Easy supper: Chicken Taco Mac and Cheese

Amyaus sent this in as a busy weekday recipe, but I think it's perfect for a lazy weekend supper, too. Good for the crockpot!

It's that time of day when your child is clingy, crying, all around too much for you BUT you have to cook dinner too! I use this even on days I'm not going to be home late, it's much easier to cook in the early afternoon and this tastes even better if left to meld for a while.

Chicken Taco Mac and Cheese Mom-style :)

 
• approx 1 lb of cooked firm pasta, shaped pasta is best. I use this recipe to get rid of all those pesky half packages too. Be sure to salt the water.
 
• approx 1/2 to 1 lb chicken, frozen is ok
 
• 1 package taco seasoning, could use more to taste
 
• 1 1/2 cups water
 
• 1 can corn
 
• 1 can mushrooms

Spray a casserole dish with some sort of nonstick spray. Meanwhile, place approx 2 teaspoons of oil in pan, canola or olive is healthier. Place corn, mushrooms and chicken in pan. Sprinkle on taco seasoning, drizzle water over top. You have to swish the chicken around to mix the seasoning in. I just use frozen chicken, if it's thawed that's fine but I don't necessarily think that far ahead. I haven't noticed one difference in taste in this dish. Cook this mixture on medium heat until it's reduced to a nice sauce. You still want it a little juicy but not watery.

While that is cooking get your cheese shredded or sliced. Use whatever kind of cheese you have on hand, I've even used mozzeralla. The stinky cheeses kind of overwhelm the dish though.

Assembly: Place one layer of cheese on bottom, add half of the drained, cooked pasta. Add another layer of cheese, then the rest of the pasta. Then add the chicken mixture, juice and all and top with another layer of cheese, or you could even mix all the pasta and chicken mixture together and layer it with cheese. Stick it in the oven, 350 for about 35-45 minutes. Cooking time depends on if this is hot when placed in oven or if it's made ahead of time. If it's cool when cooking begins it just takes a little longer to get all yummy. [Or just put it all in the crock pot! -- Ed]

You can add some sort of creamed soup too, it's a very forgiving recipe and I've never once had this refused.

Comments

[Jill]

how much cheese? And do you cut up the chicken into chunks? or do you cook it and shred it?

[Baby Advice]

This sounds REALLY good! I'm going to try this! Thanks for the tip!

[Annelies]

Sounds so easy! Thanks for sharing. About the crockpot - do you add the uncooked noodles towards the end, since the noodles cook so quickly, or not worry about it and thow everything in at the beginning?

[nic]

1. do you drain corn and mushrooms BEFORE adding to pan with oil?

2. how small do you cut up chicken?

3. are you browning chicken before you add the water?

4. if you add cream soup, are you adding in place of water? which one works best?

thanks

[Parent Hacks Editor]

Annelies: I figured if you threw everything in on low it wouldn't overcook the noodles -- just heat everything up nicely as everything's already cooked. But as you all know I'm no crock pot expert.