Description
The ultimate comfort upgrade! Creamy sharp cheddar sauce blankets al dente elbows and smoky BBQ chicken. This baked masterpiece is savory perfection.
Ingredients
- Elbow macaroni: 1 pound
- Cooked chicken (shredded): 2 cups
- Sharp cheddar cheese (shredded): 3 cups
- Whole milk: 3 cups
- Unsalted butter: 4 tablespoons
- All-purpose flour: 4 tablespoons
- BBQ sauce (favorite kind): 1 cup
- Panko breadcrumbs (optional): 1/2 cup
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook the macaroni according to package directions until al dente; drain and set aside. In a separate bowl, toss the shredded chicken with 1/2 cup of the BBQ sauce.
- Step 2: Prepare the cheese sauce. In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute to form a roux. Gradually whisk in the milk until the mixture smooths and thickens slightly (about 5-7 minutes).
- Step 3: Remove the pot from the heat and slowly stir in 2.5 cups of the shredded cheddar cheese until the sauce is creamy and completely smooth. Fold the cooked macaroni and the BBQ chicken mixture into the cheese sauce until everything is evenly coated.
- Step 4: Transfer the entire mixture to a greased 9×13 inch baking dish. Drizzle the remaining 1/2 cup of BBQ sauce over the top. In a small bowl, combine the remaining 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese with the panko breadcrumbs, then sprinkle this topping evenly over the mac and cheese.
- Step 5: Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the edges of the mac and cheese are bubbly. Let the dish rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Leftovers store well refrigerated for up to 3 days; when reheating individual servings, stir in a teaspoon of milk or broth to help restore the creamy texture.
- To achieve the smoothest possible cheese sauce, remove the pot completely from the heat *before* stirring in the shredded cheddar, which prevents the cheese from breaking and becoming oily.
- A bright, acidic side salad or a crunchy, vinegar-based coleslaw is the perfect counterpoint to the richness of the smoked chicken and cheddar.
- For an even stronger flavor profile, lightly char your shredded cooked chicken before tossing it with the BBQ sauce, adding a pleasant smoky complexity.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups (approx. 340g)
- Calories: 720
- Sodium: 1380mg
- Fat: 40g
- Saturated Fat: 22g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Protein: 15g