Cajun Chicken Mac And Cheese Recipe
The Cajun Chicken Mac And Cheese recipe are one of my favorite recipes. This spicy pasta dish is delicious and has a great amount of flavor. Chicken, cheese, bread, and bread all wrapped up in a delicious bite-sized package.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1.5 pounds Chicken breasts or tenders (cubed)
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil light tasting
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
Mac N’ Cheese
- 8 oz elbow or shell pasta uncooked
- 3 tablespoons Butter
- 2 tablespoons All-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon Onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 2 cups Milk
- ½ cup Chicken broth with low sodium or pasta water
- 2 cups Sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 4 oz cream cheese or Velveeta Cheese
- ¾ teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Black pepper fresh ground
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
Topping
- ½ cup Panko bread crumbs plain
- 2 tablespoons Butter
- ½ cup Sharp cheddar cheese shredded (for the topping)
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning (low or nonsodium)
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- To prepare al dente pasta, cook it according to the package instructions. Using an oven-safe skillet, pan-sear the chicken until golden brown on the outside. The set aside. Using a paper towel, gently wipe the skillet to remove leftover liquids.
- Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in the same skillet. Add the Panko crumbs and Cajun seasoning to the melted butter over medium heat. Remove from heat once it's "lightly" golden. Set aside.
- Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in the same skillet. Mix in the flour with the butter. Combine well to make a smooth paste.
- Add the milk, chicken broth, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper and Cajun seasoning. On medium heat, mix and simmer until the sauce thickens.
- Melt the cream cheese and add it to the cheese. Once the cheddar cheese melts, add it to the sauce and stir it until it becomes smooth and creamy.
- Add the cooked pasta and chicken to the cheese sauce and stir well to coat. Turn off the heat and remove the skillet. Add 1/4 cup of cheddar cheese and sprinkle with panko crumbs.
- Place the skillet in the oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the crumbs are golden brown.
- Immediately remove and serve. Add some fresh pepper flakes and parsley to garnish.