American Chicken and Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese with Bacon and Cheddar

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-03-23 · Updated 2026-03-23

A classic American comfort dish with crispy bacon, tender chicken, broccoli, and a creamy Cheddar sauce. This american-inspired pasta ready in about 50 minutes pairs macaroni, chicken breast, broccoli for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 500 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 400g macaroni
• 2 chicken breast
• 1 cup broccoli
• 100g bacon
• 200g cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp flour

Instructions

1. Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add 400g macaroni, and cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water. Tip: Use the reserved water later to adjust sauce consistency if needed.
2. Step 2: In a large non-stick skillet, cook 100g bacon over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, until golden brown and crispy, rendering most of the fat. Use a slotted spoon to transfer bacon to a plate, leaving the rendered fat in the pan. Tip: The bacon fat adds rich flavor to the sauce.
3. Step 3: Increase heat to medium-high, add 2 cubed chicken breasts (cut into 1-inch pieces) and 1 cup broccoli (cut into 1/2-inch florets) to the skillet. Sauté for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chicken is golden brown and no longer pink inside, and broccoli is tender-crisp. Tip: Cook chicken first to ensure it’s fully cooked before adding cheese.
4. Step 4: Reduce heat to low, add 2 tbsp butter, and swirl to melt. Whisk in 2 tbsp flour until smooth, then gradually pour in 1/2 cup milk, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens slightly. Tip: Add milk slowly to avoid lumps.
5. Step 5: Remove the skillet from heat, add 200g grated cheddar cheese, and stir until melted and smooth, using a spatula to scrape any cheese stuck to the pan. If sauce is too thick, add 1-2 tbsp reserved pasta water. Tip: Always add cheese off the heat to prevent clumping.
6. Step 6: Return the skillet to low heat, add the cooked chicken and broccoli, along with the crispy bacon. Stir gently to combine, then mix in the cooked macaroni. Cook for 2-3 minutes, until everything is well coated and heated through. Tip: Avoid over-stirring to keep macaroni intact.