03/09/2026
🧀🌶️ Slow Cooked Queso Chicken Mac & Cheese
⭐ CBF Rating: ⭐☆☆☆☆ (1/5 – High Effort, High Reward)
Serves: 10
Nutrition (per serve)
~540 cal | 46g protein | 62g carbs | 13g fat | 5g fibre
Ingredients
Slow Cooker Chicken
🍗 900g chicken breast, diced (~2 lb)
🌶️ 120g red enchilada sauce (~½ cup)
🌶️ 80g canned diced green chillies (~⅓ cup)
🧄 2 tbsp garlic purée
🍅 400g fire-roasted diced tomatoes (~14 oz)
🧅 2 tsp onion powder
🧂 1 tbsp salt
⚫ 1 tsp black pepper
🌶️ ½ tsp cayenne pepper
Roasted Veggies
🫑 2 orange capsicums (bell peppers), diced
🫑 2 red capsicums (bell peppers), diced
🧅 1 large onion, diced
Mac & Cheese
🍝 672g dry pasta (~1½ lb / 24 oz)
Blended Queso Sauce
🥣 800g 2% cottage cheese (~3¼ cups)
🧀 100g reduced-fat cream cheese (~3½ oz)
🧀 150g extra-sharp cheddar, grated (~5⅓ oz)
🧀 30g cheddar cheese powder (~¼ cup)
🌶️ 120g red enchilada sauce (~½ cup)
🥛 150ml milk (~⅔ cup)
🧂 Salt & pepper, to taste
🌿 Chopped coriander/cilantro, optional
Method
1. Add all chicken ingredients to the slow cooker and stir.
2. Cook until tender: HIGH 2–3 hours or LOW 3–4 hours.
3. Roast capsicums and onion at 200°C / 400°F for 20–25 minutes.
4. Cook pasta for roughly half the packet cooking time, then drain.
5. Blend all queso sauce ingredients until smooth.
6. Stir roasted veggies, pasta and queso sauce into the cooked chicken.
7. Cover and cook on HIGH for another 15–20 minutes, until the pasta is tender and gloriously cheesy.
8. Stir well and divide into 10 serves.
⭐ CBF Rating Guide
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ = Stupidly Low Effort
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ = Minimal Effort
⭐⭐⭐☆☆ = Somewhat Effortful
⭐⭐☆☆☆ = Effortful (but worth it)
⭐☆☆☆☆ = High Effort (but High Reward)
Credit: Adapted from Stealth Health Life ()