Macaroni and cheese is the ultimate comfort food and this broccoli chicken mac and cheese is one of the best mac and cheese recipes ever. Cheesy pasta with tender chicken and broccoli for a pure comfort food dinner the whole family will love. Serve this Broccoli Chicken Mac and Cheese recipe on its own or with a salad.
Broccoli Chicken Mac and Cheese Recipe
We love homemade macaroni and cheese in our house. It is a comfort food that my whole family loves and there are never any complaints when they see mac and cheese on the table. Of course I get bored with the same old same old all the time so I like to changes things up and make tasty variations of classic comfort foods we love. This chicken broccoli mac and cheese is loaded with boneless skinless chicken breast, tender broccoli and a delicious cheese sauce.
To make my life easier I keep cooked and portioned chicken in the freezer that I can just pull out, defrost and then use to make dinner. That makes dinners super easy on busy weeknights that I am making this recipe along with others that call for cooked chicken.
On a busy night when I want a complete meal in one dish one of my go to recipes is Broccoli Chicken mac and cheese. This delicious dinner recipe is perfect, it is a family favorite and a full meal on its own if I want it to be since it has chicken and broccoli already in it. Sometimes I will serve it with an additional vegetable side or a green salad.
Mac and Cheese Recipes
- Microwave Mac and cheese recipe
- Slow cooker macaroni and cheese
- Baked mac and cheese
- White cheddar mac and cheese
What are the best noodles to use for Mac and Cheese?
I use elbow noodles whenever I make this homemade mac and cheese. However, if you do not have elbow noodles on hand you can use any tubular noodles and it will work great.
The important thing about your noodles is that you cook them until just before they reach al dente. Which is about 1-2 minutes before the stage where they are completely cooked. They will continue cooking while in the oven, so you want to make sure that you are not getting soggy noddles while they bake in the amazing cheese sauce.
What to Serve with Mac and Cheese for Dinner
The great thing about this baked mac and cheese recipe is that you can use it for a main dish or as a side dish.
If I am serving baked mac and cheese as a main dish then I like to make veggies and a salad as the side dishes. Check out some of my favorite side dish recipes to enjoy with baked mac and cheese.
I know a lot of people like to have a ‘full meal’ and use baked mac and cheese as a side dish instead of a main dish. If you are going to serve baked mac and cheese as a side dish I suggest serving a meat dish and a veggie dish as well. Use the veggie side dishes I listed above and one of these tasty main dish recipes!
- Ranch Chicken
- Asparagus Stuffed Chicken
- Ham Steaks
- Pork Meatloaf
- Grilled Steaks With Blue Cheese Butter
- Tuna Cakes
Variations of this recipe
Change up the cheese. I like using white cheddar but you can also use yellow cheddar cheese, sharp cheddar cheese, . It is important to use block cheese and shred it yourself, the cheese will melt much better than pre-shredded cheese since pre-shredded cheese has a coating on it to prevent it from sticking together.
Use a Rotisserie chicken. If you want things easier you can grab a cooked rotisserie chicken at the store or cook one at home.
Use leftover chicken. If you have left over chicken from a pervious night this is the perfect recipe to make with it.
Change up the veggies. While I like to make this easy chicken macaroni and cheese with broccoli (using broccoli florets is my favorite) and you can use fresh broccoli or frozen broccoli you can change up the veggies if you want to.
Breadcrumbs. I like using Italian breadcrumbs but you can also use plain bread crumbs or panko breadcrumbs.
How to Cook Chicken
This recipe calls for 2 cups of cooked chicken. There are a few different ways that you can cook chicken. When you are going to shred the chicken, use the shredding chicken trick that makes it super easy!
- Boil chicken. Just add raw chicken breasts to a pot and cover with 3 cups of chicken broth or water whichever you prefer. Heat on medium high heat and bring to a boil. Once boiling turn the heat to low and cover pot with a lid and let simmer for 10 minutes.
- Bake chicken. Spray a baking sheet with non stick spray place the chicken breast on the baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Then bake for 35-45 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked.
How to store leftovers
If you have any leftovers you want to store them in an airtight container in the fridge.
How to Reheat Baked Mac and Cheese
Like most pasta dishes, this tastes even better heated up the next day. If you have some leftovers to heat up, put some on a plate and cover in a damp paper towel. This will stop the macaroni from getting dry. Then microwave until hot! It’ll taste amazing!
Can I freeze Mac and Cheese?
Yes! Mac and cheese is a great dish to freeze. You can freeze it before or after baking it.
Once made allow it to cool completely and then freeze. You can freeze it in individual portions or in the full dish. If you are planning on making a full dish for the freezer I suggest using an aluminum foil pan.
Mac and cheese will keep in the freezer for 2-3 months in the freezer.
Broccoli Chicken Baked Mac and Cheese Ingredients
- butter
- All purpose flour flour
- Milk. You can use whole milk, 2% milk or skim milke
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Elbow macaroni
- white cheddar cheese shredded or cut into pieces
- cooked chicken cut into pieces
- broccoli cut into pieces
- Italian Seasoned Breadcrumb
How to Make Broccoli Chicken Baked Mac and Cheese
Cook skinless chicken breasts by your preferred method if you do not have any already cooked.
In a large pot add water, place the large pot of water on the stove and bring to a boil.
Once the water is boiling add in the dry pasta and cook for 8-10 minutes. Check the package instructions for how long to cook for al dente pasta. Drain noodles with a strainer once it is done cooking and return to the pot.
While the pasta cooks preheat the oven to 350°F.
Shred the white cheddar cheese or chop it into pieces and set it aside.
Cut the broccoli into small pieces and set it aside.
Cut the chicken into small pieces and set it aside.
In a medium sauce pan over medium heat add the butter and melt butter. Once the butter is melted add the flour and whisk until combined.
Add in the milk a little bit at a time and whisking each time until smooth until all the milk is added.
Bring the milk and flour mixture to a boil and add a pinch of salt and a pinch of pepper. Turn the heat down to low and let cool slightly.
Pour the white sauce into the cooked pasta.
Add the cheese and stir until it is mostly melted.
Add in the cooked chopped chicken and the chopped broccoli. Mix well to combine everything.
Spray a casserole dish or baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and pour the pasta mixture into it.
Slice the remaining 1/4 stick of butter into thin pieces and place on top.
Sprinkle the top of the pasta with the Italian bread crumbs.
Bake in the oven for 20-30 minutes until the breadcrumb crust has browned.
Easy Chicken Pasta Recipes for dinner
Chicken and Broccoli Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 4 tablespoons flour
- 2 cups milk set out to warm up
- pinch Salt
- pinch black pepper
- 1 box elbow macaroni
- 1 pound white cheddar cheese
- 2 cups cooked chicken cut into pieces
- 2 cups broccoli cut into pieces
- Italian Seasoned Breadcrumb
- 1/4 cup butter cut into slices
Instructions
- Cook skinless chicken breasts by your preferred method if you do not have any already cooked.
- In a large pot add water, place the large pot of water on the stove and bring to a boil.
- Once the water is boiling add in the dry pasta and cook for 8-10 minutes. Check the package instructions for how long to cook for al dente pasta. Drain noodles with a strainer once it is done cooking and return to the pot.
- While the pasta cooks preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Shred the white cheddar cheese or chop it into pieces and set it aside.
- Cut the broccoli into small pieces and set it aside.
- Cut the chicken into small pieces and set it aside.
- In a medium sauce pan over medium heat add the butter and melt butter. Once the butter is melted add the flour and whisk until combined.
- Add in the milk a little bit at a time and whisking each time until smooth until all the milk is added.
- Bring the milk and flour mixture to a boil and add a pinch of salt and a pinch of pepper. Turn the heat down to low and let cool slightly.
- Pour the white sauce into the cooked pasta.
- Add the cheese and stir until it is mostly melted.
- Add in the cooked chopped chicken and the chopped broccoli. Mix well to combine everything.
- Spray a casserole dish or baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and pour the pasta mixture into it.
- Sprinkle the top of the pasta with the Italian bread crumbs.
- Slice the remaining 1/4 stick of butter into thin pieces and place on top.
- Bake in the oven for 20-30 minutes until the breadcrumb crust has browned.
Comments & Reviews
ashlie elari says
Yum thanks pinned it:)
LIA BECAS JACOBSEN says
Thanks for the recipe. Pinned!
Kristina & Millie says
Looks super yummy! pinned 🙂
Would have to leave out the broccoli for hubby so more for me!