Description
This Chicken Parmesan Mac and Cheese is a comforting, crowd-pleasing dish that combines crispy popcorn chicken with creamy, cheesy macaroni and a tangy marinara topping. Perfect for a hearty family dinner or game-day meal, it brings together the flavors of classic chicken Parmesan with rich mac and cheese baked to golden perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 lb frozen popcorn chicken
Macaroni 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 the Chicken: Prepare the frozen popcorn chicken according to the package instructions until fully cooked and crispy.
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C) to get ready for baking the assembled dish.
- Cook the Macaroni: In a large pot, bring 4 cups of water and 2 cups of heavy cream to a boil. Add the macaroni and stir it to submerge completely. Cover the pot, reduce heat to medium-low, and let it cook for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Make the Cheese Sauce: Remove the lid and stir in the condensed cheddar cheese soup, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper into the macaroni. Mix well. Add 2 cups of shredded mozzarella and the Parmesan cheese, stirring until the cheeses are completely melted and create a creamy sauce.
- Assemble the Bake: Transfer the cheesy macaroni mixture into a greased 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Evenly distribute the cooked popcorn chicken over the macaroni, then spoon the marinara sauce on top of the chicken. Sprinkle the remaining 2 cups of mozzarella cheese over everything.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 13-15 minutes, or until the cheese topping is melted, bubbly, and beginning to brown.
- Serve: Remove from the oven, let it cool slightly, and serve warm for a cheesy, comforting meal.
Notes
- You can substitute fresh cooked chicken if you prefer instead of frozen popcorn chicken.
- Adjust the seasoning by adding more salt or pepper based on taste.
- For a lower-fat option, use reduced-fat cheese and substitute half-and-half for heavy cream.
- Make sure to grease the baking dish well to prevent sticking.
- Let the dish rest a few minutes after baking to allow the cheese to set slightly for easier serving.
