Description
This Chicken Parmesan Mac and Cheese combines crispy popcorn chicken with creamy, cheesy macaroni baked to perfection. A comforting dish featuring a blend of mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, seasoned with garlic and onion powder, and topped with marinara sauce for a delicious twist on classic mac and cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 lb frozen popcorn chicken
Mac and Cheese
- 4 cups water
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 lb macaroni
- 10.5 oz condensed cheddar cheese soup
- 1 1/2 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 1/2 tbsp onion powder
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 tsp pepper
- 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Topping
- 1 1/2 cups marinara sauce
Instructions
- Cook Chicken: Cook the popcorn chicken according to the package instructions until crispy and fully cooked. This will typically involve baking or air frying the frozen chicken until golden brown.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the assembled dish.
- Cook Macaroni: In a large pot, bring 4 cups of water and 2 cups of heavy cream to a boil. Add 1 lb of macaroni and stir to submerge the pasta completely. Cover the pot, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Make Cheese Sauce: Remove the lid from the pot, then stir in 10.5 oz condensed cheddar cheese soup, 1 1/2 tbsp garlic powder, 1 1/2 tbsp onion powder, 1 1/2 tsp salt, and 1 1/2 tsp pepper. Mix everything thoroughly. Add 2 cups of shredded mozzarella and 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, stirring until the cheeses have melted into a creamy sauce.
- Assemble Dish: Transfer the cheesy macaroni mixture into a greased 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Evenly layer the cooked popcorn chicken over the macaroni, then spoon 1 1/2 cups of marinara sauce over the chicken. Sprinkle the remaining 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese evenly on top.
- Bake: Bake the dish in the preheated oven for 13-15 minutes, or until the cheese on top is melted, bubbly, and beginning to brown.
- Serve: Carefully remove from the oven and serve warm for a hearty, cheesy comfort meal.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, you can air fry the popcorn chicken instead of baking.
- Feel free to substitute regular cream with half-and-half for a lighter sauce, though it may be less rich.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for best flavor.
- Adjust seasoning to taste, especially salt and pepper, if using low-sodium broth or cheese.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated in the oven for best texture retention.
