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Creamy Mac n Cheese With Chicken and Baby Kale

Published November 20, 2018
2 minute read
Creamy Mac n Cheese With Chicken and Baby Kale
Published November 20, 2018
2 minute read
In This Article

Active time: 15 minutes Total time: 30 minutes

Frozen butternut squash cubes add body and nutrients to this simple one-pot macaroni and cheese. We’ve added chicken breast and baby kale to make this a complete meal. Substitute spinach or chopped chard if you like. By using whole-wheat macaroni, you can boost the fiber by 3–4 grams per serving.

Creamy Mac n Cheese With Chicken and Baby Kale

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 pound (454g) boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-size strips
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cups (473g) low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup (237g) 2% milk
  • 1 10-ounce (284g) package frozen butternut squash
  • 2 teaspoons dry mustard
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 1/4 cups (284g) whole-wheat elbow macaroni
  • 3 cups (85g) baby kale
  • 1 1/4 cups (113g) sharp cheddar cheese
  • 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast

Directions

Heat the oil in a large saucepan or skillet set over medium heat. When the pan is hot, add the chicken. Season with the salt and pepper and cook without stirring for 2 minutes. Add the onions, stir and continue to cook until the chicken is no longer pink in the center, 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and cover.

Add the broth, milk, squash, mustard and bay leaf to the saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Mash the squash with a potato masher until mostly smooth. Add the pasta and stir to combine. Cover, reduce heat to low, and cook for 6 minutes, stirring once. Fold in the chicken-onion mixture and kale with a rubber spatula, cover and cook until the kale has wilted, 2 minutes.

Remove the pan from the heat and stir the cheese and nutritional yeast into the pasta. Serve immediately.

Serves: 6 | Serving size: 1 cup

Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 317; Total Fat: 8g; Saturated Fat: 5g; Monounsaturated Fat: 0g; Cholesterol: 64mg; Sodium: 408mg; Carbohydrate: 28g; Dietary Fiber: 6g; Sugar: 6g; Protein: 30g

The information in this article is provided solely for informational purposes. This information is not medical advice and should not be relied upon when making medical decisions, or to diagnose or treat a health condition or illness. You should seek the advice of a physician or a medical professional before beginning any dietary programs or plans, exercise regimen or any other fitness or wellness activities.

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