Creating BBQ Chicken Mac and Cheese can be straightforward if you follow these steps:

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cook Pasta: In a large pot, cook the elbow macaroni according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
3. Prepare Sauce: In the same pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for about 1 minute until golden.
4. Add Milk: Slowly whisk in the milk, stirring continuously to prevent lumps from forming.
5. Season the Sauce: Incorporate the garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook until thickened, about 3-5 minutes.
6. Cheese It Up: Remove the pot from heat. Add the shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheese, stirring until melted and creamy.
7. Mix Chicken & BBQ: In a separate bowl, combine the shredded chicken and BBQ sauce. Adjust the amount of BBQ sauce according to your taste preference.
8. Combine Mixtures: Add the pasta to the cheese sauce, stirring until well coated. Next, mix in the BBQ chicken until evenly distributed.
9. Transfer to Baking Dish: Pour the mixture into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, spreading it out evenly.
10. Add Topping: Sprinkle additional cheese on top if desired.
11. Bake: Place in the preheated oven and bake for about 30 minutes, or until bubbly and golden on top.
12. Garnish and Cool: Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

These simple steps will guide you toward creating this amazing dish effortlessly!