Description
Creamy crack chicken macaroni and cheese combines tender pasta with a rich, cheesy sauce and savory chicken. Rich flavors merge perfectly, making you crave each comforting bite of this irresistible Southern-style dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 16 ounces (454 grams) elbow macaroni
- 2 cups (226 grams) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 1/2 cups (340 grams) cooked, chopped chicken
Dairy and Cheese Ingredients:
- 1 (8-ounce/227 grams) package cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) sour cream
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) milk
- 1 cup (113 grams) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup (113 grams) shredded mozzarella cheese
Seasoning and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 (10.75-ounce/305 grams) can cream of chicken soup
- 1 (1-ounce/28 grams) packet ranch dressing mix
- 1/2 cup (57 grams) cooked, crumbled turkey bacon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook macaroni until al dente, following package instructions, then drain and set aside.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, whisk together cream cheese, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, cheddar, mozzarella, and ranch dressing mix until smooth and creamy.
- Fold in cooked chicken and crumbled turkey bacon, ensuring even distribution throughout the mixture.
- Gently incorporate the cooked macaroni into the creamy mixture, stirring carefully to coat each pasta piece.
- Add milk and stir thoroughly to create a uniform, silky consistency.
- Transfer the entire mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly to ensure consistent cooking.
- Sprinkle additional sharp cheddar cheese over the top for a golden, crispy finish.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbling, and develops a beautiful golden-brown crust.
Notes
- Customize the ranch seasoning by using homemade mix to control sodium and flavor intensity.
- Replace turkey bacon with crispy regular bacon or vegetarian bacon bits for varied textures and dietary preferences.
- Consider using low-fat cream cheese and reduced-sodium cream of chicken soup to make the dish lighter without compromising taste.
- For gluten-free version, swap regular macaroni with gluten-free pasta and ensure all other ingredients are certified gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 548
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 870 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 51 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg