Recipe · Air fryer · Freezer friendly

Peri peri mac & cheese with crispy chicken tenders

Name: Peri peri mac & cheese with crispy chicken tenders
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 450g chicken breast fillets; 160g macaroni (dried); 50g panko breadcrumbs (save a tbsp worth to sprinkle on before the oven); 1 tbsp flour for the chicken strips; 1 egg, whisked; 5 tsp peri peri rub (I used the Aldi one); 25g plain flour; 25g butter (I used Lurpak); 250ml semi skimmed milk; 100g cheddar cheese; 1 tbsp Nando's medium peri peri marinade (or sauce); 150g Tenderstem broccoli

Creamy peri peri mac and cheese with crispy air fryer chicken tenders. Comfort food with a kick.

Let’s cook

4Serves

1 hrTime

573Cals each

47gProtein

You’ll need

Ingredients

450g chicken breast fillets
160g macaroni (dried)
50g panko breadcrumbs (save a tbsp worth to sprinkle on before the oven)
1 tbsp flour for the chicken strips
1 egg, whisked
5 tsp peri peri rub (I used the Aldi one)
25g plain flour
25g butter (I used Lurpak)
250ml semi skimmed milk
100g cheddar cheese
1 tbsp Nando's medium peri peri marinade (or sauce)
150g Tenderstem broccoli

Let’s go

Method

01Slice the chicken fillets into strips. Place panko breadcrumbs into a bowl with 3 tsp of the peri rub and mix, whisk egg in another separate bowl and place the flour into another bowl
02Dip each chicken strip into the flour mixture and fully cover, then into the egg then into the panko fully covering each strip
03Place the strips into the air fryer for 15 minutes on 180°c, turning halfway with a few sprays of oil to make sure they are crispy (you can also do these in the oven)
04Boil the macaroni in a pan, drain and set aside
05Melt the butter in a pan, add the flour and stir until it forms a paste, add the milk gradually and keep stirring until smooth, add 2 tsp of the peri rub and a tbsp of nandos marinade (or you can use Nando’s sauce too!)
06Add in the grated cheese and stir until melted and smooth
07Now add the cooked pasta, stir together and then place into individual oven proof dishes, sprinkle a few panko breadcrumbs on top and a sprinkle of the peri rub and place into the oven on 180°c for around 5/10 minutes until bubbling and browning slightly
08Meanwhile boil the tenderstem broccoli for 5 minutes, drain and serve with a pinch of cracked salt
09Serve the chicken strips with the broccoli and mac and cheese & enjoy!