The Only Chicken Mac and Cheese Recipe You’ll Ever Need

Introduction 

There’s something about mac and cheese chicken that instantly feels like home. The creamy sauce, the tender bites of chicken, and that golden cheesy topping create the kind of comfort that never fails to please. It’s the dish you crave after a long day, the one that gathers everyone around the table with happy faces and full plates.

This guide gives you everything you need to make the ultimate version of this classic comfort food. You’ll find a flawless recipe, three tasty variations, and the pro secrets to keep it perfectly creamy every single time. Whether you like it baked and crispy or smooth and saucy, this mac and cheese chicken covers it all.

Our Best-Ever Classic Mac and Cheese Chicken

This is the heart of the recipe. The creamy sauce blends three kinds of cheese with juicy shredded chicken and a crisp panko topping. It’s rich, cozy, and absolutely irresistible.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Perfectly creamy and cheesy
  
• Easy to make ahead
  
• A guaranteed family favorite
  
• Totally customizable
  

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Elbow macaroni – or any short pasta that holds sauce well
• Butter – for the roux base
• All-purpose flour – thickens the sauce
• Whole milk – gives the sauce its creamy texture
• Heavy cream – for richness
• Sharp cheddar (freshly grated) – do not use pre-shredded cheese
• Gruyère cheese – adds depth and smooth melt
• Parmesan cheese – for a salty, nutty finish
• Cooked chicken – shredded or diced (rotisserie works perfectly)
• Panko breadcrumbs – for the crispy topping
• Salt and pepper – to taste

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Cook the pasta: Boil in salted water until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
   
2. Make the roux: In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for one minute.
   
3. Add milk and cream: Slowly whisk in the liquids until smooth and slightly thickened.
   
4. Add cheese: Remove from heat, then stir in cheddar, gruyère, and parmesan in small handfuls until melted.
   
5. Add chicken and pasta: Stir in cooked chicken and pasta until evenly coated.
   
6. Assemble the casserole: Pour into a greased baking dish, sprinkle with panko, and add a little extra cheese on top.
   
7. Bake: Cook in a preheated oven at 375°F for about 20 minutes until golden and bubbly.
   
8. Serve hot: Let it cool slightly before serving. The sauce thickens perfectly as it rests.

The Only Mac and Cheese Chicken Recipe

This creamy and comforting Chicken Mac and Cheese blends three rich cheeses with tender shredded chicken and a crisp golden topping. Perfectly indulgent and endlessly customizable, it’s the ultimate comfort dish that brings everyone to the table smiling.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Course dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American, Comfort Food

Servings 6 servings

Calories 720 kcal

Ingredients

  

Base

• 1 lb elbow macaroni or any short pasta
• 4 tbsp butter
• 4 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 3 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
• 1 cup gruyère cheese, grated
• 0.5 cup parmesan cheese, grated
• 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

 

• Boil the pasta in salted water until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
• In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for one minute to form a roux.
• Slowly whisk in milk and cream until smooth and slightly thickened.
• Remove from heat and stir in cheddar, gruyère, and parmesan until melted and creamy.
• Stir in the cooked chicken and pasta until evenly coated.
• Pour mixture into a greased baking dish. Sprinkle with panko and extra cheese.
• Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20 minutes or until golden and bubbly.
• Let cool slightly before serving. The sauce will thicken as it rests.

Notes

• For a spicy kick, try the Buffalo variation using hot sauce and blue cheese.
• For smoky depth, add BBQ sauce and Gouda. Avoid pre-shredded cheese for a smoother texture.
• Grate fresh cheese and take it off the heat to prevent graininess. Serve with a crisp salad, garlic bread, or roasted broccoli for a balanced meal.

3 Delicious Variations on the Classic

Love the classic mac and cheese chicken? Try these exciting versions that bring new flavors to your favorite comfort dish. Each one starts with the same creamy base recipe, then adds a special twist that changes the flavor completely.

Spicy Buffalo Mac and Cheese Chicken

Bring some heat to your creamy comfort food with this bold and flavorful buffalo version. The sauce gets a spicy kick that pairs perfectly with the tangy blue cheese.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb elbow macaroni
• 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 4 tablespoons flour
• 3 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
• 1 cup gruyère cheese, grated
• ½ cup parmesan cheese
• ½ cup Frank’s RedHot
• ½ cup blue cheese crumbles
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• Salt and pepper to taste
  

Instructions:

1. Follow the base recipe up to the sauce step.
   
2. Stir Frank’s RedHot into the cheese sauce before adding pasta and chicken.
   
3. Mix in half of the blue cheese crumbles.
   
4. Transfer to a baking dish, sprinkle the rest of the blue cheese and panko on top.
   
5. Bake until golden and bubbly.

Smoky BBQ Mac and Cheese Chicken

This smoky and slightly sweet version is perfect for BBQ lovers. The sauce is rich, cheesy, and balanced with tangy BBQ flavors.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb elbow macaroni
  
• 2 cups shredded BBQ chicken
  
• 4 tablespoons butter
  
• 4 tablespoons flour
  
• 3 cups whole milk
  
• 1 cup heavy cream
  
• 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
  
• 1 cup Gouda cheese, grated
  
• ½ cup parmesan cheese
  
• ¼ cup BBQ sauce (plus more for drizzling)
  
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  
• Salt and pepper to taste
  

Instructions:

1. Prepare the base sauce as usual.
   
2. Stir in the BBQ sauce along with the melted cheese.
   
3. Fold in the shredded BBQ chicken and pasta.
   
4. Pour into a baking dish, top with panko and a drizzle of BBQ sauce.
   
5. Bake until bubbly and slightly caramelized.

Jalapeño Popper Mac and Cheese Chicken

All the flavor of jalapeño poppers wrapped into a creamy, cheesy pasta bake. Perfect for those who love a little heat and extra richness.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb elbow macaroni
• 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 4 tablespoons flour
• 3 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
• 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, grated
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2 jalapeños, finely diced (remove seeds for mild heat)
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• Salt and pepper to taste
  

Instructions:

1. Prepare the base roux and add milk and cream.
   
2. Stir in cream cheese until melted and smooth.
   
3. Add cheddar, Monterey Jack, and diced jalapeños.
   
4. Mix in chicken and pasta until well combined.
   
5. Pour into a baking dish, top with panko, and bake until bubbly with a golden crust

Pro Tips for Perfect Mac and Cheese, Every Time

Making mac and cheese chicken that stays creamy and smooth takes more than good ingredients. It’s about knowing the right techniques and a few kitchen secrets that make all the difference. These tips will help you create a sauce that’s silky, flavorful, and never grainy.

The Science of a Silky Smooth Cheese Sauce (No Graininess!)

A perfect cheese sauce starts with a proper roux. The butter and flour mixture acts as the base that thickens your sauce and keeps the texture even. Cook it for about one minute to remove the raw flour taste, but don’t let it brown.

Next, slowly whisk in the milk and cream to form a béchamel sauce. Patience is key here. Add the liquid in small amounts, whisking until it becomes smooth before adding more. Once the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, take it off the heat.

Cheese should always be added off the heat in small handfuls. Adding it too quickly or while the sauce is boiling can cause separation or a grainy texture. Stir gently until each addition melts completely.

The Best Cheeses for Melting and Flavor

Not all cheeses melt the same way. Choosing the right mix gives your dish both smooth texture and rich flavor.

• Sharp Cheddar: The foundation cheese that adds that classic mac flavor.
  
• Gruyère: Smooth, nutty, and melts beautifully.
  
• Fontina: Creamy and mild, perfect for balance.
  
• Gouda: Brings a slightly smoky touch and extra stretch.
  

Avoid pre-shredded cheese because it often contains anti-caking agents that stop it from melting properly. Grate your cheese fresh for the best texture.

Choosing the Right Pasta Shape

The pasta you pick makes a big difference in how well the sauce clings to every bite. Shapes with ridges or curves hold more cheese, giving each forkful a perfect balance of sauce and pasta.

Good options include:

• Cavatappi, with its spiral shape that traps cheese inside every curl
  
• Rigatoni for a hearty texture that stays firm
  
• Shells that scoop up bits of chicken and sauce perfectly
  

Cook the pasta just until al dente since it will continue cooking a bit in the oven. Overcooked pasta can make the dish mushy instead of creamy.

What to Serve with Chicken Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese Chicken is rich, creamy, and satisfying on its own, but pairing it with the right sides makes the meal complete. A little freshness or crunch balances the cheesy goodness and turns dinner into something special. Here are a few simple sides that match perfectly.

A Crisp Green Salad

A light green salad is a refreshing contrast to the creamy pasta. Toss together mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, and a simple vinaigrette made with olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. The acidity cuts through the richness and keeps the meal feeling balanced.

Garlic Bread

Warm, buttery garlic bread is the classic side that never fails. Spread a mix of butter, minced garlic, and parsley on slices of French bread, then toast until golden. The crunchy texture and savory flavor pair beautifully with the creamy sauce.

Roasted Broccoli

Roasted broccoli adds both color and nutrition to your plate. Toss the florets with olive oil, salt, and pepper, then roast until the edges are slightly crisp. The slight bitterness of the broccoli balances the cheesy flavor and adds a pleasant bite.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

You’ve made your creamy chicken mac and cheese, and now you might have a few questions. Here are the most common ones with clear answers to help you get it right every time.

Conclusion

There you have it, the only mac and cheese chicken recipe you’ll ever need. From the creamy classic to the bold and flavorful variations, this dish brings comfort and joy in every bite. Whether you’re cooking for your family, meal prepping for the week, or looking to impress friends at dinner, this recipe always hits the mark.

Now it’s your turn to make it your own. Try one of the versions or mix in your favorite twist. If you make this recipe, share your results in the comments below and leave a star rating. Your feedback helps others find and enjoy it too.

Don’t forget to snap a photo of your creation and tag it on social media. Nothing beats seeing your golden, cheesy masterpiece fresh out of the oven.

• Author
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Janelle

Hey, I’m Janelle — lifelong cheese lover, accidental recipe blogger, and creator of Essence Cheese. I grew up in a home where mac and cheese was a food group and cheesecake was emotional support. Now I share cheesy comfort recipes that are simple, soulful, and always satisfying. If it melts, bakes, or swirls into creaminess… I’m probably writing about it.

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