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Chicken Fajita Mac and Cheese

This chicken fajita mac and cheese is some serious comfort food. It is perfect for Sunday supper so invite your whole family over for dinner!
Course Dinner | Lunch
Cuisine Mexican
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Rest Time 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 10
Calories 531kcal

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tablespoons ground cumin divided
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder divided
  • 3 tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro divided
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika divided
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt divided
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper divided
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper divided
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes divided
  • 1 pound chicken breast
  • 4 small bell peppers green, red, orange or yellow, diced into 1 inch chunks
  • 1 small sweet yellow onion cut into 1 inch chunks
  • 16 ounce elbow macaroni
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1 package cream cheese softened
  • 12 ounces shredded cheddar cheese divided
  • ¾ cup panko bread crumbs

Instructions

  • In a smal bowl combine the ingredients for the marinade: lime juice, vegetable oil, Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon ground cumin, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 tablespoon fresh chopped cilantro, minced garlic,1 teaspoon brown sugar, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes.
  • In a large bowl combine the bell peppers and yellow onion. Pour ¾ of the marinade over the vegetables and toss. Place the chicken breast in the small bowl with the remaining marinade and coat the chicken in the marinade. Cover both bowls with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
  • When the chicken and vegetables are done marinating, grill the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Remove from the grill and allow to rest.
  • Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Begin cooking the pasta according to the package directions. While the pasta is cooking, prepare the cheese sauce.
  • Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the flour until smooth, then gradually add the milk. Increase temperature to medium high and bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes.
  • Reduce the heat to medium. Add the cream cheese, 8 ounces cheddar cheese, 1 tablespoon cumin, 1 tablespoon chili powder, ½ tablespoon paprika, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes. Stir until cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.
  • Drain the macaroni noodles. Dice the chicken into 1-inch pieces. Combine the cooked macaroni, cheese sauce, chicken and marinated vegetables and stir until everything is evenly coated.
  • Transfer to a large baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese on top of the macaroni mixture. In a small bowl melt the remaining butter. Toss with the panko bread crumbs and the cilantro and sprinkle over the cheddar cheese. Bake uncovered 15-20 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 531kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 87mg | Sodium: 618mg | Potassium: 587mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 2850IU | Vitamin C: 65mg | Calcium: 351mg | Iron: 3mg