Are you prepared to alter up your traditional mac and cheese recipe? In that case, this creamy King Ranch Mac and Cheese recipe with hen is the right method to try this!
Why You’ll Love My Straightforward King Ranch Mac and Cheese with Rooster
- The Excellent Tex-Mex Mac and Cheese! In the event you’re a fan of Tex-Mex recipes, you’ll LOVE this macaroni and cheese. Impressed by King Ranch hen casserole, King Ranch Mac and Cheese with hen will blow your thoughts. It’s tacky, it’s creamy, and oh so satisfying.
- Make It Forward! This dinner concept is ideal to make forward and freeze. Which additionally means it’s a REALLY widespread dish, similar to my King Ranch Casserole recipe, to make to new mothers, or for anybody in want of a dinner.
- Taste! This home made mac and cheese is full of hen, peppers, diced tomatoes, two sorts of melty cheese, and extra. It’s a recipe that can shock you at how straightforward it’s and the way delcious!
What’s King Ranch Rooster?
King Ranch hen is a Texas-inspired recipe that’s cooked within the type of a casserole. It’s made up of cooked hen, tortillas, gooey cheese, creamy gravy, peppers, and so on. Nevertheless, whereas I really like casserole, why not take factor and make it even higher by combining it with mac and cheese? So, that’s what we’re gonna do.
Recipe Substances
This King Ranch mac and cheese recipe has a few extra elements than your typical mac and cheese does:
- Pasta: I used cavatappi, however you possibly can substitute with one other pasta (one thing like rigatoni or elbow macaroni).
- Butter: Salted or unsalted – whichever you like.
- Onion: You’ll want 1 medium yellow onion, diced.
- Pepper: I used a medium inexperienced bell pepper and a medium pink bell pepper (each seeded and diced).
- Garlic: Minced.
- Diced Tomatoes: With inexperienced chilis, 1 (10- ounce) can.
- Ready Cheese: Cubed – one thing like Velveeta.
- Bitter Cream: So as to add further creaminess.
- Half and Half: A mix of milk and cream might work too if you happen to don’t have any half and half.
- Seasoning: I used cumin and cayenne pepper.
- Cooked Rooster: I like to make use of shredded Rotisserie Rooster.
- Cheese: Grated cheddar cheese is finest.
Make King Ranch Mac and Cheese with Rooster
Mac and cheese is one in all my favourite weeknight dinners to make. Can one ever get sufficient tacky pasta? (The right reply: Nope!) There are primarily six elements to creating this meal:
Preheat Oven to 400°F: Then boil the pasta in accordance with the package deal instructions and drain.
Sauté the Onion & Bell Peppers: Whereas the pasta is boiling, warmth a big skillet over medium warmth. Soften the butter within the skillet and sauté the onion and each bell peppers for 7- 8 minutes, till they’re comfortable. Add within the garlic and cook dinner for another minute.
Mix with Tomatoes & Cheese: Add the diced tomatoes and cook dinner till nearly all the liquid has evaporated, 3- 4 minutes. Subsequent incorporate the cubed cheese into the combo and stir constantly till the cheese is melted.
Add Dairy & Rooster: Combine the bitter cream and half and half into the cheese combination, season with cumin and cayenne pepper and at last add within the hen.
Mix Pasta & Rooster Combination: In a 3- quart Dutch oven or baking dish mix the hen/cheese combination with the cooked pasta evenly.
TIP: In case your skillet that you simply began with is massive sufficient and oven protected, no have to switch the combination into a bigger pan.
Add Grated Cheese & Bake: Sprinkle with the grated cheese and bake for 5- 10 minutes till the cheese is melted and the combination is bubbly. Serve instantly.
What Type of Cheese to Use
You’ll want two totally different sorts of cheese to make this mac and cheese. For the pasteurized ready cheese I often use Velveeta, however you could possibly strive Kraft as an alternative. As for the grated cheese that you simply sprinkle on high, I typically persist with cheddar, however Monterey Jack might additionally work.
Variation Concepts
Are there different additions that may be made to this mac and cheese? After all! Listed below are a number of concepts:
- High with Breadcrumbs: Or crushed tortilla chips – one thing that can add further crunch to every chew.
- Modify the Warmth: In the event you like your mac and cheese on the spicier facet you could possibly add in slightly chili powder.
- Different Add-Ins: Extra peppers (like jalapeños) might be good, or you could possibly toss in bacon bits, as a result of they make every little thing higher!
Serving Recommendations
In the event you’re attempting to think about issues to serve with King Ranch mac and cheese, listed here are a few my go-to choices:
- Salad: A giant inexperienced salad at all times goes effectively with this meal. I additionally love this Rainbow Crunch Salad with this recipe, the crunchiness contrasts splendidly with the creamy pasta.
- Greens: Sautéed mushrooms, broccoli, inexperienced beans, and so on. Whichever veggies are your favourite! I like this straightforward air fryer asparagus as a result of it’s prepared in minutes.
- Garlic Bread: In the event you don’t thoughts a number of further carbs, these Garlic Knots are an amazing facet to include into this dinner! This cheesy stuffed garlic bread can also be unbelievable with King Ranch mac & cheese.
Retailer and Reheat King Ranch Mac and Cheese
You’ll be able to retailer this mac and cheese in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
If you wish to reheat the leftovers I like to recommend placing them again within the oven – uncovered – for 20 or so minutes till the specified temperature is reached.
Can I Freeze Leftover Mac and Cheese with Rooster?
Undoubtedly! You’ll be able to freeze leftovers in an hermetic container for 1-2 months. Keep in mind to let the container thaw within the fridge in a single day earlier than consuming the pasta once more.
Description
Bored with your common mac and cheese recipe? Then flip up the warmth slightly and do this King Ranch Mac and Cheese, full of Rotisserie hen, grated cheddar cheese, bell peppers, creamy pasta, and extra!
- 8 ounces cavatappi pasta
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 medium yellow onion, diced
- 1/2 medium inexperienced bell pepper. seeded and diced
- 1/2 medium pink bell pepper, seeded and diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (10- ounce) can diced tomatoes with inexperienced chilis
- 1 pound pasteurized ready cheese, cubed (like Velveeta)
- 1/2 cup bitter cream
- 2/3 cup half and half
- 1 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 4 cups cooked hen (I like to make use of shredded Rotisserie Rooster)
- 1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
- Preheat oven to 400°F
- Boil the pasta in accordance with the package deal instructions and drain.
- Whereas the pasta is boiling warmth a big skillet over medium warmth. Soften the butter within the skillet and sauté the onion and each bell peppers for 7- 8 minutes, till they’re comfortable. Add within the garlic and cook dinner for another minute.
- Add the diced tomatoes and cook dinner till nearly all the liquid has evaporated, 3- 4 minutes. Subsequent incorporate the cubed cheese into the combo and stir constantly till the cheese is melted.
- Combine the bitter cream and half and half into the cheese combination, season with cumin and cayenne pepper and at last add within the hen.
- In a 3- quart Dutch oven or baking dish mix the hen/cheese combination with the cooked pasta evenly.
- Sprinkle with the grated cheese and bake for 5- 10 minutes till the cheese is melted and the combination is bubbly.
- Serve instantly.
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