Smashed Broccoli and Chicken Mac & Cheese

pasta / quick meals / kids menu

the easiest and creamiest mac an cheese! comfort food at its finest. and the perfect way to sneak in those veggies!

think: broccoli cheddar soup + chicken & cheesy rice + white mac and cheese. if these three dishes had a baby, it would be damn delicious and turn out just like this. also, the pasta only takes 10 minutes!!! I had the grilled chicken all ready to go, but you can make this from scratch and pan fry or grill the chicken before you make the rest the rest of the dish.

Smashed Broccoli and Chicken Mac & Cheese

ingredients:

• 1/2 pound of your favorite short pasta noodles

• 1 1/2 cup frozen or fresh broccoli

• 1/8 cup water

• 2 tbsp butter

• 2 tbsp flour

• 1 cup lite half and half or cream

• 1 tsp salt

• 1 tsp pepper

• pinch red pepper flakes

• 1 tsp garlic powder

• thyme leaves

• 1/2 cup parmesan or shredded white cheddar (or both!)

• diced grilled chicken

directions:

1. boil your pasta according to package.

2. in a small pot with the water, add your bag of frozen or frresh broccoli and steam until it is softened (should be a little less than 10 minutes).

3. once your broccoli is soft, smash it with a back of a fork.

4. as your broccoli and pasta are cooking, heat the butter in a large pan on low until it browns.

5. whisk in flour and cook for a couple minutes.

6. stir in lite cream or half and half and keep whisking.

7. add in your seasonings while whisking (salt, cracked black pepper, garlic powder, thyme, red pepper flakes).

8. your sauce will begin to thicken immediately so add in more cream if needed.

9. stir in the cheese.

10. when the sauce thickens and the broccoli is smashed, stir in the broccoli with the sauce.

11. add in some of the pasta water to loosen the sauce back up, whisk, and then fold in your cooked pasta and some diced grilled chicken.

12. top with more parm, duh!