Chicken Hatch Chile Verde Skillet Macaroni and Cheese

Submitted by Zhukov

"I wish I could take credit for this one, but it's a winning recipe from the HEB Central Market recipe contest for hatch green chilies. Now it may be a little difficult to describe this dish and by looking at it, it may be a little difficult to imagine how it all comes together, but trust me: This is incredibly delicious."

 

• Ready In: 1hr
• Ingredients: 19
• Serves: 8

ingredients

• 1 lb elbow macaroni
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3⁄4 cup chicken broth
• 8 tomatillos, husked and chopped
• 6 New Mexico green chilies, roasted, peeled, seeded and chopped (Hatch preferred, can use Anaheim)
• 1 medium white onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1⁄2 cup cilantro leaf, loosely packed
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 1⁄2 cups half-and-half
• 2 cups monterey jack cheese, shredded
• 1 cup white cheddar cheese, shredded
• 4 ounces cream cheese, cubed
• 2 cups cooked chicken breasts, shredded (rotisserie chicken works fine)
• 3⁄4 cup tortilla chips, crushed
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1⁄2 cup pecans, chopped
• 2 cups monterey jack cheese, grated

directions

1. Cook pasta until al dente and drain. Butter 12-inch cast iron skillet.
2. Heat broth with tomatillos and Hatch chiles and cook for 10 minutes. Transfer to food processor and pulse. Add onion, garlic, cilantro and salt.
3. Heat oil in saucepan. Add tomatillo mixture and cook over medium-low heat for six minutes. Stir in half and half and cheeses until heated through. Toss in pasta and chicken and place in cast iron skillet.
4. Mix last four ingredients for topping and spread over pasta mixture. Place skillet under broiler for 15 minutes until golden brown.