Mac & Cheese Seasoning
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Meet the dream team: Crispy & Crunchy baked chicken and Mac & Cheese. 20 minutes is all you need to prep this lunchbox fave! Before starting, make sure you have your oven pre-heated and the water already boiling on the stove so you can easily prepare this recipe in a pinch.
Perfectly Balance Your Plate
Serve with 1 cup chopped veggies and 2 tbsp Epicure Dip.
Ingredients
1⁄2 lb (225 g) boneless, skinless chicken breast fillets, about 8
1 tbsp mayonnaise
1⁄2 pkgCrispy & Crunchy Coating Mix (Pack of 3)
1⁄2 bunch kale
2 cups uncooked macaroni noodles
1 pkgMac & Cheese Seasoning (Pack of 3)
1⁄3 cup milk, your choice
2 tbsp butter, optional
Toppings (optional): sliced pickles, hot sauce
Preparation
Preheat oven to 400° F. Place one Cooling Rack on 1⁄4 Sheet Pan lined with 1⁄4 Sheet Pan Liner.
In a bowl, combine chicken fillets and mayo. Place coating mix in a shallow dish. Using tongs or your hands, coat chicken fillets, one at a time; place coated fillets on rack, leaving some space between each piece. Bake 18—20 min or until golden and cooked through.
Meanwhile, trim kale leaves from stems and chop into smaller pieces; you should have about 2 cups. In Multipurpose Pot with boiling water, add kale and pasta. Cook until pasta is tender, about 6—8 min. Drain.
Stir in seasoning, milk, and butter, if using, until evenly coated.
Spoon into bowls and top with crispy chicken and additional toppings, if desired.
Nutritional Information
Per serving: Calories 380, Fat 9 g (Saturated 3 g, Trans 0.2 g), Cholesterol 45 mg, Sodium 520 mg, Carbohydrate 51 g (Fibre 3 g, Sugars 4 g), Protein 23 g.
Tips
For a hot, southern twist, toss chicken that has been combined with mayo with 1 tsp Buffalo or Louisiana Wing Seasoning before coating with mix; stir an additional 2 tsp of wing seasoning into prepared mac & cheese.
For a spicy glaze, whisk 2 tbsp oil with 1 tbsp wing seasoning in a Prep Bowl. Microwave on high for 30 sec. Brush over hot chicken as soon as it comes out of the oven.
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Mac & cheese that’s meant to be eaten with your hands! This twist on a kid’s classic is guaranteed to be gobbled up at lunch. Whether it’s a packed lunch or birthday party, these morsels of cheesy goodness will bring joy and excitement to every bite.
Ingredients
2 cups uncooked macaroni noodles
1 pkgMac & Cheese Seasoning (Pack of 3)
1 egg
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
1⁄2 cup milk, your choice
2 tbsp unsalted butter
Preparation
Preheat oven to 425° F. Place two Muffin Makers on Sheet Pan.
In Multipurpose Pot set over high heat, boil pasta until tender, about 6–8 min. Drain. Add seasoning, egg, cheese, milk, and butter. Stir until evenly mixed.
Spoon into muffin cups—they will be full. Bake at least 12 min or until tops are golden.
Serve warm or, if making ahead, let cool before removing from cups.
Nutritional Information
Per serving (2 bites): Calories 380, Fat 20 g (Saturated 12 g, Trans 0.2 g), Cholesterol 100 mg, Sodium 470 mg, Carbohydrate 30 g (Fibre 2 g, Sugars 4 g), Protein 18 g.
Tips
Customize your Mac & Cheese Bites your way! Stir in veggies, prepared protein, or extra seasonings of your choice before baking. Swap out different cheeses, such as Tex-Mex or Pepper Jack pre-seasoned cheese blends.
Recipe makes enough for six lunches (2 per lunch). Wrap bites individually and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Omit the egg and stir in an extra cup of cheese or 2 tbsp chia seeds before baking. Let cool completely before removing from cups and serve cool.
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Mac & cheese with a healthy green twist? Yes please! Little monsters will love seeing this in their lunches at school and you’ll be pleased that they’ve got a boost of nutrients thanks to the addition of spinach and edamame.
Perfectly Balance Your Plate
Serve with 2 cups mixed greens and 1 tbsp Epicure Salad Dressing.
Ingredients
2 cups uncooked rotini pasta
4 cups hot water
1 cup baby spinach
1⁄2 cup milk, your choice
1 pkgMac & Cheese Seasoning (Pack of 3)
2 1⁄2 cups frozen edamame
2 tbsp butter
Preparation
Place pasta in Multipurpose Steamer. Stir in water. Cover; microwave on high until al dente, 8 min.
Meanwhile, add spinach, milk, and seasoning to blender. Blend until smooth, 20–30 sec.
Drain pasta; return to steamer. Add edamame, butter and sauce; mix well.
Cover; microwave on high, 5 min.
Nutritional Information
Per serving: Calories 320, Fat 13 g (Saturated 6 g, Trans 0.3 g), Cholesterol 30 mg, Sodium 400 mg, Carbohydrate 36 g (Fibre 5 g, Sugars 5 g), Protein 17 g.
Tips
Gluten Free? Try using brown rice pasta instead.
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Family movie nights just got cheesier! Set up your favourite movie, snuggle up, and indulge in this cheesy popcorn goodness. Don’t forget to save some for a special school lunchbox treat.
Ingredients
6 tbsp unsalted butter or coconut oil
1 pkgMac & Cheese Seasoning (Pack of 3)
8 cups popped popcorn
Preparation
In a small saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in seasoning until combined.
Pour popped popcorn in a large bowl. Add cheese mixture; toss to coat.
Nutritional Information
Per serving (1 cup): Calories 130, Fat 11 g (Saturated 6 g, Trans 0.5 g), Cholesterol 30 mg, Sodium 160 mg, Carbohydrate 8 g (Fibre 1 g, Sugars 2 g), Protein 2 g.
Tips
Prep popcorn in Multipurpose Steamer. Add 1⁄3 cup popcorn kernels; cover and microwave on high 5–6 min, or until popping has slowed down.
