Bacon, Ranch, and Chicken Mac and Cheese

Recipes » Side Dish » Casseroles

I saw this recipe in Cooking Light - and because I am not a fan of ranch dressing, it didn’t hit me as something I really longed to make. I can’t say this was my favorite recipe – but if you are looking for a different kind of Mac-n-Cheese – and you DO love ranch dressing – this is the ideal recipe for you.

Yield: 1 Recipe Ready in 45 minutes

Cuisine: Main Ingredient:

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Bacon, Ranch, and Chicken Mac and Cheese

photo by Barbhoward

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Recipe
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Ingredients

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Original recipe makes 1 Recipe

8 ounces uncooked elbow macaroni

1 slice applewood-smoked bacon

8 ounces skinless; boneless chicken breast, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups fat-free milk

1/3 cup condensed 45% reduced-sodium 98% fat-free cre; undiluted

3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded six-cheese Italian blend

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh dill

1/2 teaspoon salt

Cooking spray

1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded colby-Jack cheese

Bacon, Ranch, and Chicken Mac and Cheese Preparation

Preparation

Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat; drain.

Cook bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan, reserving drippings in pan. Finely chop bacon; set aside. Increase heat to medium-high. Add chicken to drippings in pan; sauté 6 minutes or until done.

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat; sprinkle flour evenly into pan. Cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly with a whisk. Combine milk and soup, stirring with a whisk; gradually add milk mixture to saucepan, stirring with a whisk. Bring to a boil; cook 2 minutes or until thick. Remove from heat; let stand 4 minutes or until sauce cools to 155°. Add Italian cheese blend, onion powder, garlic powder, dill, and salt, stirring until cheese melts. Stir in pasta and chicken.

Preheat broiler.

Spoon mixture into an 8-inch square baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle evenly with reserved bacon and Colby-Jack cheese. Broil 3 minutes or until cheese melts.

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