Description
BBQ Chicken Mac and Cheese is a delicious comfort food that combines creamy macaroni and cheese with shredded chicken and tangy BBQ sauce, topped with a golden breadcrumb crust.
Ingredients
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (optional)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (optional for breadcrumbs)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cook the elbow macaroni according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked macaroni, shredded chicken, BBQ sauce, sharp cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, milk, cream cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.
- Transfer the mixture to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
- If using breadcrumbs, mix them with olive oil in a small bowl until coated, then sprinkle evenly over the top of the mac and cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and the top is golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- For a spicier kick, add diced jalapeños or a few dashes of hot sauce to the mixture before baking.
- Substitute the chicken with pulled pork or beef for a different flavor profile, or make it vegetarian by using black beans and corn instead of meat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 70mg