I made this chicken and broccoli pasta a lot lighter than a conventional macintosh and cheddar by utilizing low-fat milk and no cream, utilizing just a modest quantity of spread, and utilizing diminished fat cheddar. Besides, I added a reward of a protein and veggie to make it all the more a dinner in one, so there's in reality some nourishment in there.
I really incline toward a macintosh like this versus one with all the fat since it's not all that hefty and I feel fine about eating it. That is to say, with 4 1/2 cups broccoli how is it possible that it would be awful?
On the off chance that you demand making this shells and cheddar more extravagant, you could utilize customary fat cheddar and supplant a tad bit of the milk with cream (if doing as such, I'd decrease the flour by 1 Tbsp).
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts , cooked and shredded into small bites size pieces
- 9 oz large shell pasta , dry (3 1/4 cups)
- 12 oz broccoli florets* , diced into small bite size pieces (4 1/2 cups once diced)
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 Tbsp butter
- 6 oz 2% reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese** , shredded (1 1/2 cups)*
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1 oz parmesan cheese , finely shredded (1/3 cup)
- 3 cups low-fat milk
Instructions
- Boil pasta according to directions listed on package adding broccoli during last 3 - 4 minutes of boiling, drain well (reserve 1/4 cup pasta water, just in case you want to thin pasta sauce).
- Meanwhile, in a pot melt butter over medium heat then stir in flour. Cook mixture stirring constantly for 1 minute.
- While whisking vigorously, slowly add in milk, then season with onion powder, garlic powder and salt and pepper to taste. Increase heat to medium-high, cook mixture, stirring constantly until it boils and thickens.
- Remove from heat, allow to cool for 1 minute then add in cheddar and parmesan cheese and stir until melted. Add drained pasta and broccoli and chicken and toss to evenly coat. As it sits it will thicken, you can thin it with a few tbsp pasta water if desired.
