As a stay at home mom, I am always looking for easy lunch or dinner ideas. When I wake up in the morning and I’m not even finished with breakfast I’ll be trying to figure out what is for Supper that day. I hope that I’m not the only mom doing this! LOL. “Cream of Chicken Mac & Cheese Recipe w/Chicken Breast”
Usually, my husband gets home around 5:20pm and I try to have Supper ready. For Supper, my family will sit down together at our dining room table, eat and discuss everyone’s day. This chicken mac & cheese with it’s creamy sauce is the ultimate comfort food for the whole family.
It is a versatile cream of chicken soup recipe casserole and different ingredients or spices can be added or left out. For example, for this casserole dish recipe I have only added simple ingredients of black pepper and a little salt, but here are some different ideas to change up this main dish recipe:
- Italian seasoning
- fresh parsley
- dried herbs
- ranch seasoning
- parmesan cheese
- garlic powder or garlic cloves – garlic powder is an ingredient that I add and the entire family loves it!
- onion powder
- red pepper flakes – these are a great idea to give this chicken casserole dish a little heat
- sun-dried tomatoes – exchange these for the Rotel tomatoes
- any cheddar cheese will work – choose your families favorite cheese
- garlic and heavy cream to make an alfredo sauce for a creamy garlic chicken
- chicken broth – add a little broth or chicken stock to leftover mac & cheese to prevent dryness
- sour cream – to make a sour cream sauce to pour over the noodles
- tablespoons of butter – to make a richer delicious sauce
- little lemon juice
What kind of noodles for a mac & cheese dish?
- elbow noodles – these are the most popular type of noodles for macaroni and cheese
- egg noodles
- spaghetti noodles
Macaroni and cheese Q&A
Is macaroni and cheese a side dish? It is a side dish unless you add some type of protein, for example boneless skinless chicken breasts.
What side dishes can I serve with chicken mac & cheese? Green beans, corn on the cob, sweet peas, broccoli or a garden salad.
Do I have to add noodles to my mac & cheese? No, you can replace the noodles with brown rice or white rice.
What can I replace noodles for in a mac & cheese? Regular rice or cauliflower rice.
How can I substitute noodles? Replace noodles with gluten free noodles or whole wheat noodles.
What vegetables can you turn into noodles? Zucchini and make zucchini noodles.
Is mac and cheese keto? No, not unless you exchange the pasta noodles with cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles.
Can you eat macaroni on keto? Are noodles keto? No, regular pasta noodles are not keto-friendly or low carb.
Is mac and cheese high in carbs? Yes, if regular noodles are used then this dish is a high carb meal.
Can I eat macaroni on a low carb diet? Not regular pasta noodles, because they are not keto friendly.
What kind of chicken is in a chicken casserole?
For most of my chicken casseroles, I like to add cans of white chicken breasts. These are all ready cooked and they make preparing a dish easier. But, there are so many different chicken breasts at your local supermarket, for example:
- Canned white chicken breasts – cooked chicken and ready to eat
- boneless chicken breasts – cook until internal temperature is 165 degrees f with a meat thermometer
- chicken tenders – raw or full cooked
- grilled chicken – fully cooked in the freezer section of your local grocery store
- skinless chicken thighs or chicken legs
What is in a Chicken Mac & Cheese Casserole?
These are the basic ingredients, but they can be added to or changed.
- Canned chicken or fully cooked tender chicken breasts
- Rotel
- can of cream of mushroom soup
- can of cream of chicken soup
- Cream cheese – room temperature
- Shredded cheese
- Elbow noodles
- Salt & black pepper
How do I make a Chicken Mac & Cheese?
- Cook elbow noodles, drain and set aside
- If using raw smaller chicken breasts, then cook these before adding to the baking dish. I like to cook my chicken in olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet or frying pan. Remember to not overcook so you will have juicy chicken breasts. The internal temperature should reach 165 degrees f with an instant-read thermometer.
- Place a medium size sauce pan over medium and place the undrained can of chicken, Rotel, cream of mushroom soup & chicken soup, cream cheese and shredded cheese in the pan.
- Over medium-high heat, heat and stir until cream cheese is completely melted, add salt and pepper
- Take a 9×12 dish, spray with oil, pour above mixture and drained noodles into the dish
- With a wooden spoon, mix noodles and chicken mixture completely and sprinkle cheese over the top of the casserole
- Final step, bake at 350 degrees until cheese is melted. Cooking time should be approximately 15-20 minutes.
Cream of Chicken Mac & Cheese
Easy and delicious family meal.
Ingredients
- 12.5 oz can of chicken breast (not drained)
- 2 cans of 10 oz Rotel (not drained)
- 1 can of cream of mushroom soup
- 1 can of cream of chicken soup
- 8 oz package of cream cheese
- 4 cups shredded cheese (3 cups for sauce mixture & 1 cup to sprinkle on top of casserole
- 3 cups of cooked elbow noodles
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Cook elbow noodles, drain and set aside
- If using raw smaller chicken breasts, then cook these before adding to the baking dish. I like to cook my chicken in olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet or frying pan. Remember to not overcook so you will have juicy chicken breasts. The internal temperature should reach 165 degrees f with an instant-read thermometer.
- Place a medium size sauce pan over medium and place the undrained can of chicken, Rotel, cream of mushroom soup & chicken soup, cream cheese and shredded cheese in the pan.
- Over medium-high heat, heat and stir until cream cheese is completely melted, add salt and pepper
- Take a 9×12 dish, spray with oil, pour above mixture and drained noodles into the dish
- With a wooden spoon, mix noodles and chicken mixture completely and sprinkle cheese over the top of the casserole
- Final step, bake at 350 degrees until cheese is melted. Cooking time should be approximately 15-20 minutes.
How do I prepare leftover mac and cheese?
These leftovers will be delicious the next day and especially for those busy weeknights. Place leftovers in an airtight container and place into the refrigerator for up to 5 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months.
The best part is that this easy recipe can be made ahead of time and baked or reheated for dinner tonight. Simply, prepare your easy chicken recipe and place into the refrigerator. Cook or reheat this chicken dish in the oven. Before adding the dish to the oven, place it on the counter for approximately 30 minutes, so that you are not placing a cold casserole dish into a hot oven.
So, next time you are pressed for time and need an easy dinner recipe, make this great recipe. It is one of my favorite cream of chicken recipes and will be soon be your family favorite with it’s flavorful cream sauce.
“Cream of Chicken Mac & Cheese Recipe w/Chicken Breast”
Try some of our other Recipes!
- Homemade chicken fettuccine alfredo
- Sour Cream Chicken Enchilada Casserole
- Super Easy 4 Ingredient Chicken & Dumplings recipe with big biscuits
- Baked Crunchy Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich with sweet chili mayo
- Buffalo Chicken Street Tacos with cilantro lime ranch
- Easy Italian Seasoned Chicken Breasts
- Ginger & Pineapple Chicken
- Cinnamon Tortilla Sopapillas
