Chicken Bacon Ranch Mac & Cheese

Chicken Bacon Ranch Mac & Cheese

What you'll need:

16 oz pasta (preferably macaroni or shells)

4 tbsp unsalted butter

1/4 cup flour

1/2 package bacon

1-2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed

3 cups milk

1 pkg italian blend shredded cheese, divided

1 cup Monterey Jack or Colby-Jack shredded cheese blend, divided

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp salt

1 tsp dill

pepper

Prep:

Cook pasta according to box directions, drain and set aside. Cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan, leaving drippings in pan. Add chicken to drippings, increase heat to medium-high, and saute until no longer pink. Set aside. Melt butter in the same pot you cooked the pasta in. Whisk in flour, cook and stir for 2 minutes. Add milk and bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Boil for 2 minutes. Stir in most of the cheese, reserving a handful of each kind to sprinkle on top of casserole. Add spices, chicken and pasta, stirring to combine ingredients. Spray a 9x13" baking dish with nonstick spray. Transfer pasta mix to baking dish, top with bacon and rest of cheese. Bake in a 350 oven for 20-25 minutes, until heated through. 

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