Tuscan Chicken Mac and Cheese
Tuscan Chicken Mac and Cheese combines seared chicken breast, creamy cheese sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach for the ultimate comfort food with an Italian twist. Perfect for family dinners or weeknight meals, this pasta bake features layers of flavor with the rustic charm of Tuscany.
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 45 minutes mins
Course Dinner
Cuisine Italian American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 655 kcal
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes chopped
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 pound elbow macaroni cooked and drained
- Chopped parsley for garnish
Cook the elbow macaroni in a large pot of salted water according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Season both sides of the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
Add chicken to the skillet and sear 6 to 7 minutes on each side, until golden and cooked through. Remove from skillet and let rest.
In the same skillet, add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
Stir in chopped sun-dried tomatoes and cook for 1 minute.
Add baby spinach and sauté until wilted, about 1 to 2 minutes. Remove this mixture from the skillet and set aside.
Melt butter in the skillet over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 to 2 minutes to form a roux.
Slowly whisk in the milk and heavy cream. Continue to whisk until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.
Reduce heat to low and stir in shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese until fully melted and smooth.
Dice the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces and add it to the sauce along with the spinach and tomato mixture.
Stir in the cooked pasta until evenly coated.
Cook for 2 to 3 more minutes to heat everything through.
Garnish with chopped parsley before serving warm.
Calories: 655kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 42gFat: 33gSodium: 670mgFiber: 3gSugar: 7g
Keyword tuscan chicken, mac and cheese, creamy pasta, comfort food, weeknight dinner, Italian American