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king ranch chicken mac and cheese in a red casserole dish

King Ranch Chicken Mac and Cheese

Published by Kate
This creamy mac & cheese is easily reheatable, thanks to the cream cheese in the sauce. Add a big green salad for a comfort food meal!
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Side Dishes
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 8 servings
Calories 739 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb dried pasta (I used gemelli, ziti or penne would be good choices, too!)
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 1 small red bell pepper, finely chopped
  • 1 poblano pepper, finely chopped
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ cup flour
  • 2 cups half & half
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 4 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 rotisserie chicken, meat pulled off the bone and chopped
  • 1 bunch cilantro, chopped
  • For garnish: cilantro, crushed tortilla chips

Instructions
 

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente (follow package directions). Drain and set aside.
  • Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, bell pepper, and poblano pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are soft, about 6–8 minutes. Add the cumin, chili powder, and salt. Cook for 1 minute more.
  • Sprinkle the flour over the top. Stir and cook for 1 minute. Whisk in the half & half and milk. Cook until the sauce thickens slightly, about 2–3 minutes. Whisk in the shredded cheeses and cream cheese.
  • In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, chopped chicken, and ¾ of the cilantro. Pour the cheese sauce over the top. Stir to combine.
  • Transfer the mac & cheese to a greased 13x9 inch casserole dish.
  • Top with crushed tortilla chips and the rest of the chopped cilantro. Serve immediately.

Notes

  1. Shred the cheese yourself to avoid an overly thick sauce (packaged cheese contains potato starch or cornstarch, which thickens the sauce too much). If using pre-shredded cheese, whisk in up to ½ cup of the pasta water to thin the sauce.
  2. To give as a gift (or to reheat): follow the recipe through step #5. Cover with foil. Mac & cheese can be reheated in a 350°F oven until warm (about 20 minutes). Garnish with tortilla chips and cilantro when ready to serve (otherwise the tortilla chips will get soggy).

Nutrition

Calories: 739kcalCarbohydrates: 53gProtein: 43gFat: 39gSaturated Fat: 22gCholesterol: 170mgSodium: 900mgPotassium: 393mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1696IUVitamin C: 32mgCalcium: 444mgIron: 2mg
Keyword king ranch macaroni and cheese
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