Creamy Stovetop Mac and Cheese with Rotisserie Chicken & Crispy Breadcrumbs

Creamy Stovetop Mac and Cheese
Every once in awhile I make an "unhealthy" meal - this one was requested by Jace. All of us love macaroni and cheese, it's a family staple, right? 

Growing up, we ate a lot of it so I decided to make this homemade recipe but topped it with breadcrumbs (Kevin's idea). Kevin loves meat in all of his meals, so he purchased a rotisserie chicken to top the macaroni and cheese. He seemed to have enjoyed it. I'm fine with just regular mac and cheese so this worked great for me. I also used reduced fat cheese (trying to still find healthy alternatives when I can). I'll be honest, it took a little while to make, but it was definitely worth it.

• Total cook and prep time: 15-20 minutes
• Family friendly: Yes, macaroni and cheese is a family staple
• Difficulty level: Intermediate
• Serving size: 5-6
• Serving suggestions: Pair with a fresh green salad, garlic bread, a side of sautéed vegetables, roasted sweet potatoes, or a fresh iced tea

This easy stovetop macaroni and cheese recipe is from Southern Living and we added a few twists - including breadcrumbs on top with a quick broil and finished it off with Rotisserie Chicken. 

Ingredients for Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese:
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• 4 cups water
• 2 cups milk
• 16 oz uncooked elbow macaroni
• 16 oz cheese of your choice (we did 6 oz reduced fat sharp cheddar, 8 oz colby jack cheese, and 2 oz Italian 3 cheese blend)
• Pepper, to taste
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• *1/2 tsp dry mustard
• *Italian Style Bread Crumbs or *Gluten-Free Bread Crumbs

How to Make Stovetop Mac and Cheese:
Step #1 In a large pot, bring 4 cups of water and 2 cups of milk to a simmer over medium heat.

Step #2 Bring to simmer over medium and stir occasionally. 

Step #3 Add pasta to boiled water, stirring often, about 7 minutes. Do not drain.  

Step #4 Remove from heat. 

Step #5 Stir in cheeses, pepper, paprika, garlic powder and dry mustard and stir until melted and smooth, about 2-3 minutes. 

Step #6 Transfer to a bread loaf pan. Top with breadcrumbs and broil for 3 minutes. 

Note: For an extra cheesy bite, sprinkle some parmesan cheese on top of the breadcrumbs before broiling!

Note: If you want to add meat, feel free to top with rotisserie chicken. Voila! 

Storage & Reheating Tip
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave for 2 minutes or until warm.

What Did You Think of this Macaroni and Cheese?
What did you think of this rotisserie chicken mac and cheese? I rate this a 4-Star. Did you try it? Comment or rate it below! You can also pin it or share it on social media! 

Have you added any creative twists to your mac and cheese recipes? If you liked this recipe, you may also like my Copycat Chick-Fil-A Mac and Cheese recipe.

What’s your favorite twist on mac and cheese? Let me know in the comments if you've made your own twist on mac and cheese! I’d love to hear what you added to make it your own!