Ben and I spent the weekend in Chicago with friends and in true just getting home from vacation fashion, I was trying to think of something really quick and easy to make for dinner tonight, as I haven’t had time to go to the grocery store yet. Then I remembered a yummy, 30-minute meal I made a few weeks ago that I haven’t shared yet: Broccoli Chicken Mac and Cheese.
Large macaroni noodles, sauteed chicken, and fresh broccoli are tossed in a luscious, light and creamy sauce that does not get any simpler to make, and tastes totally gourmet. Only you and I will know that it’s made with 99% fridge and pantry staples, and takes 30-minutes (or less) to make. Shhh! Tell ’em ya’ slaved!
Start the Broccoli-Chicken Mac & Cheese by dropping 8oz large macaroni noodles into salted, boiling water. I know I say this all the time, but adding 1-2 teaspoons of salt to pasta water when it boils adds sooooo much flavor to the pasta. Try it once and you’ll know exactly what I mean!
When the pasta has about 3 minutes left to cook, drop in 3 cups small broccoli florets, then drain everything and set it aside.
Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, then add 2 teaspoons cooking oil. We’re going to stir in some chopped sun-dried tomatoes in a bit so I used the oil from the SDT jar, but you can use whatever you want.
Add 2 chicken breasts that have been chopped into bite-sized pieces and seasoned with salt & pepper, then saute until they’re cooked through and remove to a plate.
Onto that rich and creamy (gourmet tasting!) sauce. In the same skillet as the chicken, add 6oz Laughing Cow Light Cheese, which is all 6 wedges. Laughing Cow Cheese is a DREAM – so creamy and flavorful, but only 35 calories per wedge. I love it with crackers, and in this mac!
Next add in 3/4 cup milk, and 1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes.
Let the cheese melt and the sauce bubble until everything is thick and melty. YUM!
Finally, add in the cooked chicken, noodles, and broccoli, then toss everything to combine.
Dinner is served!
Broccoli Chicken Mac and Cheese
Equipment
- 1 large pot
- 1 large skillet
Ingredients
- 8 oz gluten-free or regular macaroni noodles dish will not be GF if using regular macaroni noodles
- 3 cups small broccoli florets
- 2 large chicken breasts ~1lb, cut into bite-sized pieces
- salt and pepper
- 2 teaspoons oil I used oil from the sun-dried tomatoes
- 6 oz Laughing Cow Lite Cheese Wedges I like Garlic & Herb flavor
- 3/4 - 1 cup milk any kind
- 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil chopped
Instructions
- Cook macaroni noodles in a large pot of salted, boiling water. Add broccoli to the pot 3 minutes before noodles are done cooking, then drain well and set aside.
- Meanwhile, season chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then add chicken and cook until no longer pink. Remove to a plate and set aside. In the same skillet, add cheese, milk, sun-dried tomatoes, salt, and pepper, then stir until cheese is melted, and sauce is thick. Add cooked chicken, noodles, and broccoli to the skillet then stir well to combine. Add more milk if sauce isn't creamy enough, then serve.
Notes
Nutrition
This is total comfort food, but so stinking easy, and much lighter than traditional macaroni & cheeses.
Laughing Cow has a ton of different flavors to customize this dish to your tastes, too. I used Garlic Herb, but was mighty tempted by the Sun-dried Tomato Basil flavor. Go with your gut though, and enjoy!
Favorite Finds 10.19.12 06.04.2013
[…] Source […]
Hannah 04.06.2013
This is super quick and easy. I would skip the sundried tomatoes next time, sacrilegious I know, but it didn’t match the flavours for me. All in all, quick and easy and tasty. My dad devoured it.
Brittany 01.09.2013
I was looking for some fun ways to use chicken breast and found this on your recipes page. I don’t like traditional mac and cheese, but this was great! I will probably sub in the cheese sauce for alfredo sometimes to cut the calories. Wonderful post!
WIAW 1.9.13 01.09.2013
[…] For lunch I heated up leftovers from over the weekend of this seriously amazing recipe I got from Iowa Girl Eats. I pinned it forever ago but I never made it. So this weekend I figured was the moment and […]
Sadye 01.08.2013
Definitely an easy recipe to make in a short amount of time! The sun-dried tomato usage (plus cooking the chicken in its oil) was my personal favorite.
Hina 12.14.2012
I just made this with rotini and substituted the broccoli with asparagus because that’s what I had on hand…so delicious!!! And I was concerned about what would become of the Costco sized laughing cow in my fridge…I had no idea it could be transformed into something so amazing!
Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese | Iowa Girl Eats 11.15.2012
[…] bond between woman, pasta, and cheese is strong.From Mediterranean and Greek, to Tomato Soup and Broccoli Chicken, my mouth literally starts watering every time I stumble upon a new and unique mac and cheese […]
Lightened-Up Veggie Mac & Cheese | Clean Eating Veggie Girl 10.23.2012
[…] ARE good!). When I saw Iowa Girl Eat’s blog post for a Broccoli-Chicken Mac & Cheese (https://iowagirleats.com/2012/10/08/broccoli-chicken-mac-cheese-30-minute-meal/), I was inspired to create this […]
Favorite Finds Friday 10.19.12 | Life's a Bowl 10.19.2012
[…] Source […]
Audrey 10.16.2012
HOLY PAJAMAS. I made this for dinner tonight and it is absolutely amazing!!! Can we br friends?
Cheesy Shells & Broccoli « Butter and Other Good Things 10.15.2012
[…] so I thought. This Cheesy Shells & Broccoli recipe is inspired by the Broccoli-Chicken Mac & Cheese over on Iowa Girl Eats. The woman is a genius. Seriously! Although, the only foreign object I like […]
Samantha 10.15.2012
I made this tonight & it was delicious! I am not a fan of sun-dried tomatoes so I substituted artichoke hearts & they worked great! Another great use for Laughing Cow.. my addiction continues :)
Hina 10.15.2012
Love this recipe! Especially since I have a bunch of laughing cow in my fridge from my costco trip…Would you recommend any substitutions for the sun-dried tomatoes? I have so many jars of stuff in my fridge and I’d hate to add to my collection. I have a jar of roasted red peppers…would those work?
Iowa Girl Eats 10.16.2012
That would probably work out just fine!
Not-Your-Typical Mac and Cheese | Real Food, Please. 10.14.2012
[…] Recipe Courtesy of https://iowagirleats.com/ […]
the week in photos. | little lessons in a BIG city 10.12.2012
[…] broccoli-chicken mac & cheese [it's officially on the "repeat" […]
Kaitlin 10.11.2012
Made this recipe tonight and it was so good. Cooking the chicken in the sun dried tomato oil is a great idea!
aneta 10.11.2012
You are a genius !!! <3 <3 your blog !
Josioe 10.11.2012
I made this last night…incredible! Even my picky son loved it!
Dana Hobbs 10.10.2012
Oh my word! I made this tonight with Green Bean Casserole as a side dish…and it was amazing! We are all stuffed! My 13-year old son, who is somewhat picky, ate two plates full!
Thank you for sharing!
Jamie 10.10.2012
I would have never thought of making a cheese sauce out of those wedges! DUH. I’m making this for dinner tonight and let me tell you, I am literally *THIS* excited! I haven’t had mac and cheese in aaaaaaaageeeeeees but with this healthy method I have no problem with it!