Smoky Chicken and Jalapeño Mac and Cheese

Amy Massey
by Amy Massey
4 Servings
45 min

Mac and cheese is one of those dishes that is celebrated as the ultimate comfort food and its easy to see why. Who doesn't love a big, hot bowl of carbs and melted cheese?! I personally love a bit of spice in my cheesy dishes and I think the addition of smoky paprika chicken and pickled jalapeños to this classic combo really takes it up a notch.


It's super easy to make if you need to get dinner on the table in a hurry, so why not give this twist on an old classic a try tonight?

Serious comfort food done well! This mac and cheese dish goes well served with a simple side salad.

First, the chicken is cooked in smoked paprika to give it that smoky flavour which runs right through the dish.

Then, the chicken is stirred through the cooked macaroni with chopped jalapeños and a mixture of cheeses.

Finally, the mixture is transferred to the oven where it bakes until golden with a perfectly crisped parmesan topping.

Smoky Chicken and Jalapeño Mac and Cheese
Recipe details
  • 4  Servings
  • Prep time: 5 Minutes Cook time: 40 Minutes Total time: 45 min
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Ingredients

  • 2 chicken breasts, cut into bitesized pieces
  • 1 tbsp oil or spray oil
  • 2 tsps smoked paprika
  • 500g/1lb dried macaroni
  • 2 140g tubes primula cheese or 2 cups of other squirty cheese
  • 100g or 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 30g or 1/3 cup pickled jalapeños, chopped finely.
Instructions

Preheat your oven to 200 degrees celcius/400 degrees fahrenheit.
Cook the macaroni in a large saucepan according to packet instructions, then drain and set aside.
Heat the same large pan and add the oil.
Add the chicken and cook until sealed on all sides for around 5 minutes.
Add the smoked paprika and continue to cook for around 2 minutes to allow the chicken to fully cook and take on the flavour of the paprika.
Add the cooked macaroni back to the pan, along with the chopped jalapeños, primula cheese and approximately 80g of the Parmesan cheese.
Stir well until the cheese has melted.
Transfer the mixture to a casserole dish and sprinkle the remaining Parmesan in top.
Place the casserole dish in the centre of the preheated oven and bake for up to 20 minutes, or until the top is golden.
Comments
  • Florence Florence on Nov 04, 2021

    Do you have a substitution for primula cheese that you can buy in the U.S.?

    • See 1 previous
    • Melanie Ashby Melanie Ashby on Nov 18, 2023

      Try Cheez Whiz or Velvetta.

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