Easy One-Pan Chicken Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese: The Ultimate Family Comfort Meal
Prepare for a new star in your weeknight dinner rotation! This mouthwatering Chicken Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese recipe offers a delightful combination of creamy, cheesy goodness, tender chicken, and vibrant broccoli florets. It’s a remarkably simple yet incredibly satisfying dish that promises to become a beloved family favorite. In less than 30 minutes, you can whip up this homemade comfort food, proving that healthy, wholesome meals don’t have to be complicated or time-consuming.
Forget bland and boring dinners! This easy homemade recipe elevates classic macaroni and cheese by incorporating lean protein and fresh vegetables, transforming it into a complete, hearty meal that’s perfect for busy evenings. The rich, velvety cheese sauce coats every piece of pasta, while the chicken adds a satisfying bite and the broccoli contributes a touch of freshness and essential nutrients. It’s the kind of dish that warms you from the inside out, providing ultimate comfort without skimping on flavor or substance. We absolutely adore it, and we’re confident it will earn a permanent spot on your dinner table too.
If you’re a mac and cheese aficionado, you might also enjoy our other popular recipes like the Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese for a more traditional approach, or the Easiest Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese for when you need a lightning-fast cheesy fix.
Creating this delicious chicken and broccoli mac and cheese involves just a handful of accessible ingredients and straightforward steps. This recipe is designed for maximum flavor with minimal fuss, making it ideal for home cooks of all skill levels. Below, we’ll outline all the components you’ll need, along with a detailed guide to ensure your dish turns out perfectly rich, creamy, and utterly irresistible. Gather your ingredients, and let’s get cooking!
Essential Ingredients for Creamy Chicken Broccoli Mac and Cheese
This recipe calls for a balanced blend of pantry staples and fresh produce to create a symphony of flavors and textures. The full, detailed recipe with precise measurements is provided further below, but here’s a general overview of the key ingredients you’ll need to prepare this delightful chicken broccoli macaroni and cheese:
- Elbow Macaroni Noodles: Or any other short pasta shape you prefer. Elbow macaroni is classic for its ability to hold the creamy sauce in its curves.
- Broccoli Florets: Fresh or frozen, cut into bite-sized pieces. Broccoli adds a wonderful pop of color, texture, and a boost of nutrients to this hearty dish.
- Cooked Chicken: Shredded or diced. This is a fantastic way to use up leftover roast chicken, rotisserie chicken, or simply cook up some chicken breast specifically for this recipe.
- Cheddar Cheese: Freshly shredded for the best melt and flavor. Sharp cheddar provides a robust cheesy foundation.
- Parmesan Cheese: Grated, to add a salty, umami depth to the cheese sauce.
- Unsalted Butter: The foundation of our rich béchamel-style cheese sauce.
- All-Purpose Flour: Used with butter to create a roux, which thickens the sauce.
- Milk: Whole milk is recommended for the creamiest, richest sauce, but 2% or 1% milk can also be used for a slightly lighter version.
- Mustard Powder: A secret ingredient that enhances the cheese flavor without making the sauce taste like mustard.
- Paprika: Adds a subtle smoky flavor and a beautiful golden hue to the sauce.
- Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper: Essential for seasoning and balancing all the flavors.
Using high-quality ingredients will always yield the best results, especially when it comes to cheese. Freshly shredded cheese melts more smoothly than pre-shredded varieties, which often contain anti-caking agents.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Chicken Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese
Crafting this ultimate comfort meal is surprisingly straightforward. The beauty of this chicken and broccoli mac and cheese lies in its efficient preparation, allowing you to get a delicious and hearty dinner on the table in under 30 minutes. Here’s an overview of the key steps involved in bringing this delightful dish to life:
- Cook the Pasta and Broccoli: Begin by cooking your chosen pasta in a pot of generously salted water until it reaches the perfect al dente texture. During the final few minutes of the pasta’s cooking time, add the broccoli florets directly to the pot. This method not only saves time but also ensures the broccoli is perfectly tender-crisp. Once cooked, drain the pasta and broccoli together, reserving a splash of pasta water if you like, for loosening the sauce if needed.
- Prepare the Velvety Cheese Sauce: While your pasta and broccoli are cooking, you’ll prepare the star of the show: the rich, creamy cheese sauce. In a large skillet or Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in the flour to create a roux, cooking it for a minute or two until lightly golden and fragrant. Gradually pour in the milk, whisking continuously to prevent any lumps and ensure a smooth, silky base. Increase the heat slightly to medium-high and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, stirring frequently, until it thickens to your desired consistency.
- Season and Melt the Cheese: Once the sauce has thickened beautifully, season it with salt, pepper, mustard powder, and paprika. These spices add depth and enhance the savory notes of the cheese. Remove the skillet from the heat, then stir in the shredded cheddar and grated Parmesan cheeses until they are completely melted and the sauce is wonderfully smooth and glossy. The residual heat from the sauce will be enough to melt the cheeses without overcooking them.
- Combine and Serve: Finally, add the drained pasta and broccoli, along with your cooked chicken, into the skillet with the prepared cheese sauce. Gently stir everything together until every piece of pasta, every floret of broccoli, and every morsel of chicken is thoroughly coated in the luscious, creamy cheese.
This simple process ensures a harmonious blend of flavors and textures, resulting in a chicken broccoli macaroni and cheese that is truly satisfying. Serve it hot and enjoy the incredible flavors!
Expert Tips for the Best Chicken Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese
Achieving the perfect chicken broccoli mac and cheese is easier than you think, especially with a few handy tips. These insights will help you streamline your cooking process, enhance the flavors, and even prepare this dish ahead of time for ultimate convenience:
- Innovative Pasta Cooking Method: For a faster and more efficient way to cook pasta, try starting your noodles in cold water. Instead of waiting for a pot of water to boil, add the pasta directly to cold, generously salted water and then place it over high heat. As the water gradually heats up, the pasta begins to cook, significantly reducing the overall cooking time. The only difference is that you can’t rely on the package’s exact cooking duration, so you’ll need to taste it periodically. The pasta is done when it’s tender with a slight firmness to the bite, known as al dente. This method is a game-changer for weeknight meals! If you begin cooking your noodles this way at the same time you start the cheese sauce, both components should finish around the same time, maximizing your efficiency.
- Choosing and Preparing Your Chicken: This recipe is incredibly versatile when it comes to chicken. Rotisserie chicken is an absolute time-saver, providing delicious, pre-cooked meat that just needs shredding or dicing. Leftover cooked chicken, whether breast or dark meat, works equally well and is a great way to reduce food waste. Both white and dark meat will yield fantastic results. For those who like to prep ahead, consider cooking a bulk batch of chicken specifically for recipes like this. We have an entire post dedicated to how to cook bulk chicken that might be helpful. If you’re looking for protein alternatives, cooked shrimp or even seasoned tofu can be delicious substitutes, or you can omit the protein entirely for a vegetarian mac and cheese.
- Milk for the Perfect Sauce: The type of milk you choose plays a crucial role in the richness and consistency of your cheese sauce. Whole milk will deliver the creamiest, most decadent sauce, providing the best flavor and mouthfeel. However, if you prefer a slightly lighter sauce, 2% or even 1% milk will work perfectly fine, though the sauce might be a touch thinner. Avoid skim milk, as it may result in a watery sauce lacking in richness.
- Make-Ahead and Baking Instructions: This chicken broccoli macaroni and cheese is also fantastic as a baked dish, making it an excellent option for meal prep or feeding a crowd. Once the stovetop preparation is complete (pasta, broccoli, chicken, and sauce all combined), simply transfer the mixture into a greased casserole dish. Cover it tightly with foil and refrigerate for up to several days. When you’re ready to serve, bake in a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for 30-40 minutes, or until it’s heated through and bubbly. For an extra golden crust, you can remove the foil for the last 5-10 minutes of baking, or sprinkle a little extra cheese on top before baking.
- Serving Suggestions: While this dish is a complete meal on its own, it pairs wonderfully with a simple side salad tossed in a light vinaigrette to add more fresh greens. A slice of crusty bread for soaking up any extra cheesy goodness is also a delightful addition.
- Storage and Reheating: Leftovers store beautifully in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, you can microwave individual portions, or gently warm larger quantities on the stovetop over low heat, adding a splash of milk to restore creaminess if needed.
This Chicken Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese recipe is more than just a meal; it’s a comforting experience that brings everyone to the table. With its straightforward steps, customizable ingredients, and incredibly satisfying flavor, it’s destined to become a beloved staple in your kitchen. Enjoy the process of creating this delicious dish, and savor every cheesy, flavorful bite!
More Easy & Delicious Family Meals to Try
Looking for more simple yet satisfying dinner ideas to keep your family happy and full? Here are some other easy-to-make meals that are packed with flavor and perfect for any weeknight:
- Creamy Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo
- One-Pan Sheet Pan Sausage and Potatoes
- Classic Spaghetti and Meatballs
- Quick and Flavorful Chicken Fried Rice
Shop Essential Kitchen Tools You Need for This Recipe
To make this Chicken Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese, having the right tools can make the cooking process even smoother. Here are some recommended kitchen essentials that will help you prepare this and many other delicious meals:
Chicken Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese
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Ingredients
- 8 oz (227 grams) elbow pasta , or other short pasta of choice
- About 3 cups (300 grams) broccoli florets , cut into bite-sized pieces
- ¼ cup (56 grams) unsalted butter
- ¼ cup (30 grams) all-purpose flour
- 2½ cups (567 grams) milk , whole, 2% or 1% for best creaminess
- 1 teaspoon coarse salt , adjust to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- 8 oz (227 grams) sharp cheddar cheese , freshly shredded for best melt
- ½ cup (50 grams) grated parmesan cheese
- 2-3 cups (280-420 grams) shredded or diced cooked chicken
Instructions
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In a large pot, cook elbow macaroni in generously salted water until al dente, following package directions (or use the cold water pasta method described in the tips section for faster cooking).
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During the last 2-3 minutes of the pasta’s cooking time, add the broccoli florets to the pot. Continue to cook until the broccoli is tender-crisp. Drain the noodles and broccoli thoroughly together.
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While the pasta and broccoli are cooking, begin preparing the rich cheese sauce in a separate large skillet.
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Melt the butter in the large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the all-purpose flour and whisk constantly for 1-2 minutes to create a smooth roux. Gradually pour in the milk, whisking continually to ensure no lumps form. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the sauce to a gentle boil, stirring often, until it thickens to a creamy consistency.
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Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the coarse salt, ground black pepper, ground mustard, and paprika. Add the shredded cheddar cheese and grated parmesan cheese, stirring until both cheeses are completely melted and the sauce is smooth and homogeneous.
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Add the drained noodles and broccoli, along with the shredded or diced cooked chicken, to the skillet with the cheese sauce. Stir gently to ensure everything is thoroughly combined and coated in the creamy sauce.
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Serve your comforting Chicken Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese immediately while hot and creamy.
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Make-Ahead & Baked Option: For a baked version, transfer the prepared macaroni and cheese into a greased 9×13 inch casserole dish. Cover with foil. You can store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. To bake, preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and bake for 30-40 minutes, or until heated through and bubbly. For a crispy topping, remove foil for the last 5-10 minutes.