chicken-vegetable mac and cheese

Ingredients For chicken-vegetable mac and cheese

• 12 oz

  dried penne pasta
• 1 c

  fresh green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces or can use frozen not defrosted
• 1 c

  broccoli florets
• 2 Tbsp

  vegetable oil
• 1/3 c

  chopped red sweet pepper
• 1 lb

  skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into bite-size pieces
• 1 tsp

  dried italian seasoning or other herb blend, crushed
• 1/8 tsp

  each salt and pepper
• 1/4 c

  butter
• 1/3 c

  chopped onion
• 1 clove

  garlic, minced
• 1/4 c

  all-purpose flour
• 3 Tbsp

  tomato paste
• 4 1/2 c

  milk
• 1 1/2 c

  shredded cheddar or swiss cheese (8 ounces)
• 2 c

  monterray jack cheese (6 ounces)
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 2 c

  purchased croutons, coarsely crushed (4 ounces)