Green Chile Chicken Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

By
J. Kenji López-Alt
Kenji Lopez Alt
J. Kenji López-Alt
Culinary Consultant
Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site. He is also a New York Times food columnist and the author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science.
Learn about Serious Eats' Editorial Process
Updated Aug. 30, 2018
20121016-macaroni-and-cheese-variations-green-chile-chicken.jpg
J. Kenji Lopez-Alt

Recipe Details

Green Chile Chicken Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

Active 30 mins
Total 30 mins
Serves 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch

  • 1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk

  • 2 large eggs

  • 2 bone-in, skinless chicken breast halves (about 1 pound total)

  • Kosher salt

  • Half pound dry elbow macaroni

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 4 ounces grated American cheese

  • 8 ounces grated Pepper Jack cheese

  • 1 (3.5 ounce) can chopped green chiles

  • 1 cup salsa verde

  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves

  • 6 scallions, thinly sliced

Directions

  1. Combine cornstarch, evaporated milk, and eggs in a small bowl and whisk until homogenous. Set aside.

  2. Place chicken breasts in a large Dutch oven or stockpot and cover with water by 4 inches. Season with salt. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook until chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes after a boil is achieved. Using tongs, transfer to a large bowl and set aside.

  3. Return water to high heat until boiling and add pasta. Cook, stirring occasionally, until barely al dente. Drain pasta and return to pot. While pasta is cooking, pull chicken meat into bite-sized shreds and set aside, discarding bones.

  4. When pasta is cooked, return to low heat. Add butter and stir until melted. Add evaporated milk/egg mixture and cheese. Stir until smooth and creamy. Stir in chopped chilies, salsa verde shredded chicken, cilantro, and scallions. Serve immediately.

This Recipe Appears In

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
822 Calories
46g Fat
47g Carbs
55g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 822
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 46g 58%
Saturated Fat 26g 129%
Cholesterol 270mg 90%
Sodium 1595mg 69%
Total Carbohydrate 47g 17%
Dietary Fiber 4g 13%
Total Sugars 15g
Protein 55g
Vitamin C 22mg 112%
Calcium 1119mg 86%
Iron 4mg 23%
Potassium 907mg 19%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)