Best Grilled Chicken And Bacon Mac N Cheese From Rachael Ray Recipes

GRILLED CHICKEN AND BACON MAC 'N' CHEESE FROM RACHAEL RAY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°. Arrange the bacon on a slotted broiler pan or on a rack placed over a baking sheet and bake until crisp, about 15 minutes. Chop and reserve. Switch on the broiler and position the rack in the center of the oven.
• Bring a pot of water to a boil, salt it, add the pasta and cook 1 minute less than the instructions indicate, or until just shy of al dente. Drain and return to the pot.
• While the pasta is working, heat a grill pan or cast-iron griddle over medium-high heat. Drizzle the chicken with EVOO to coat lightly, then season evenly with the paprika, salt and pepper. Grill the chicken for about 10 minutes, turning occasionally. Transfer to a cutting board and halve the pieces lengthwise, then thinly slice crosswise.
• While the chicken cooks, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until light golden and very soft, 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle in the flour and stir for 1 minute. Whisk in the cider (or stock), then the milk. Bring to a boil and cook, whisking, until the sauce coats the back of a spoon, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the thyme and season with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Stir in the cheeses until melted.
• Add the chicken, bacon and sauce to the pasta and transfer to a casserole. Broil until bubbling and browned, about 5 minutes. Garnish with the parsley (or celery greens).

GRILLED CHICKEN CAESAR MAC

Steps:

• Heat grill pan over high heat.
• Coat the chicken in extra-virgin olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill about 12 minutes, turning occasionally, then set aside.
• Bring water in saucepot to a boil for the pasta. Salt the water, add pasta and undercook by 1 minute.
• While the pasta cooks, melt 6 tablespoons butter in a separate saucepot. Spoon out 1/2 and toss with the panko to moisten. Combine with 1/2 the grated Pecorino and reserve. To the remaining melted butter, add the garlic and anchovy paste, lots of coarse black pepper, stir 2 minutes then whisk in flour then stock, milk, and Worcestershire, thicken until it coats a spoon, then stir in the remaining half of the grated Pecorino.
• Drain the pasta. Halve the chicken breasts lengthwise, then thinly slice and combine with the pasta and sauce, transfer to a casserole and top with the bread crumbs. Cool and store for make-ahead meal.
• To reheat: Reheat, covered, in a hot 425 degree F oven to warm through, then uncover to brown.
• Serve with shredded escarole or romaine and dress with lemon juice and extra-virgin olive oil. Serve alongside Chicken Caesar Mac.

BACON BURGER MAC 'N' CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta. Salt the water and cook the pasta shy of al dente, 5 to 6 minutes.
• While the water comes to a boil, heat the EVOO in a Dutch oven or deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and crisp. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and remove some of the drippings, leaving a thin layer. Add the beef, brown and crumble, but leave a few larger pieces. Season with salt and pepper. Once the beef has caramelized, add the onions and cook to tender. Add the stock and Worcestershire, then reduce the heat to low.
• In a saucepot over medium to medium-high heat, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour, cook 1 minute. Whisk in the milk and season with salt and pepper. Thicken to coat the back of a spoon. Stir in the cheese. When the cheese has melted into the sauce, stir in the mustard, ketchup, relish and hot sauce. Combine the pasta with the sauce and fold in the meat. Place in a large casserole dish. Cool and store for a make-ahead meal.
• To serve, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Bring the casserole to room temp then bake until brown and bubbly on top and golden at edges, 45 to 50 minutes.

MAC 'N CHEESE WITH GRILLED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Prepare the macaroni and cheese base by bringing a large pot of salted water to boil; add the pasta and cook until al dente, according to package directions, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat a medium saucepan, over medium high heat, and saute shallots, in the olive oil, until they just begin to color; stir in heavy cream, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook until reduced by half, about 8 to 10 minutes.
• Whisk in cheese until melted; stir in drained pasta.
• Remove from heat and keep warm.
• Drizzle the olive oil over the chicken and season with salt and pepper; sprinkle with parsley and rosemary.
• Grill chicken, over medium heat, to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F; remove from heat, cover, and keep warm.
• In a medium sized skillet, over medium high heat, cook pancetta until crisp, about 5 to 7 minutes; remove pancetta with a slotted spoon and set aside (leave fat in pan).
• Sprinkle the bread crumbs into the pan and stir, until toasted, about 1 minute; remove from heat and drain bread crumbs on paper toweling.
• Heat the macaroni base, over medium heat, until hot, stirring frequently.
• Meanwhile, slice the chicken into strips; stir the chicken into the macaroni base, then stir in the pancetta, chopped parsley and white truffle oil; toss to coat.
• Divide mac 'n cheese among 4 serving bowls, top with bread crumbs, and serve.