Tuscan Chicken Mac and Cheese

15- Minute Tuscan Mac and Cheese with Rotisserie Chicken

Tuscan Chicken Mac and Cheese

Ready in just 15 minutes, this easy Tuscan mac and cheese is topped with rotisserie chicken. You'll love how garlic, basil, and pimentos flavor the creamy Italian cheese sauce. Perfect for an easy family dinner.

Course Dinner

Cuisine American, Italian

Recipe Type Casseroles, Cast Iron Skillet, Chicken, High-Protein Meals, Kid-Friendly, One-pan, Pasta, Quick Dinner, Rainy Day, Rotisserie Chicken, Served Hot

Skill Level Easy

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Total Time 15

Servings Servings

Calories 616kcal

Author Angela G.

Equipment

cast iron skillet

Ingredients

4 cups macaroni pasta cooked and drained
1 rotisserie chicken warm
½ cup butter
1 teaspoon garlic paste
1 teaspoon chicken bullion
2 tablespoon flour
3 cups half and half or milk
1 cup Italian cheese blend shredded
4 oz diced pimento peppers drained
2 tablespoon fresh basil chopped
1 pinch cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes (optional for heat)

Toppings

Parmesan cheese to taste
black pepper freshly cracked

Instructions

Cook pasta. Prepare pasta according to package. Drain and set aside.
Make cheese sauce. Melt butter over medium-high heat in the same cast iron skillet or pot used to boil the pasta.
Add and saute garlic for 1 minute. Add chicken bullion. Break up and stir into butter with a whisk. Whisk in flour. Add half and half or milk. Whisk in Italian cheeses, pimentos and fresh basil. Add cayenne pepper to taste if you want to add some heat.
Let sauce thicken. Reduce heat to medium-low and whisk until cheese melts and sauce becomes thickened. Don't let it boil or the cheese may separate and the sauce may become grainy.
Add pasta. Stir in cooked macaroni then remove from heat.
Add chicken. Slice off chicken breast from a warm rotisserie chicken and cut into slices or bite sized pieces and place on top of the mac and cheese for serving. Top with grated Parmesan cheese right before enjoying.

Video

Notes

To thin the cheese sauce, add a little more half and half or milk.
Let flour bubble in melted butter for about 1 minute to help cook out the floury taste.

Nutrition