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Crispy Chicken Macaroni Cheese

5 from 1 vote
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Calories: 736kcal
Servings: 5 People

Ingredients

Crispy Chicken Breast

  • 900 g Chicken Breast Butterflied
  • 8 g Onion Powder
  • 8 g Garlic Powder
  • 8 g Smoked Paprika
  • 125 g Panko Bread Crumbs
  • 3 Eggs
  • Spray Oil
  • Salt & Pepper

High-Protein Mac & Cheese

  • 400 g High-Protein Pasta of Choice
  • 380 ml Low-Fat Milk
  • 100 g Cheddar Cheese
  • 75 g Low-Fat Mozzarella Cheese Grated
  • 4 slices Low-Fat Cheese
  • 20 g Dijon Mustard
  • Salt & Pepper

Chilli Yogurt

  • 180 g High Protein Greek Yogurt
  • 20 g Chilli Sauce of Choice
  • Salt to Taste

Method

  • Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta for 1 minute less than the packet instructions. Drain and reserve ½ cup of pasta water.
  • Butterfly and slice the chicken breast in half. Use a meat tenderiser or a flat-based pan to bash the chicken to an even thickness.
  • Place the ingredients into a bowl and add the onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and salt and pepper. Mix to combine.
  • Beat eggs in a bowl and add panko breadcrumbs to a second bowl. Dip the chicken into the egg and press firmly into the breadcrumbs.
  • Spray both sides of the chicken thoroughly with spray oil and place into an air fryer basket. Air fry at 200°C (390°F) for 10–12 minutes, flipping the food halfway through, or bake in an oven set at 220°C (430°F) for 18-20 minutes. The chicken should be golden and reach an internal temperature of 74°C.
  • Place a large pan over medium heat and add the milk. Heat until hot but not simmering. Gently stir in the cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, and low-fat cheese slices, and mix to combine until smooth and melted.
  • Add the drained pasta and mix well until it is coated in the cheese sauce. Adjust the consistency of the sauce with the reserved pasta water, if needed—season and set aside.
  • In a bowl, add the yogurt and chilli sauce and mix well. Store in the fridge until ready to serve.
Chef's Tips
Bash the chicken to an even thickness before breading, as written — an evenly flattened breast cooks uniformly in the air fryer, so skipping this step risks a dry, overcooked edge before the thicker centre catches up.
Press the panko on firmly after the egg dip rather than just resting it on top — a firm press is what actually gets the coating to adhere through the air fryer's fan, instead of flaking off partway through cooking.
Heat the milk until hot but not simmering before adding the cheese, as written, and stir gently — pushing it to a simmer risks the cheese sauce splitting or turning oily instead of staying smooth.
Storage & Reheating
Refrigerate for up to 4 days in airtight containers, or freeze the chicken and mac separately for up to 3 months.
To reheat, air fry or oven the chicken at 180°C for 5–7 minutes to re-crisp it. Reheat the mac in the microwave with a splash of milk, stirring halfway. The chilli yogurt can be reheated gently or served cold. Thaw frozen portions in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Serving 500gCalories 736kcalCarbohydrates 65gProtein 70gFat 15gSaturated Fat 3gPolyunsaturated Fat 1gMonounsaturated Fat 3gCholesterol 104mgSodium 655mgPotassium 1032mgFiber 6gSugar 7gVitamin A 1200IUVitamin C 23mgCalcium 387mgIron 2.1mg