Chicken and Bacon Mac N' Cheese

Chicken and Bacon Mac N' Cheese

Ready in 40 minutes • Serves 5
This dish most recently appeared in My Gluten Free Bag on Sunday, August 21, 2016.
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A protein packed mac n' cheese!

Ingredients

CHICKEN AND BACON PASTA

  • 1 brown onion, finely diced
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 carrot, grated
  • 450g chicken and bacon mince
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 carton chopped tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup red wine (or GF beef stock)
  • 1 tablespoon GF Worcestershire sauce or GF soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons GF lasagne herb mix
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 340g GF elbow pasta

BÉCHAMEL SAUCE

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons GF flour
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup grated Edam cheese
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

TO ASSEMBLE

  • 1/2 cup grated Edam cheese

SALAD

  • 1/2 bag baby spinach leaves
  • 2 tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon GF vinegar (e.g. red wine, white wine, balsamic) (optional)

Steps

  1. oven grill to high. Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil
  2. Heat a drizzle of oil in fry-pan on medium-high heat. Cook onion, garlic and carrot for 3–4 minutes until soft. Add mince and cook for about 4 minutes until browned. Stir in remaining chicken and bacon pasta ingredients (except pasta) and simmer on low for 8–10 minutes, until thickened. Season.
  3. Cook pasta in pot of boiling water for about 6 minutes until just tender, stirring occasionally. Drain and return to pot with a drizzle of olive oil to prevent sticking.
  4. Melt butter in a pot on medium heat. Whisk in flour for about 1 minute, until lightly golden. Add milk in thirds, whisking until smooth and sauce has thickened, 2–3 minutes. Remove from heat, add first measure of cheese and salt, season with pepper and stir until smooth. Set aside.
  5. Mix together mince and pasta, and place into a rectangular baking dish. Pour over Béchamel and spread evenly. Sprinkle over remaining cheese and grill for 4–5 minutes until golden. Rest for about 5 minutes.
  6. While pasta is resting, prepare the salad. Roughly chop spinach; dice tomatoes 2cm. Toss in a bowl with olive oil and vinegar (if desired).
  7. Divide chicken and bacon mac n’ cheese between plates and serve salad on the side

Nutritional Information

Energy 2696 kj
644 kcal
Protein 27.1g
Carbohydrate 67.1g
Fat 21.3g