Creamy One Pot Tuscan Chicken Mac And Cheese Recipe + Video

Name: Creamy One-Pot Tuscan Chicken Mac And Cheese Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 large skinless, boneless chicken breasts; 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper powder; 1/2 teaspoon paprika; 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning; 1/2 cup chopped onions; 2 teaspoon chopped garlic; 7 ounce sun-dried tomatoes (200 g, plus 2 tbsp of oil from the jar); 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 2 cups chicken broth; 2 cups whole milk; 10 ounce uncooked elbow macaroni pasta (300 g); 2 cups chopped spinach; 1 cup shredded parmesan cheese; 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese; 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese; salt (to taste); crushed black pepper (to taste); 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

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Want an easy, fuss-free, and absolutely delicious one-pot dinner in 30 minutes? Then, give this creamy Tuscan Chicken Mac and Cheese a try.

Tuscan chicken mac and cheese served in a bowl.

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About Tuscan Chicken Mac And Cheese
Ingredients
How To Make Tuscan Chicken Mac And Cheese
Frequently Asked Questions
Pro Tips By Neha
Serving Suggestions
Storage Suggestions
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Recipe Card

About Tuscan Chicken Mac And Cheese

Tuscan Chicken Mac And Cheese is a delicious one-pot pasta dish loaded with flavors and comes together in under 30 minutes using a few simple ingredients.

Seasoned chicken pieces and soft pasta coated in a creamy, cheesy, silky smooth, and herby sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, this one will surely be your new favorite.

It is a one-pot recipe which means minimal cleanup.

Double or triple it as per your requirement.

Try more easy and delicious pasta recipes for your weeknight dinner or weekend brunch

Ingredients

Chicken – I used skinless, boneless chicken breasts, but you can use boneless chicken thighs too.

Seasonings For Chicken – To season the chicken, you will need some basic condiments such as salt, ground black pepper, paprika powder, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.

You can use cayenne pepper instead of paprika in the recipe.

Pasta – Since it is a mac and cheese recipe, you will need macaroni pasta.

If it’s unavailable, use other pasta shapes like fusilli, shells, penne, rigatoni, etc.

You can also use whole wheat pasta for this mac and cheese for a healthy twist.

Sun-Dried Tomatoes – Use jarred sun-dried tomatoes. They add a sweet-tart flavor making the pasta very delicious.

Cheese – This pasta has a lot of cheese, and that’s what makes it so irresistible. I have used a combination of mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, and cheddar cheese.

I suggest you grate the cheese fresh instead of adding packaged pre-shredded cheeses to the pasta. Freshly grated cheese tastes much better than store-bought grated cheese.

Spinach – I used regular spinach leaves, but you can use baby spinach too.

Others – You will also need unsalted butter, extra virgin olive oil, onions, garlic, all-purpose flour, whole milk, fresh parsley, and chicken broth (chicken stock).

Add a splash of white wine and some unsweetened heavy cream at the end of teh cooking to make the pasta dish more indulgent.

How To Make Tuscan Chicken Mac And Cheese

Cook The Chicken

Rinse 2 large skinless, boneless chicken breasts and pat them dry using paper tissues.

Pound them using a meat tenderizer until they are 1 inch thick.

Heat 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil and 2 tablespoon unsalted butter in a large pan or a Dutch oven over medium-high heat.

Once the butter is melted and the oil is hot, arrange the chicken pieces in the pan in a single layer.

Sprinkle with some salt, black pepper powder, paprika, and Italian seasoning.

Chicken pieces arranged in the pan and sprinkled with salt, pepper, paprika and Italion seasoning.

Cook for 3-4 minutes or until the chicken is golden brown from the bottom.

Then flip them using a pair of tongs and sprinkle the other side with salt, pepper, paprika, and Italian seasoning.

Cook for another 3-4 minutes.

Transfer the chicken to a plate and keep it aside.

Make The Pasta

Add ½ cup chopped onions and 2 teaspoon chopped garlic to the same pan and saute until onions turn transparent (45-50 seconds), stirring frequently.

Scrape the browned bits of chicken from the bottom of the pan.

Add 7 oz (200 g) of sundried tomatoes and 2 tablespoon of the oil from the jar and cook for 50-60 seconds.

Sun dried tomatoes with oil added to the pan.

Now add 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour and cook for 30-35 seconds, stirring frequently.

Reduce the heat to medium.

Add 2 cups of chicken broth and 2 cups of whole milk and stir well.

Chicken broth, cream and milk stirred in the pan.

Add 10 oz (300 g) of uncooked elbow macaroni and mix everything well.

Macaroni, salt and pepper added to the pan.

Cook for 10-12 minutes until the macaroni is al dente, stirring frequently.

Add 2 cups of chopped spinach and mix well.

Now add

1 cup of shredded parmesan cheese
1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese
½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese

and cook for 2-3 minutes until the spinach is wilted and the cheese is melted.

If the sauce is too thick, add some more milk. Keep in mind that the sauce will thicken some more once it starts to cool down.

Check for salt and pepper and add more if needed.

Slice the cooked chicken into strips and stir it in the pasta.

Cooked chicken cut into strips added to the pan.

Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley on top and serve immediately.

Ready Tuscan chicken mac and cheese garnished with chopped parsley.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to make it vegetarian?

To make this macaroni recipe vegetarian, skip adding chicken and replace it with veggies like mushrooms, zucchini, eggplant, and bell peppers. You can also add tofu, white beans, etc., to the vegetarian version.

Replace chicken broth with vegetable broth.

How to make it gluten-free?

Use gluten-free pasta and substitute all-purpose flour with any preferred gluten-free flour.

Pro Tips By Neha

If you have leftover rotisserie chicken, then shred it and add it directly to the cooked paste.

Use the leftover sun-dried tomato oil to make salad dressing.

Serving Suggestions

Garlic Bread: Serve your Tuscan chicken macaroni and cheese with warm and toasty garlic bread to add crunch and flavor to the dish.

Roasted Vegetables: Roasted vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, or asparagus make a great side dish for this pasta. The savory and creamy flavors of the mac and cheese pair well with the slightly sweet and nutty flavors of roasted vegetables.

Salad: Serve it with a simple side salad to add freshness to the meal. A Caesar salad or mixed greens salad with a light vinaigrette would complement the rich and creamy flavors of the macaroni and cheese.

Storage Suggestions

Refrigerator: If you plan to eat your pasta dish within 3-4 days, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Make sure the dish has cooled down to room temperature before placing it in the fridge to avoid moisture buildup.

Freezer: If you want to keep your pasta for a longer period, you can store it in the freezer. Place the cooled-down dish in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag, and remove any excess air. It can be stored in the freezer for 2-3 months.

Reheating: When you are ready to eat your pasta, you can reheat it in the microwave or oven. If you are reheating from the refrigerator, it can be heated in the microwave in 1-2 minute intervals, occasionally stirring, until heated through. If you are reheating from the freezer, it is best to thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before reheating it in the microwave or oven.

Add some milk while reheating, as the pasta thickens after refrigeration.

Reheat the amount you want to eat. Reheating again and again will spoil the pasta.