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Home » Chicken » Chicken and Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese

Chicken and Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese

November 7, 2016 *This post may include amazon links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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 This Macaroni and Cheese turns out to be a complete meal when grilled chicken and steamed broccoli is added to the mix! Chicken and Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese turns a side dish into dinner! via @bigbearswife  This Macaroni and Cheese turns out to be a complete meal when grilled chicken and steamed broccoli is added to the mix! Chicken and Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese turns a side dish into dinner! via @bigbearswife  This Macaroni and Cheese turns out to be a complete meal when grilled chicken and steamed broccoli is added to the mix! Chicken and Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese turns a side dish into dinner! via @bigbearswife  This Macaroni and Cheese turns out to be a complete meal when grilled chicken and steamed broccoli is added to the mix! Chicken and Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese turns a side dish into dinner! via @bigbearswife  This Macaroni and Cheese turns out to be a complete meal when grilled chicken and steamed broccoli is added to the mix! Chicken and Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese turns a side dish into dinner! via @bigbearswife

 This Macaroni and Cheese turns out to be a complete meal when grilled chicken and steamed broccoli is added to the mix! Chicken and Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese turns a side dish into dinner!

Chicken and Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese

Alright, Alright…I know this Chicken and Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese doesn’t actually have macaroni in it but that’s what I’m calling it! If you want to be like all picky and stuff, I suppose you could call it Chicken and Broccoli Fusilli and Cheese but that just doesn’t have quite the same ring now does it.  😉

Chicken and Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese it is.

Chicken and Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese

You’d normally just think of macaroni and cheese as a side dish, well unless you’re me and you consider macaroni and cheese to be a complete meal on it’s own, but let’s kick it up just a tad.

We’re turning this humble side dish into a full meal by simply adding some cooked chicken and steamed broccoli to the pot.

For the base? I used my favorite white cheddar mac and cheese recipe as normal. I can’t tell y’all how much I love this mac and cheese base. It’s seriously mac and cheese perfection!

Chicken and Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese

I mean really, you could just eat the mac and cheese as it and be totally good with the whole making dinner thing. I mean if Thomas just made mac and cheese for me and called it dinner I would be fine.

But there are people out there, like my husband, that don’t consider mac and cheese a full meal so we have to add things like chicken and broccoli to please them. 😉

Trust me though, it’s amazing either way. Don’t like Broccoli? Add in some sauteed asparagus or peas. Don’t like chicken? Leave it out or change it up and replace it something else (I was going to say tofu butttt I would never do that soooo I’m not adding that in haha)

However with that being said, you do you. You add what you want in place of the chicken and broccoli if you need to change it up. I won’t judge.

Chicken and Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese

But if you can leave it like it is, do it. It’s good, it’s realllly good.

So Far, 6 out of my 6 taste testers have loved it. By the way, anyone want to be a taste tester for some more mac and cheese recipes? haha I might be pushing it by getting my family to taste mac and cheese a few times a week.

Chicken and Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese

-Tips and Answers-

  • For re-heating – no need to add milk before reheating like some mac and cheese recipes. This one should still be creamy after re-heating. Just make sure to stir it well.
  • Steam the broccoli before adding it to the mac and cheese
  • Cook the chicken before adding it to the mac and cheese! This mac and cheese is made on the stove top so everything needs to be cooked before mixing it in.
  • Cube the chicken before cooking it. Season it with salt and pepper and then saute small batches of it in a little olive oil in a skillet until cooked. Cooking it in small batched with give you a crispy outside. 🙂
  • When you’re melting the cheese into the milk mixture it may look like it’s very thicken at first but just keep heating it on medium heat and stir it for about 5-7 minutes and it will be smooth and creamy. This is when you want to add in the noodles, cooked chicken and steamed broccoli.

Chicken and Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese

Chicken and Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese

Created by Angie on October 30, 2016

Chicken and Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese This Macaroni and Cheese turns out to be a complete meal when grilled chicken and steamed broccoli is added to the mix! Chicken and Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese turns a side dish into dinner!

  • Yield: 8-10 SERVINGS

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces fusilli pasta, uncooked
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 chicken breasts, cubed and seasoned with salt and pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground dry mustard
  • 1 teaspoon white pepper
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 8 ounces extra sharp white cheddar cheese, grated
  • 8 ounces white American cheese slices, cut into small pieces
  • 4 ounces mozzarella cheese, grated
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened and diced
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 4 cups steamed broccoli florets

Instructions

  • Cook cubed chicken in a medium skillet with olive oil until crispy and completely cooked.
  • Steam broccoli and set aside.
  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 10 minutes.
  • Drain and set aside.
  • In a the same pot, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour.
  • Whisk flour and butter together for 1-2 minutes.
  • Pour in milk and whisk until smooth.
  • Whisk in dry mustard and white pepper.
  • Heat milk until hot and then add in cream cheese.
  • Whisk until melted and smooth.
  • Add in all grated cheese and whisk until melted.
  • Mix in the chicken and broccoli.
  • Pour pasta into cheese sauce and mix well.
  • Stir well and heat for 2-3 minutes.
  • serve warm
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Comments

  1. Amanda @ The Kitcheneer says

    November 14, 2016 at 10:51 am

    LOVE! This really reminds me of a dish my mom made for us growing up! Except she made the chicken spicy! This definitely looks like a must try to add to our menu!

    Reply
  2. Michelle Goth says

    November 14, 2016 at 1:03 pm

    Ha! I love mac and cheese as a main dish as well. I could definitely eat this yummy recipe for dinner!

    Reply
  3. Kelly - A Side of Sweet says

    November 14, 2016 at 1:49 pm

    Yum! This looks perfectly creamy and absolutely delicious!

    Reply
  4. Alyssa | EverydayMaven says

    November 14, 2016 at 1:56 pm

    Macaroni and cheese is my weakness and I love broccoli so I would be in big trouble with this dish. Looks amazing!

    Reply
  5. Stephanie says

    November 14, 2016 at 3:04 pm

    I would for sure eat too much of this. YUM!

    Reply
  6. Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes says

    November 14, 2016 at 3:31 pm

    I make a meal out of Mac and cheese all the time! This is next on my list!

    Reply
  7. The Food Hunter says

    November 14, 2016 at 4:13 pm

    I’m pretty sure this would make my husband eat broccoli

    Reply
  8. Lauren Kelly Nutrition says

    November 14, 2016 at 5:17 pm

    I love an easy dish like this that my whole family would love!

    Reply
  9. [email protected] Mom says

    November 14, 2016 at 7:01 pm

    Oh so Creamy, a little green veggie in there, all that cheese, man this is such a comforting meal!!

    Reply
  10. Heather | All Roads Lead to the Kitchen says

    November 14, 2016 at 7:22 pm

    Yum, this would go over so well in my house! And hey, as far as I’m concerned, you mac and cheese is mac and cheese no matter the actual type of pasta you use. 😉

    Reply
  11. Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says

    November 14, 2016 at 8:22 pm

    YES, that looks so delicious and I want it right NOW for dinner!

    Reply
  12. Erin @ Texanerin Baking says

    November 15, 2016 at 7:26 am

    Haha. What?! People don’t consider cheesy macaroni a full meal? That’s silly. When I make mac and cheese, it’s ALL I eat. 😀

    Reply
  13. Brandy | Nutmeg Nanny says

    November 15, 2016 at 8:49 am

    Perfect comfort food! I have everything for this! Yay for one less trip to the store!! 😀

    Reply
  14. Lora @savoringitaly says

    November 15, 2016 at 10:08 am

    I’m with Erin…when I make mac and cheese, that is it! And the addition of broccoli is perfect to get some veggies in! Creamy and dreamy!

    Reply
  15. Joanie @ ZagLeft says

    November 15, 2016 at 10:10 am

    What a fantastic-looking meal. I love how creamy this is – my family will love it!

    Reply
  16. Kelly @ Nosh and Nourish says

    November 15, 2016 at 10:33 am

    The perfect weeknight dinner — full of yumminess the whole family will happily devour!

    Reply
  17. Maryanne | the little epicurean says

    November 16, 2016 at 12:27 am

    I love mac and cheese! But it makes me feel a lot better (and healthier) with the added chicken and broccoli! 🙂

    Reply
  18. Sabrina says

    November 16, 2016 at 2:11 am

    This is a perfect dish to make for my family! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  19. Anita says

    November 17, 2016 at 7:20 pm

    This looks so yummy! Perfect for the family gathering. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  20. Rose Fay says

    December 28, 2016 at 12:19 am

    Does this freeze well? Looking for fix ahead and freeze meals to prepare for a friend having surgery.

    Reply
    • Angie says

      December 28, 2016 at 4:12 pm

      Hi Rose,
      I have no idea if it freezes well but I know it refrigerates well. I’ve never frozen it before. Sorry.

      Reply
  21. Brittany says

    December 29, 2016 at 1:00 pm

    What can I use to substitute the cream cheese? I have a weird reaction to cream cheese and cottage cheese, but this looks too good to pass up.

    Reply
    • Angie says

      December 29, 2016 at 1:27 pm

      Hi Brittany! I haven’t made this with anything other than the cream cheese so I’m not 100% sure on what to use in its place. Cream cheese is kind of the base for this as far as what makes the perfect creamy cheese sauce for this dish. I’m sorry.
      Here are two other great mac and cheese recipes on my blog that don’t use cream cheese. You could always just add the chicken and broccoli them 🙂
      https://www.bigbearswife.com/mushroom-and-truffle-sea-salt-white/ and https://www.bigbearswife.com/shells-and-cheese-with-bacon/

      Reply
  22. Mother of 3 says

    December 29, 2017 at 1:42 pm

    This looks delicious! We do make mac and cheese for a main meal every now and then. My husband loves peas and ham added to his but I’m a broccoli and chicken kind of gal. Pinned.

    Reply
    • Angie says

      December 30, 2017 at 12:12 pm

      Hope you give it a try! It’s so good!

      Reply
  23. Karen says

    July 23, 2019 at 4:07 pm

    This looks really yummy. Could you make this in a slow cooker?

    Reply
    • Angie says

      July 25, 2019 at 9:44 pm

      Maybe! I haven’t tried it in the slow cooker yet but I do have a recipe for slow cooker mac and cheese on the blog – https://www.bigbearswife.com/crock-pot-macaroni-and-cheese/ – so there might be a way to change up this recipe a tad to make it work.

      Reply
  24. Janet Bradley says

    December 25, 2020 at 8:29 am

    Do you think I could;d use Orzo pasta?

    Reply

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I love the Farmer’s Market and Farm to Table meals but I’m also not ashamed to use canned vegetables and baking mixes. It’s all about balance! I’m so glad y’all are here!

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