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 450 g of pasta or cavatapi
• 3 tablespoons of butter
• 3 tbsp. premium flour
• 0.5 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 3 cups whole milk
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 3 cups yellow sharp cheddar
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard

Substituting ingredients
Measuring containers used

1 glass (st.) - 250 ml.
3/4 cup (st.) - 180 ml.
2/3 cup (st.) - 160 ml.
1/2 cup (st.) - 125 ml.
1/3 cup (st.) - 80 ml.
1/4 cup (st.) - 60 ml.
1 tablespoon (tbsp) - 15 ml.
1 teaspoon (tsp) - 5 ml.
1/5 teaspoon (tsp) - 1 ml.

Recipes with similar ingredients

broccoli cabbage, pasta, cheddar cheese, milk, chicken breasts, ground cayenne pepper, paprika

We recommend

Preparation:

Step 1
• Place a pot of water on the stove to boil the pasta.
Step 2
• Heat a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add extra-virgin olive oil and chicken, season with salt and pepper. Cook for a couple of minutes, then add the onion and cook for another 5-7 minutes, until softened and the chicken is cooked through. Turn off the heat.
Step 3
• Add the pasta and salt to the boiling water. Cook for 5 minutes, then add the broccoli and cook for another 3 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente and the broccoli is tender.
Step 4
• While the pasta is cooking, heat a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the butter and melt, then add the flour, cayenne pepper, and paprika and stir until the roux begins to bubble, then cook for another minute. Stir in the milk and broth and heat gently until the sauce comes to a quick simmer. Simmer until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.
Step 5
• Drain the pasta and broccoli and add the chicken. Add the cheese to the milk sauce and stir until melted, about 1 minute. Add the mustard and season with salt and pepper to taste. Pour the sauce over the chicken, broccoli, and pasta and toss to coat evenly. Season with salt to taste, transfer to a large serving platter, and serve.

Votes: 23