Mac-n-Cheese Grown Up!

Mac-n-Cheese is one of my favorite foods. If I see it on a buffet line I get it, I have to stop myself every week from grabbing a box of Kraft or Velveeta and chowing down. So imagine my delight when I saw a recipe on www.delish.com that was a Mac-n-Cheese recipe with Broccoli - genius I tell you! It stretches the amount of food with a healthy item and to stretch it even farther I am adding more broccoli & garlic sauteed chicken breast - now it is a full meal, veggies, dairy, pasta, oil and protein.

Mac-n-Cheese Grown Up: Serves 4

8oz Pasta
2-3C Frozen Broccoli Florets
1.75C Milk
3TB Flour
1/2tsp Garlic Powder
1/2tsp Salt
1/4tsp Pepper
1C Sharp Cheddar, shredded
1/4C Parmesan Cheese, Shredded
1.5tsp Dijon Mustard
1 Chicken Breast, boneless/skinless - Chopped
3 Garlic Cloves, crushed
2tsp Olive Oil

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add pasta and boil for 3-4 minutes then add broccoli and cook until pasta and broccoli are both cooked through, drain and set to the side.

While the pasta and broccoli is cooking we are going to prepare the chicken. In a saute pan over medium heat, heat up olive oil and add garlic for a minute. Add chicken chunks with some salt and pepper and cook through. Once cooked removed to the side with the pasta and broccoli.

In a sauce pot heat 1.5C of milk over medium heat until simmering. While that is heating up mix remaining 1/4C of milk, flour, garlic powder, salt and pepper together. Once the milk has started to simmer add the remaining ingredients to it and whisk constantly while the sauce comes back up to a simmer. As it heats it will thicken. Once thick remove from the heat and add cheeses & dijon to the sauce and stir to incorporate.

Add all ingredients together in a large pot (I am using the pasta pot) and cook for 2-3 minutes to heat all ingredients up together. Serve and enjoy!

Tip: For a greater variety you can add different veggies such as cauliflower, asparagus, diced tomatoes, mushrooms, snow peas, etc. to the pasta and chicken. Consider this just a base recipe for an endless set of possibilities.

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WW: 13 Points Plus / serving