Ultimate Chicken Bacon Macaroni and Cheese
When it’s cold outside and you’re looking for comfort food, you’ve found it. Ultimate Chicken Bacon Macaroni & Cheese can be the most incredible side dish or a full meal by itself, and it will certainly satisfy your cravings for cheesy, savory, melty goodness.
I’m not a fan of winter. I realize that I’m lucky to live in a place that experiences all four seasons, but I can’t help it. I want it to be 85 degrees and sunny every day.
So when it’s the middle of cold, gray, dreary winter, I look for comfort food that warms me from the inside out. With Ultimate Chicken Bacon Macaroni & Cheese, there’s a chance I may actually forget it’s the depths of winter for a minute or two.
Ok. Probably not, but I will be happy with the yumminess hitting my tastebuds.
Ingredients for Ultimate Chicken Bacon Macaroni & Cheese
- 2 chicken breasts
- 7 slices bacon
- 1 lb elbow macaroni
- 3 T butter
- 3 T flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 t salt
- 1/2 t pepper
- 2 cups Velveeta original shreds
How to Make the Mac & Cheese
Bake the chicken breasts in a 375 degree oven for about 20-25 minutes. They just need a little seasoning with salt and pepper because you’ll add them to the cheesy pasta later.
While the chicken is baking, prepare your elbow macaroni and fry the bacon.
Then make your cheese sauce. It’s really quite easy. In a large pot, melt the butter. Next, whisk in the flour so it’s smooth, and let it cook a minute or two.
Slowly whisk in the milk so you don’t have lumps. Let the mixture cook on a medium-low to medium heat, whisking occasionally.
Once it’s thickened, add the Velveeta shreds and stir until melted.
When the chicken is done, cut it into cubes. You could also shred it. It’s really your own preference.
In a casserole dish, add macaroni, diced chicken, most of the chopped bacon, and cheese sauce. Mix well. Sprinkle remaining bacon on top.
You could also add buttered bread crumbs to the top. Or some more cheese – because why not? Oh, and you can make it a full meal by adding your favorite veggie into the casserole.
Bake the casserole about 25 minutes until everything is melted together and bubbly.
Let it cool enough to avoid mouth burns. Enjoy!
Need another cheesy comfort food idea? Try my Baked Tacos in Creamy Cheese Sauce.
Ultimate Chicken Bacon Macaroni and Cheese
Notes
This is even yummier with some buttered breadcrumbs or extra shredded cheese on the top.
You could also add a veggie such as broccoli to the casserole if you’re serving this as a meal.
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts
- 7 slices bacon
- 1 lb elbow macaroni
- 3 T butter
- 3 T flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 t salt
- 1/2 t pepper
- 2 cups Velveeta original shreds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375.
- Place bacon on rack on foiled lined baking sheet.
- Season chicken with salt and pepper. Spray baking sheet with oil and place chicken in sheet.
- Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes.
- Cook elbow macaroni in boiling salted water until al dente.
- Drain macaroni.
- Fry bacon and set aside.
- Melt butter in large saucepan. Add flour and whisk until smooth.
- Add milk slowly, whisking to avoid lumps. Add salt and pepper.
- Cook until thickened.
- Add shredded cheese and stir until smooth. Remove from heat.
- Dice baked chicken and five slices of bacon. Add macaroni, chicken, and chopped bacon to sauce. Stir thoroughly.
- Pour into greased 9×13. Chop remaining bacon and sprinkle on top.
- Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly.
- Enjoy!
