Netta Belle’s Choice for a budget meal.

Macaroni, Chicken and Cheese Casserole, the ultimate comfort food.

Have you ever had a week longer than your food in the house or the money in your wallet and pay day isn’t here yet?  I thought I was through with those times forever.  However!  I am now retired.  The pay isn’t as good as it was when I worked 40+ hrs a week for someone else.

Well, this has been the dilemma in our house of two this week.  It is amazing what new things can be cooked up with the same foods.  I use leftovers and create new dishes which means I usually end up with more leftovers.  You may not relate, but I am sure many of your parents or grandparents can relate to using everything you have before getting new.  Well, food does not really fall in that category – just left overs.

I like to cook up several boneless, skinless chicken breasts with seasoned low-fat chicken broth or water in the slow cooker.  They can be bagged in freezer bags and pulled out only what is needed for a meal for two.  Of course, I save the broth for soups in glass cans stored in the refrigerator.

This time I had some ricotta cheese, some Colby Jack cheese and a green bell pepper. Oh yes, the cornbread from the day before. Luck would have it, I did not have an onion, hey, that is why the onion powder is on the shelf.

Talk about need for comfort food!   Well, here comes the macaroni, chicken and cheese.  It was tasty, filling with a gelatin fruit salad and green beans and budget casserole.  Not feeling too deprived, we had chocolate chip cookies and sherbet.

For those budget strapped beginners in the world, couples, families,  the retiree or just tightening the budget belt out of need, look at your leftovers and get creative.  Here is one of my solutions.

Macaroni, Chicken and Cheese Casserole

Julia Ann

An easy on your pocketbook comfort dish for the family. It is one of those recipes, having leftovers is a good dilemma.

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Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Course Main Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 6

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 4 cups boiling water
• 1 cup whole wheat elbow macaroni uncooked
• 1 teaspoon Netta Belle's Choice Sea Salt
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 cups low-fat milk
• 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt to taste
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 cup chicken breast cooked and diced in 1/2 inch pieces.
• 1/2 cup green bell peppers diced in 1/2 inch pieces.
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese or your choice
• 1/2 cup crumbed cornbread
• 1/4 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese
• Dill weed to sprinkle on top
• Paprika to sprinkle on top

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven 350 F.
• Grease a 9 x 9 casserole dish.
• Cook the macaroni in the water according to package directions.
• Drain the macaroni, do not rinse. Set aside.
• Warm the milk in microwave for 2 minutes, let set until ready to use.
• Use a large sauce pan to melt the butter to bubbling.
• Sprinkle in flour; use a whisk to blend the roux (thickening paste.)
• Cook over low heat.
• Add seasonings, chicken breast and green pepper.
• Stir with a wooden spoon to blend together.
• Remove from heat, stir in the ricotta cheese and shredded Colby Jack cheese.
• Stir until the cheese has melted and sauce blended.
• Pour the cooked and drained macaroni into the cheese sauce, stir gently.
• Pour into greased casserole dish.
• Spread the crumbled cornbread evenly over the top.
• Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the cornbread.
• Sprinkle the dill week and paprika to your taste on top.
• Bake 30-35 minutes or until the sauce is bubbling and cheese is melted.
• Let set about 5 minutes before serving

Notes

cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® bring you great recipes for your cooking experience.
©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk.Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office.” nettabelleschoice.com and cookbookinabox.com. All rights reserved.

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Macaroni, Chicken and Cheese Casserole – a budget comfort food dish.

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This was inspired by a recipe from Food.com Recipe #454932.

Netta Belle’s Choice Sea Salt Purified, Granular White Crystalline Pacific Ocean Salt and Pure Granulated Black Pepper

cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® bring you for your cooking experience.

©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk.Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office.” nettabelleschoice.com and cookbookinabox.com.  All rights reserved.