Just look at that crust! That’s the kind of crust that gives this dish its name Crunchy Pasta Casserole: a crust you can hear before you even bite into it! The flavored tortilla chip and melted cheese topping are of course crispy-crunchy, but beneath is a tender bed of macaroni in a creamy, herby, cheesy, and flavorful sauce with plenty of bites of savory chicken. Crunchy Pasta Casserole is like the best mac-and-cheese you could hope for with an explosion of sound and taste in each bite. Mmm, sounds good to us!
Ingredients
For the casserole:
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 cups milk
- 3 cups macaroni noodles
- 1 (10.5-ounce) can condensed chicken broth
- 2 cups chicken, cooked and shredded
- 1 (7.5-ounce) container whipped chive cream cheese
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 2 cups mozzarella and cheddar cheese blend, shredded
For the topping:
- 2 cups nacho-flavored tortilla chips, crumbled
- 1 cup mozzarella and cheddar cheese blend, shredded
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Step 2 –Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Step 3 –In a large pot over medium-high heat, melt the butter.
Step 4 –Add the flour to the melted butter and stir well, allowing it to cook into a golden-brown paste, about 3 minutes.
Step 5 –Slowly add the milk to the pot, stirring well as you pour.
Step 6 –Add the macaroni noodles to the pot, stirring as you pour.
Step 7 –Bring the milk mixture to a boil and then immediately cover the pot and allow the macaroni to cook for 3 minutes. Make sure to stir the macaroni occasionally so it does not stick.
Step 8 –Reduce the heat to low and stir the macaroni.
Step 9 –Add the chicken broth and the shredded chicken to the pot, stirring well to combine.
Step 10 –Add the cream cheese, the salt, the pepper, the onion powder, and the garlic powder to the pot, stirring until the cream cheese is completely melted.
Step 11 –Add 2 cups of the cheese blend to the pot, stirring until combined.
Step 12 –Pour the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly.
Step 13 –Sprinkle the crumbled tortilla chips on top of the casserole.
Step 14 –Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top of the tortilla layer.
Step 15 –Bake until the cheese is completely melted, about 7-9 minutes.
Step 16 –Serve.
