Chicken Mac & Cheese with Roasted Tomatoes and Asparagus
This Chicken Mac & Cheese with Roasted Tomatoes and Asparagus is super creamy, ultra cheesy and so rich in flavor – it will be your new family favorite weeknight dinner recipe!
1packagefrozen Marie Callender's Vermont White Cheddar Mad & Cheesefamily size
1/2poundfresh asparagustrimmed and cut into bite-sized pieces
1/2pintgrape tomatoes
1boneless skinless chicken breast (or 1-2 cups cooked and diced chicken)
Olive oil
Salt & pepper
Fresh Parmesan cheeseoptional
Fresh chopped parsleyfor garnish (optional)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Arrange asparagus and tomatoes on a baking sheet and drizzle with about 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Gently toss vegetables to coat.
Roast in the pre-heated oven for 10-12 minutes, until vegetables are softened and tomatoes are just starting to burst.
Meanwhile, heat Marie Callender's Vermont White Cheddar Mad & Cheese in the microwave for 9-10 minutes (follow package instructions). Let stand for several minutes to allow sauce to thicken.
While vegetables are roasting and mac & cheese is heating, cook the chicken. Cut chicken breast into bite sized pieces and season with salt and pepper. Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet and add the chicken pieces. Cook until no longer pink, about 6-7 minutes, turning over once to ensure even browning.
Combine the mac & cheese, roasted vegetables and grilled chicken in a 8" square baking dish. Grate a layer of fresh Parmesan directly over the pasta in the casserole dish (using a microplane, if possible). Turn on the broiler and place the casserole in the oven to broil until the Parmesan cheese is melted; 2-3 minutes.
Garnish with fresh chopped parsley, if desired, and serve immediately.
Notes
*This recipe makes roughly 2-3 servings, depending on your appetite. If you are feeding a family of more than 3, I recommend doubling the recipe.