Two Mac And Cheese Dishes That Are Full Entrees

Blog

Macaroni and cheese dishes are often seen as a side and not as an entire entree. But all you really need to do is add a few extra ingredients to the dish, and you can have a full entree to enjoy for dinner. Really, you can add whatever you like — chicken, broccoli, onion, or any number of other ingredients. However, it is nice to have a starting point. Here are two mac and cheese entree options you may want to consider.

Chicken, Bacon, and Spinach Mac and Cheese

Ingredients:

• 1 pound macaroni noodles, cooked
• 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
• 3 cups whole milk
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/4 cup butter
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 8 ounces bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1 cup cooked chicken breast, shredded
• 2 cups baby spinach
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet. Add the spinach, and cook until the spinach is wilted. Drain off the extra moisture, and set the spinach aside.

Combine the butter and flour in a saucepan, and cook until the butter is melted and the mixture is bubbly. Then, stir in the milk. Simmer until the mixture thickens slightly. Add the salt, pepper, and cheese, and stir until the cheese dissolves.

Stir together the cheese sauce, spinach, chicken, bacon, and pasta. Pour into a casserole dish, and bake at 375 degrees F for 35 minutes.

Steak and Mushroom Macaroni and Cheese

Ingredients:

• 1 pound macaroni noodles, cooked
• 8 ounces steak, cooked and shredded
• 1/2 pound button mushrooms, sliced
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup flour
• 3 cups whole milk
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1 cup Asiago cheese, shredded
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
• Salt and pepper to taste

Combine the flour and butter over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, and then start adding the whole milk. Whisk until combined, and cook until thickened. Season with the Worcestershire sauce, mustard, salt, and pepper. Add the cheese, and stir until the cheese is melted.

Place the noodles, mushrooms, steak, and cheese sauce in a large bowl, and stir to combine. Pour the mixture into a casserole dish, and bake at 375 degrees F for 35 minutes. 

Feel free to make changes to these dishes as you prefer. For example, you may want to replace the steak with chicken in the second recipe, or you can add some onions to the first recipe for more body. 

Share

17 February 2021