Chicken Broccoli Mac & Cheese

Chicken Broccoli Mac & Cheese

This recipe was taken from Rachael Ray, but of course, we always edit based on what we have and what we like. Whatever we can do to not have to go to the grocery store! We cut out the onions because none of us enjoy them.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons Canola oil

1 pound chicken breast tenders, chopped

Salt and pepper

1 pound of any kind of macaroni

2 1/2 cups raw broccoli

3 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons flour

1/2 teaspoon red pepper

1 teaspoon paprika

3 cups whole milk

1 cup chicken stock

3 cups shredded Mexican Four Cheese

1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard

1. Put on a big pot of water to boil for the macaroni

2. In a medium pan on medium/high heat, put in the Canola oil and chicken and sprinkle it with salt and pepper for taste. Cook for about 7 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through, then turn off the heat.

3. Add the macaroni and season with salt to the boiling water. After about 5 minutes add the broccoli and cook for another 5 or until pasta is done and broccoli is soft.

4. In a medium sauce pot over medium heat add butter. When it melts add the flour, red pepper and paprika. Whisk together over the heat until it starts to bubble then cook for another minute. Whisk in the milk and chicken stock. Raise the heat to bring the sauce to boil. Simmer the sauce to thicken, about 5 minutes

5. Drain the macaroni, put it back in the pot and add the chicken.

6. Add the cheese to the sauce and stir to melt it in. Stir in the mustard and season with salt and pepper. We used the whisk again to get the clumps of mustard separated completely.

7. Pour the sauce over the macaroni and stir to cover it all

We served this in bowls. The recipe is supposed to serve 6 but it's very filling! We served four people, each getting three big scoops and had lots left over. 

We were a little skeptical about having chicken and broccoli in a mac and cheese dish at first but were pleasantly surprised with the taste! The sauce had a really interesting and unique flavor that we loved. It was a great twist on a classic meal! Our brother suggested adding sun-dried tomatoes---genius. Caitlin wouldn't be able to eat that, but it would definitely enrich the taste even more. The family, especially our dad, loved the unexpected spice of the sauce.

-Mary and Caitlin