Description
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this Chicken Ranch Macaroni and Cheese recipe. Creamy, cheesy, and packed with savory ranch flavor, it’s a perfect family-friendly meal that’s sure to become a favorite.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Macaroni and Cheese:
- 12 oz elbow macaroni
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 packet (1 oz) ranch seasoning mix
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 cups cooked and shredded chicken (grilled or rotisserie)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
For the Topping:
- 1/2 cup crushed buttery crackers or panko (optional)
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
- Chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the Macaroni: Boil the elbow macaroni, drain, and set aside.
- Prepare the Cheese Sauce: Make a roux with butter and flour, then add milk, cream, ranch seasoning, garlic powder, and pepper. Stir in cheeses until melted.
- Combine and Bake: Mix in chicken and macaroni, transfer to a baking dish, top with cracker crumbs mixed with butter, broil until golden.
- Serve: Garnish with chopped parsley.
Notes
- For extra ranch flavor, add bottled ranch dressing to the cheese sauce.
- This dish can also be made with turkey or ham.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop, Broil
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 610
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 44g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
