Are you prepared to vary up your basic mac and cheese recipe? In that case, this creamy King Ranch Mac and Cheese recipe with hen is the right means to do this!
Why You’ll Love My Simple King Ranch Mac and Cheese with Hen
The Excellent Tex-Mex Mac and Cheese! For those who’re a fan of Tex-Mex recipes, you’ll LOVE this macaroni and cheese. Impressed by King Ranch hen casserole, King Ranch Mac and Cheese with hen will blow your thoughts. It’s tacky, it’s creamy, and oh so satisfying.
Make It Forward! This dinner thought is ideal to make forward and freeze. Which additionally means it’s a REALLY common dish, identical to my King Ranch Casserole recipe, to make to new mothers, or for anybody in want of a dinner.
Taste! This do-it-yourself mac and cheese is filled with hen, peppers, diced tomatoes, two sorts of melty cheese, and extra. It’s a recipe that can shock you at how simple it’s and the way delcious!
What’s King Ranch Hen?
King Ranch hen is a Texas-inspired recipe that’s cooked within the type of a casserole. It’s made up of cooked hen, tortillas, gooey cheese, creamy gravy, peppers, and many others. Nevertheless, whereas I like a very good casserole, why not take a very good factor and make it even higher by combining it with mac and cheese? So, that’s what we’re gonna do.
Recipe Elements
This King Ranch mac and cheese recipe has a few extra elements than your typical mac and cheese does:
Pasta: I used cavatappi, however you’ll be able to substitute with one other pasta (one thing like rigatoni or elbow macaroni).
Butter: Salted or unsalted – whichever you favor.
Onion: You’ll want 1 medium yellow onion, diced.
Pepper: I used a medium inexperienced bell pepper and a medium pink bell pepper (each seeded and diced).
Garlic: Minced.
Diced Tomatoes: With inexperienced chilis, 1 (10- ounce) can.
Ready Cheese: Cubed – one thing like Velveeta.
Bitter Cream: So as to add further creaminess.
Half and Half: A combination of milk and cream may work too should you don’t have any half and half.
Seasoning: I used cumin and cayenne pepper.
Cooked Hen: I like to make use of shredded Rotisserie Hen.
Cheese: Grated cheddar cheese is finest.
Easy methods to Make King Ranch Mac and Cheese with Hen
Mac and cheese is one among my favourite weeknight dinners to make. Can one ever get sufficient tacky pasta? (The proper reply: Nope!) There are primarily six elements to creating this meal:
Add diced onion and diced bell peppers to a big skillet and prepare dinner in melted butter till they’re comfortable.Cook dinner the pepper and onions till they’re comfortable after which add in some garlic.
Preheat Oven to 400°F: Then boil the pasta based on the bundle instructions and drain.
Sauté the Onion & Bell Peppers: Whereas the pasta is boiling, warmth a big skillet over medium warmth. Soften the butter within the skillet and sauté the onion and each bell peppers for 7- 8 minutes, till they’re comfortable. Add within the garlic and prepare dinner for another minute.
Add diced tomatoes into the peppers and onions and prepare dinner till they liquid has evaporated. Subsequent soften within the cubed cheese.
Mix with Tomatoes & Cheese: Add the diced tomatoes and prepare dinner till virtually the entire liquid has evaporated, 3- 4 minutes. Subsequent incorporate the cubed cheese into the combo and stir repeatedly till the cheese is melted.
This tacky combination is the bottom of your sauce.Add in bitter cream, half and half, and seasonings into the cheese sauce. Then add in cooked hen.
Add Dairy & Hen: Combine the bitter cream and half and half into the cheese combination, season with cumin and cayenne pepper and eventually add within the hen.
Stir it till it’s all mixed. Add within the cooked pasta and prime with grated cheese and bake!
Mix Pasta & Hen Combination: In a 3- quart Dutch oven or baking dish mix the hen/cheese combination with the cooked pasta evenly.
TIP: In case your skillet that you simply began with is massive sufficient and oven secure, no must switch the combination into a bigger pan.
Add Grated Cheese & Bake: Sprinkle with the grated cheese and bake for 5- 10 minutes till the cheese is melted and the combination is bubbly. Serve instantly.
What Form of Cheese to Use
You’ll want two completely different sorts of cheese to make this mac and cheese. For the pasteurized ready cheese I often use Velveeta, however you can attempt Kraft as a substitute. As for the grated cheese that you simply sprinkle on prime, I typically keep on with cheddar, however Monterey Jack may additionally work.
Variation Concepts
Are there different additions that may be made to this mac and cheese? After all! Listed below are a couple of concepts:
High with Breadcrumbs: Or crushed tortilla chips – one thing that can add further crunch to every chew.
Regulate the Warmth: For those who like your mac and cheese on the spicier facet you can add in a bit chili powder.
Different Add-Ins: Extra peppers (like jalapeños) might be good, or you can toss in bacon bits, as a result of they make every little thing higher!
Serving Strategies
For those who’re attempting to consider issues to serve with King Ranch mac and cheese, listed below are a few my go-to choices:
Salad: An enormous inexperienced salad all the time goes properly with this meal. I additionally love this Rainbow Crunch Salad with this recipe, the crunchiness contrasts splendidly with the creamy pasta.
Greens: Sautéed mushrooms, broccoli, inexperienced beans, and many others. Whichever veggies are your favourite! I like this easy air fryer asparagus as a result of it’s prepared in minutes.
Garlic Bread: For those who don’t thoughts a couple of further carbs, these Garlic Knots are an excellent facet to include into this dinner! This cheesy stuffed garlic bread can be unbelievable with King Ranch mac & cheese.
Easy methods to Retailer and Reheat King Ranch Mac and Cheese
You’ll be able to retailer this mac and cheese in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
While you wish to reheat the leftovers I like to recommend placing them again within the oven – uncovered – for 20 or so minutes till the specified temperature is reached.
Can I Freeze Leftover Mac and Cheese with Hen?
Undoubtedly! You’ll be able to freeze leftovers in an hermetic container for 1-2 months. Keep in mind to let the container thaw within the fridge in a single day earlier than consuming the pasta once more.
Uninterested in your common mac and cheese recipe? Then flip up the warmth a bit and do this King Ranch Mac and Cheese, filled with Rotisserie hen, grated cheddar cheese, bell peppers, creamy pasta, and extra!
8 ounces cavatappi pasta
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 medium yellow onion, diced
1/2 medium inexperienced bell pepper. seeded and diced
1/2 medium pink bell pepper, seeded and diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (10- ounce) can diced tomatoes with inexperienced chilis
4 cups cooked hen (I like to make use of shredded Rotisserie Hen)
1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
Preheat oven to 400°F
Boil the pasta based on the bundle instructions and drain.
Whereas the pasta is boiling warmth a big skillet over medium warmth. Soften the butter within the skillet and sauté the onion and each bell peppers for 7- 8 minutes, till they’re comfortable. Add within the garlic and prepare dinner for another minute.
Add the diced tomatoes and prepare dinner till virtually the entire liquid has evaporated, 3- 4 minutes. Subsequent incorporate the cubed cheese into the combo and stir repeatedly till the cheese is melted.
Combine the bitter cream and half and half into the cheese combination, season with cumin and cayenne pepper and eventually add within the hen.
In a 3- quart Dutch oven or baking dish mix the hen/cheese combination with the cooked pasta evenly.
Sprinkle with the grated cheese and bake for 5- 10 minutes till the cheese is melted and the combination is bubbly.
