A traditional creamy mac ‘n cheese recipe from Julie Wampler of Table For Two, with Memphis-style chicken giving it a taste boost!
| Prep Time: | 15 mins |
| Cook Time: | 35 mins |
| Additional Time: | 15 mins |
| Total Time: | 1 hr 5 mins |
| Servings: | 4 |
| Yield: | 4 servings |
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 2 ½ cups cavatappi pasta, or similar shape such as rotini pasta
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 cup shredded extra-sharp orange Cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded extra-sharp white Cheddar cheese
- ½ teaspoon salt and pepper
- Reynolds Wrap® Non-Stick Foil
Instructions
- Preheat grill to medium-high.
- Whisk all the ingredients for the Memphis-style rub in a small bowl and set aside.
- Place 2 to 3 chicken thighs on a large 12×18-inch piece of Reynolds Wrap® Non-Stick Foil. Generously sprinkle Memphis-style rub on all sides of the chicken, gently pressing it down.
- Wrap up the chicken thighs in the foil. Repeat with the remaining chicken thighs.
- Place foil-wrapped chicken thighs onto the grill.
- Cover the grill and grill the chicken thighs for 15 to 20 minutes (longer or shorter depending on thickness of chicken) until tender and juices run clear or meat thermometer reads 165 degrees F. After the chicken is cooked through, carefully place the foil packet on a large plate. Carefully open foil with a pair of tongs and then, if desired, place chicken thighs directly onto grill to get nice grill marks and some char.
- Let chicken thighs rest for 15 to 20 minutes or until cool enough to handle. Chop chicken into pieces.
- Boil a pot of water, add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 10 to 12 minutes depending on the pasta shape you use. Drain.
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Whisk in flour and chicken broth. Let thicken for 3 to 5 minutes. Add cheeses to the skillet and stir with a spatula until melted and smooth.
- Add the pasta to the cheese sauce and stir to incorporate.
- Add the chicken pieces to the mac ‘n cheese and stir to incorporate. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Wrap chicken with Reynolds Wrap(R) Non-Stick Foil to ensure meat is tender and juicy.
Nutrition Facts
| Calories | 665 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 37 g |
| Cholesterol | 181 mg |
| Dietary Fiber | 2 g |
| Protein | 48 g |
| Saturated Fat | 17 g |
| Sodium | 1180 mg |
| Sugars | 4 g |
| Fat | 37 g |
| Unsaturated Fat | 0 g |
Reviews
Outstanding! The whole family loved this one. Had to add some milk to the sauce but no other adjustments.
it’s delicious
Very very good! I made it almost exactly the way it was described. My only substitutions were the type of pasta and chicken I use. I also took the advice of a reviewer and put in a bit of an onion.
My family ate every single bite and was fighting over the last spoonful! Plenty of flavor in this dish. I substituted the white cheddar cheese with white bacon cheddar cheese and it just added that little extra flavor!
This is an amazing recipe and definitely a staple in my house. I make it as part of a weekly meal plan so I use chicken from another recipe (Roast Sticky Chicken-Rotisserie Style, definitely check it out). When I make the chickens I save all of the juices and use them in place of the commercial chicken broth in the this recipe. The chicken broth instead of milk is really what gives this recipe it’s amazing flavor. Other than the chicken substitution I follow the rest of the recipe as listed. I really like the cavatappi noodles which are a hit with my picky eaters.
Was okay . Simple to follow recipe . I slightly over charred my meat but figured it was mixed in so a non issue . Not a must make again in my house but a possible .
I reduced the cayenne pepper (hubby can’t handle it) added some caramelized red onion about a 1/4cup milk and once everything was in my dish I drizzled some bbq sauce and added more cheese on top. Family loved it!