Baked Macaroni Cheese with Chicken & BROCCOLI

Step 1

Preheat oven to 180C/350F.

Step 2

Heat oil in a deep heavy based skillet or dutch oven over high heat. Add chicken and cook until just cooked - it's fine if it's still raw inside. Remove chicken into a bowl. (Note 2)

Step 3

Reduce heat to medium and melt butter. Add garlic and onion and saute for 5 minutes until onion is translucent. Add flour and cook for 1 minute.

Step 4

Pour in half the milk and whisk it in so the flour butter mixture melts. It should thicken quite quickly - around 30 seconds. Pour the remaining milk in, whisking constantly, then add the water, salt and pepper.

Step 5

Turn the heat up to medium high and cook, whisking occasionally, for around 3 to 5 minutes until you start seeing steam rising from the white sauce when you whisk it.

Step 6

Add the macaroni and chicken, stir, then top with broccoli.

Step 7

Place the lid on and bake for 20 minutes.

Step 8

Remove from the oven, switch oven to broiler/grill on high.

Step 9

Remove lid (Note 3), stir through cheese, then sprinkle over panko and parmesan. (Will still look bit watery at this stage).

Step 10

Place pot under the broiler/grill for 5 minutes, or until top is golden.

Step 11

Remove, then let it stand for 5 minutes before serving (sauce thickens quickly).