Two cheese macaroni with sweet barbecue chicken throughout, topped off with a crunchy Panko breadcrumb mixture and a drizzle of barbecue sauce.
Prep Time25mins
Cook Time20mins
Total Time45mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Pasta
Servings: 6
Ingredients
For the chicken:
1chicken breasttrimmed and pounded thin
1/8tspcayenne
1/8tspgarlic powder
2-3Tbspbarbecue sauce
For the pasta:
2Tbspunsalted butter
2Tbspall purpose flour
1Cmilk
1/4Cheavy cream
1/4tspsalt
1/4tsppepper
2TbspParmesan cheese
7ozextra sharp cheddar cheese
1/2lbpasta
For the topping:
1/2Cplain Panko breadcrumbs
1ozextra sharp cheddar cheese
1TbspParmesan cheese
1/2tspparsley
1Tbspunsalted butter
Plus additional barbecue saucefor drizzling
*Optional baconcooked and crumbled for the filling.
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°F. Combine garlic powder, cayenne and barbecue sauce. Brush over trimmed chicken. Bake on a foil lined baking sheet for 20-30 minutes or until no longer pink in the center and internal temperature registers at least 165°F with a meat thermometer. Cool and slice into small bite sized pieces. Set aside.
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Cook pasta according to package instructions.
In a double boiler over simmering water. Melt butter, whisk in flour followed by milk and heavy cream. Warm over medium heat until steaming. Whisk in salt and pepper, followed by Parmesan and cheddar cheese. Stir occasionally to create a smooth cheese sauce.
Drain pasta, transfer to a glass or ceramic 8x8 baking pan. Add chicken, followed by cheese sauce and optional bacon. Stir and toss to coat well.
Melt 1 tbsp unsalted butter, add to a bowl with remaining topping ingredients (minus barbecue sauce*). Toss to combine. Sprinkle over pasta.
Lightly drizzle barbecue sauce over Panko topping.