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Spicy Baked Mac and Cheese with Chicken

This homemade mac and cheese recipe is cooked with a spicy chicken mixture and a creamy béchamel sauce.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Course: Main Course
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 chicken breasts cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1/2 red bell pepper diced
  • 1 jalapeno diced
  • 1/2 onion chopped
  • 2 teaspoons chili sauce Sriarcha or similar
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder divided
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1 stick butter
  • 1 tbsp flour
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
  • Salt to taste
  • Pepper to taste
  • 1 1/2 cups macaroni (Dry) cooked according to package
  • 10 Crackers crushed

Method
 

  1. Heat the olive oil in a sauté pan.
  2. Add the onions, peppers, and chicken and cook until chicken is no longer pink and veggies are soft and fragrant.
  3. Add salt (to taste), 1/2 tsp of chili powder, and chili sauce and cook for about 2-3 minutes until all the chicken is coated.
  4. Switch the heat off and set aside.
Directions for Béchamel Sauce:
  1. Melt the butter over low heat.
  2. As soon as the butter melts, slowly add the flour and whisk until smooth and there are no longer any lumps.
  3. Now add the milk very slowly and stir again very vigorously.
  4. Continue to slowly add the milk as you whisk.
  5. Let the sauce cook and simmer for 7-8 minutes or until it becomes thick. Don't forget to stir, and don't let it boil over.
  6. Add a little salt, pepper, 1 cup cheddar cheese, and 1/2 tsp chili powder while it's cooking.
  7. Turn off the heat and stir in the chicken mixture and cooked macaroni.
  8. Pour pasta into a sprayed 9x13 baking dish .
  9. Top with 1 cup of cheese and crushed crackers.
  10. Bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and crackers are browned.

Notes

** If preparing a head, refrigerate then bake a little longer until hot throughout.
**If freezing, cook according to instructions and BEFORE baking- cover with foil and freeze.  Thaw and bake or can bake from frozen, too!