Sunnys Easy Chipotle Chicken Baked Mac And Cheese Recipes

SUNNY'S CLASSIC BBQ CHICKEN

Steps:

• For the brine and chicken: In a medium pot on high heat, add the tea, 1/4 cup salt and 1 cup water. Cook, stirring, until the salt dissolves. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature.
• Pour the cooled brine into a large resealable plastic bag. Add the chicken thighs and breasts and refrigerate overnight.
• About 2 hours before grilling, remove the chicken from the bag and pat dry. Let rest on a plate in the refrigerator for 1 1/2 hours, then at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• For the sauce. In a medium pot over medium-high heat, heat the oil. Add the onions and saute until tender, about 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, then add the ketchup, beer, brown sugar, paprika, chile flakes, garlic powder and garlic. Cook, stirring, until the sauce thickens and the sugar is completely dissolved, about 10 minutes. Set aside.
• Preheat a grill to high heat.
• Salt and pepper both sides of the chicken pieces. Over the direct heat, put the chicken on the grill on what would be the skin side. Grill until the chicken easily releases and there are grill marks, 6 to 8 minutes. Flip and move the chicken to the indirect heat area of the grill and brush with the sauce. Cover and grill until cooked through, brushing with the sauce again once or twice, another 6 to 8 minutes.

SUNNY'S DIMEPIECE MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the macaroni: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the macaroni to al dente according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
• For the sauce: In a large saucepot on medium heat, add the butter, onion, Worcestershire sauce, flour, paprika and a few pinches of salt as well as black pepper. Cook for a few minutes while stirring, then add the half-and-half and cream cheese. Cook until the mixture begins to simmer.
• For the dish: Butter the sides and bottom of a 13-by-9-inch casserole dish or lasagna pan. Mix both cheese blends together in a large bowl.
• Put the scallions and cooked macaroni in a large bowl and toss in 4 cups of the shredded cheese. Pour over the sauce and stir, shake, jiggle and tap the bottom of the bowl lightly to make sure the sauce seeps completely into the nooks and crannies. Pour this mixture into the prepared dish. Toss the fried onions with the remaining 2 cups of cheese and sprinkle over the top. Bake until the top is melted and bubbly, 20 to 25 minutes.

SUNNY'S EASY SMOTHERED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and thyme and more olive oil if needed and saute until lightly browned and tender, 5 to 10 minutes. Add the onion and season with salt and pepper. Let cook until the onions are softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Mix in the flour and mustard and cook for about 2 minutes. Whisk in the beef stock and bring to a simmer. Cook until thickened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the grilled chicken breasts, then cover the skillet and turn down the heat to medium-low. Let simmer for about 10 minutes.
• Prepare the rice according to the package directions. Remove the rice to a large bowl and stir in 2 tablespoons parsley. Place rice on a platter, then top with the chicken and mushroom sauce. Garnish with the remaining fresh parsley.

SUNNY'S EASY BUTTER CHICKEN

Steps:

• For the marinade: In a bowl, add the yogurt, chili powder, cumin, turmeric, garam masala, paprika, 2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Stir until everything is one color. Scoop into a large resealable bag and add the chicken. Leave on the counter at room temperature for 2 hours.
• To cook the chicken: In a large pan with straight sides on medium-high heat, add the butter and then the chicken chunks from the bag, discarding the marinade. Cook, turning, until some parts are browned but most are still white, about 8 minutes.
• For the sauce. Add the crushed tomatoes, sugar, ginger and garlic to the pan. Things should be bubbly and hot. Stir to marry everything and when the pan smells like garlic and ginger, add the heavy cream and stir again until everything is the same color. Partially cover and simmer on low for 20 minutes.
• For serving: Stir in the cilantro and serve over rice with another sprinkle of cilantro.

SUNNY'S EASY CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP

Steps:

• For the tortilla strips: Heat the oil in a medium Dutch oven over medium-high heat. When the oil begins to shimmer, add the tortilla strips and cook, stirring, until they are crispy, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and sprinkle lightly with salt. Set aside.
• For the soup: In the same pot, add the cumin, paprika, jalapeños, onion and salt and pepper to taste. Cook until the veggies are soft and tender, about 8 minutes. Add the stock and diced tomatoes and green chiles. Bring to a simmer. Add the chicken and simmer until the chicken is warmed through.
• For serving: Serve in bowls with a pile of the fried tortilla strips and some yogurt and hot sauce, if desired, on the side.

CHIPOTLE MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the macaroni, and return to a boil. Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain well in a colander set in the sink.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray, and place the macaroni into the bottom of the dish. Heat milk in a saucepan until hot but not boiling.
• Melt butter in a saucepan, and cook and stir the onion, garlic, and chipotle chiles until the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Whisk in flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, and let cook for about 3 minutes, whisking constantly to avoid burning. Whisk in the hot milk, 1/2 cup at a time, and stir in paprika, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a simmer (do not boil), whisking constantly until thickened, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the cheeses, about 1/2 cup at a time, and stir until the cheeses have melted and the sauce is thick and smooth.
• Pour the sauce over the macaroni in the baking dish, and stir gently to combine. Cover the dish with foil.
• Bake covered until the dish is bubbling and the macaroni has absorbed some of the sauce, about 40 minutes. Uncover, and bake until golden brown on the edges, 10 to 15 more minutes.

SUNNY'S EASY CHICKEN MAC 'N' CHEESE WITH SPICY RANCH SALAD

Steps:

• 1. Cook pasta in large saucepan of salted water according to package directions. Drain; reserve pasta water. 2. Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Add bell pepper. Cook until pepper is tender, about 6 minutes. Add soup, 12 soup can of reserved pasta water and cheese. Stir until melted, about 8 minutes. 3. Add chicken, cooked pasta and pepper; stir. Top with bacon and scallions, if desired. 4. Combine ranch dressing and salsa in a large bowl. Toss with lettuce. Serve salad chilled or at room temperature along side of Mac 'n' Cheese.

BAKED CHIPOTLE CHICKEN MAC & CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring about 1 1/2 gallons of water to a full boil in a large saucepan. Add a generous amount of salt, and add the macaroni, stir.
• Cook for 9 minutes, stirring every couple of minutes, to ensure they don't stick together. Drain very well, toss the macaroni with the chicken, and set aside.
• Melt butter in another large saucepan, add the flour, and cook until very light brown, over medium heat.
• Slowly whisk in the milk and chicken broth, continue whisking for one minute. Reduce the heat, and simmer while whisking, until it thickens. It should be the consistency of smooth gravy. Turn off the heat, and whisk in the cheeses until smooth.
• Mix the cheese sauce with the macaroni/chicken mixture in the same pot that you boiled it in, or a very large mixing bowl.
• Spray two 13x9 inches baking dishes with cooking spray, and add the breadcrumbs to the pan, shaking them around to coat the entire pan. Discard the excess. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP! It will ensure that your macaroni and cheese doesn't get stuck to the pan.
• Pour the mac & cheese into the baking pan, and smooth it out a little bit.
• Cover with aluminum foil, and bake @ 350 for 30-35 minutes, until bubbling.
• Remove from the oven, and cool for at least 5 minutes before serving.