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A creamy and lighter twist on traditional macaroni and cheese, this Chicken Mac and Cheese Bake combines tender chicken thigh pieces and earthy mushrooms in a silky Parmesan cheese sauce. It’s everything you love about chicken mac and cheese, only baked until golden and bubbly for that comforting, crowd-pleasing finish.
What Makes This Recipe So Good
This Chicken Mac and Cheese Bake turns comfort food into something truly special. The juicy chicken pieces soak up all that creamy, cheesy goodness, while the mushrooms add an earthy depth that balances the richness beautifully. Every bite feels indulgent, but the sauce is surprisingly light thanks to a few simple swaps that keep things creamy without being heavy.
What people love most about this chicken mac and cheese recipe is how easy it is to make from scratch — no fancy steps or complicated prep. Just tender chicken, perfectly cooked pasta, and a topping that turns irresistibly golden and crisp in the oven. It’s the kind of meal that disappears fast from the dinner table every single time.
What Goes Into Chicken Mac and Cheese Bake
This Chicken Mac and Cheese Bake comes together with simple, wholesome ingredients that turn into something creamy, cheesy, and comforting. Every element adds flavor, texture, and that homemade touch that makes this dish so satisfying.
- Chicken Thigh Fillets: Juicy, tender, and full of flavor, chicken thighs make this rich and hearty without drying out during baking.
- Macaroni Pasta: Classic elbow macaroni catches all that creamy sauce beautifully, ensuring every bite is coated in cheesy perfection.
- Light Cooking Cream: Using light cream keeps this chicken mac and cheese recipe creamy without feeling too heavy — it’s comfort food with a little balance.
- Parmesan Cheese: Sharp and salty Parmesan gives this dish its irresistible depth and that golden, cheesy crust when baked.
Note: Please see recipe card at the bottom for a full list of ingredients with measurements.
How To Make Chicken Mac and Cheese Bake
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 200°C (390°F) to get it ready while you prepare the pasta and sauce.
- Cook the Pasta: Boil macaroni in a large pot of salted water until tender. Drain well, then transfer to a deep baking dish and set aside.
- Sauté the Vegetables: In a large skillet, cook the onion and carrot until the onion turns translucent. This builds a flavorful base for your creamy sauce.
- Add the Chicken and Broccoli: Stir in the chicken, broccoli, and mushrooms, cooking until the chicken is browned and the broccoli just begins to soften.
- Make the Sauce: Add garlic, cream, stock powder, and salt. Once the cream begins to simmer, remove from heat and stir in half of the Parmesan. Pour this over the pasta and coat evenly.
- Grill Until Golden: Switch the oven to grill or broil on medium heat. Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan over the top, then place the dish under the grill until golden and bubbly. Serve hot and enjoy!
This Chicken Mac and Cheese Bake pairs wonderfully with a touch of freshness and texture. Try it with Parmesan Roasted Carrots — their natural sweetness and crisp edges complement the creamy, cheesy pasta perfectly.
For an even heartier meal, serve it with Super Moist Cornbread or Crispy Broccoli Parmesan Fritters. Both sides bring that comforting, golden crunch that turns an easy bake into a dinner everyone will remember.
Tips For Making Chicken Mac And Cheese Bake
- For the best Chicken Mac and Cheese Bake, make sure your pasta is slightly undercooked before baking. It’ll continue cooking in the sauce and come out perfectly tender, not mushy.
- If you prefer a thicker, creamier sauce, let it simmer for a minute longer before combining it with the pasta. The sauce will thicken as it bakes, so don’t worry if it looks a little runny at first.
- Want extra flavor? Use a mix of Parmesan and mozzarella, or even a touch of cheddar for that gooey pull. And for a crispy topping, sprinkle a handful of breadcrumbs over the cheese before grilling.
- Leftovers can be reheated in the oven or microwave — just add a splash of milk or cream to bring back that creamy texture.
Recipe FAQ’s
Yes, it freezes beautifully. Let it cool completely, cover tightly, and freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven until warmed through.
Macaroni is the classic choice, but penne, shells, or rigatoni also hold the creamy sauce perfectly in this baked chicken mac and cheese.
Parmesan gives a sharp, salty bite and golden color, but you can mix in mozzarella or cheddar for extra melt and stretch.
Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Macaroni Cheese Bake
Ingredients
- 16 oz packet macaroni pasta
- 1 medium brown onion chopped
- 1 large carrot washed, peeled and chopped
- 1/2 large red capsicum/bell pepper washed, seeded and diced
- 1 lbs boneless skinless chicken thigh fillets, cubed
- 1 head of broccoli washed and cut into florets
- 7 oz sliced mushrooms washed
- 2 cloves garlic minced or finely chopped
- 2 cups light cooking cream I used 2x tubs Philadelphia Extra Light cream for cooking
- 2 tablespoons vegetable stock powder I use Vegeta
- 2 pinches salt to season
- 3/4 cup parmesan cheese grated and divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200℃ | 390℉.
- Cook pasta in a large saucepan of salted, boiling water, following packet directions until tender. Drain pasta in a colander and pour into a deep baking dish. Set aside.
- While pasta is boiling, pan fry in a large and deep frying pan/skillet, onion and carrot until onion is transparent. Add the chicken, broccoli and mushrooms, and cook until chicken has browned and broccoli has softened slightly. Stir through garlic, cooking cream, stock powder and salt (adjust to your tastes). When cream begins to simmer, remove from heat and stir through 1/2 cup parmesan cheese. Pour Creamy Chicken onto pasta and stir through really well to combine.
- Change oven setting to grill/broil on medium heat. Sprinkle pasta and chicken mixture with remaining cheese, and place into oven to brown on top.
- When golden on top, remove from oven and serve!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I think I love you (in a healthy sisterly lover of all things delicious way) and I know I LOVE YOUR RECIPES!!!!! I’m starting Keto again Dec 1st and there is so much here to work with and so many great things to enjoy before I ditch the carbs. This Mac N Cheese is at the top of the list.
By cooking cream, do you mean cream cheese?
This sounds great, on my list for this week!
I don’t make mac and cheese nearly enough. I always sort of think of it as not a full meal, but this recipe changes that! Love the addition of chicken!
I hear you! The chicken balances it all out nicely…and freaking yum X