Cordon Bleu Macaroni and Cheese
Author: 
Serves: 8
 
Instead of baking the casserole with breadcrumbs on top, I like to sprinkle each serving with toasted breadcrumbs—the crumbs stay crispy longer.
Ingredients
  • Vegetable oil
  • Kosher salt
  • Coarse ground black pepper
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1-1¼ pounds)
  • 1 (16-ounce) box cavatappi or fusilli pasta
  • 3 cups half and half
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 chicken bouillon cube, crushed
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce
  • ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 8 ounces white American cheese, shredded
  • 4 ounces Havarti cheese, shredded
  • 4 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
  • 4 ounces Mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh Italian parsley
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat in a medium skillet. Generously season the chicken with salt and pepper. Place the chicken in the pan and cook until golden brown on one side, about 7 minutes. Use tongs to flip the chicken. Place the pan in the oven and roast the chicken an additional 8 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and set aside.
  3. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook about 8 minutes. (The pasta will be undercooked. It will finish in the oven.) Reserve ½ pasta water. Drain well and set aside.
  4. Meanwhile, heat the half-and-half , chicken broth and chicken bouillon in a small saucepan, but don't boil it. Melt the butter in the same large pot and whisk in the flour. Cook over low heat for 2 minutes, whisking constantly. While whisking, add the hot liquid and cook until thickened and smooth, about 2 minutes. Stir in the Dijon, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper.
  5. Off the heat, add the cheese, cooked pasta and pasta water, and stir well. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper, if necessary. Spray a 9-inch by 13-inch baking dish. Pour the pasta into the dish and bake until the sauce is bubbly, about 20 to 25 minutes.
  6. Meanwhile prepare the breadcrumbs. Heat 1 tablespoons vegetable oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the panko and cook until golden brown and crisp, stirring frequently, about 8 minutes. Season with salt. Transfer to a small bowl and toss with parsley.
  7. Let the macaroni sit for 5 minutes before serving. Sprinkle each serving with toasted breadcrumbs.
Recipe by Cooking Contest Central at https://cookingcontestcentral.com/national-cordon-bleu-day/