Cheesy chicken mac and cheese with veggies. Homemade mac and cheese with grilled steak or chicken is the ultimate comfort food. Add some grill vegetables to the dish and you have one amazing dinner! Cooked pasta is combined with cheese, diced cooked chicken, and veggies then popped in the oven for a quick, family-pleasing, one-dish dinner.

When done cooking, drain noodle and veggie mixture. Return noodles and veggies to pot, add chicken and, over medium heat, stir in cheese, milk, butter and spices until creamy and everything is warmed through. Chicken and cheese are made for each other in the ultimate comfort food — easy chicken mac and cheese. You can have Cheesy chicken mac and cheese with veggies using 14 ingredients and 5 steps. Here is how you achieve that.

Ingredients of Cheesy chicken mac and cheese with veggies

It's 2 of chicken breasts.
You need 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
You need 1/4 teaspoon of pepper.
It's 1/2 cup of water.
It's 8 ounces of dried elbow macaroni.
Prepare 2 of carrots, thinly sliced.
Prepare 1 of small onion, chopped.
Prepare 3 cloves of garlic, minced.
You need 1 tablespoon of butter.
Prepare 3 cups of water.
You need 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese (8 ounces).
You need 4 ounces of cream cheese, cut into cubes.
Prepare 3/4 cup of half-and-half.
You need 2 cups of coarsely torn fresh spinach (optional).

Meanwhile, my wife and I usually like it dressed up a bit, either by adding a handful of crispy breadcrumbs as a topper over each bowl for a little texture, or by mixing in some roasted veggies. For a baked mac and cheese, top it with breadcrumbs and finish it in the oven. Made this a second time and it was still soooo good! Left out the chicken sausage this time and instead added a bag of spinach.

Cheesy chicken mac and cheese with veggies step by step

Cook the chicken on the stove, sprinkle with 1/4 salt and pepper.
In a different pot, boil water for the elbow macaroni. After water comes to a complete boil. Put the noodles in the pot and let them boil for 10-15 minutes or until tender.
Mix in the thinly sliced carrots, chopped onion, minced garlic, butter and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon of salt to the elbow macaroni. Pour the 3 cups of water over all in the pot. Cook on high for 2 minutes. DO NOT DRAIN THE LIQUID..
Add cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and half-and-half to macaroni mixure in the pot. Cook and stir for 2-3 minutes or until the cheese is melted and mixture is well combined..
Chop up the chicken. Stir into the hot macaroni and cheese. If desired, stir in spinach just before serving..

I make your baked mac and cheese with the broccoli all the time, so this was a very easy. Side dishes for mac and cheese can be as easy as sliced apples and carrot sticks or a bagged salad. Or you can steam a bag of frozen vegetables Sweet corn and tomatoes helps ensure this colorful side is kid-friendly. What's even better is you can start with fresh or frozen veggies, depending on. This baked mac and cheese is a family favorite recipe, loved by both children and adults.