Best Chipotle Chicken Mac Cheese Recipes

SUNNY'S EASY CHIPOTLE CHICKEN BAKED MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• For the chicken and pasta: Remove 4 to 5 chipotle peppers and a bit of adobo sauce from the can and rub it all over the chicken; measure out 2 tablespoons of the adobo sauce and set aside for later (reserve any remaining chiles and adobo sauce from the can for another use). Rest the chicken in a bowl or on a plate for 2 hours total, refrigerated first for 1 1/2 hours, then at room temperature for an additional 30 minutes.
• In a large pot, add the garlic, chicken and the chipotle peppers from the marinade. Add just enough water to cover, then bring to a boil on medium high. Once boiling, turn the heat to the lowest setting and poach the chicken until cooked through, about 15 minutes. Remove the chicken to a plate and rest (reserve the poaching water for cooking the pasta). Fish out the peppers and discard them; place the garlic cloves in a large bowl and smash them with the back of a spoon or your hands. Once the chicken is cool enough to touch, shred it by hand into bite-size pieces.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Use the butter or cooking spray to coat the bottom and sides of a 13-by-9-inch casserole dish.
• In the same pot used to poach the chicken, add more water to the poaching water and a nice pinch of salt and bring the pot back to a boil (watch the water; it may foam up a bit from the poaching process). Add the pasta and cook 1 minute less than the package suggests. Drain the pasta in a colander.
• For the sauce: In the large bowl with the garlic, add the heavy cream, cheese, crema, flour, pepper, scallions, eggs, reserved 2 tablespoons adobo sauce, shredded chicken and cooked pasta. Stir to combine. Pour into the prepared dish.
• For the topping: In a medium bowl, toss together the crushed chips and cheese. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the dish. Bake, uncovered, until golden brown on top, about 30 minutes.

CHIPOTLE CHICKEN MAC AND CHEESE WITH BACON BREAD CRUMBS #RSC

Steps:

• Preheat oven 350.
• Melt the butter in a pot over medium heat. Add the onions and sweat for 2 minutes. Add the garlic and sweat for 1 minute or until the onions are translucent. Using a wooden spoon stir in the flour until fully incorporated. Slowly add the chicken stock, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Bring to a simmer and reduce heat to almost low and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• While the mixture is simmering heat a sauté pan with 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat until it is almost smoking. Add chicken, season with salt and cook until browned on all sides and cooked through. Add chipotle peppers with 2 tbsp adobo and toss to coat. Toss the chicken with the cooked macaroni and put in a 9x13 inch baking dish and set aside.
• To finish the cheese sauce bring half and half to a gentle simmer and slowly mix in to roux. Add the ranch, cheddar, and 2 tbsp adobo and mix to combine. Season with salt to taste. Add cheese sauce to the baking dish and mix to combine with macaroni and chicken. Sprinkle with bacon bread crumbs and bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly. (If desired after baking use the broiler to achieve a more brown and crisp top).
• For bacon bread crumbs cook bacon till crispy, allow to cool, and then finely mince. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and toss to mix. Bacon bread crumbs can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

BAKED CHIPOTLE CHICKEN MAC & CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring about 1 1/2 gallons of water to a full boil in a large saucepan. Add a generous amount of salt, and add the macaroni, stir.
• Cook for 9 minutes, stirring every couple of minutes, to ensure they don't stick together. Drain very well, toss the macaroni with the chicken, and set aside.
• Melt butter in another large saucepan, add the flour, and cook until very light brown, over medium heat.
• Slowly whisk in the milk and chicken broth, continue whisking for one minute. Reduce the heat, and simmer while whisking, until it thickens. It should be the consistency of smooth gravy. Turn off the heat, and whisk in the cheeses until smooth.
• Mix the cheese sauce with the macaroni/chicken mixture in the same pot that you boiled it in, or a very large mixing bowl.
• Spray two 13x9 inches baking dishes with cooking spray, and add the breadcrumbs to the pan, shaking them around to coat the entire pan. Discard the excess. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP! It will ensure that your macaroni and cheese doesn't get stuck to the pan.
• Pour the mac & cheese into the baking pan, and smooth it out a little bit.
• Cover with aluminum foil, and bake @ 350 for 30-35 minutes, until bubbling.
• Remove from the oven, and cool for at least 5 minutes before serving.

CHIPOTLE CHICKEN MAC & CHEESE

Steps:

• Blend 1 undrained can tomatoes, garlic and peppers in blender until smooth. Reserve 1/3 cup tomato mixture; set aside. Drain remaining can tomatoes; set aside. Heat dressing in large skillet on medium-high heat. Add onions; cook and stir 3 min. or until crisp-tender. Remove onions from skillet.
• Add chicken to skillet; cook on medium-high heat 1 to 2 min. on each side or until lightly browned. Top chicken with remaining tomato mixture, drained tomatoes and onions. Bring to boil; cover. Cook on low heat 15 min. Top with cheese; cover. Cook 5 min. or until cheese is melted and chicken is done (165ºF).
• Meanwhile, prepare Dinners as directed on package. Stir in reserved tomato mixture. Cook until heated through. Top with cilantro. Serve chicken over Dinners.