Description
Creamy honey pepper chicken mac and cheese delight brings together comfort and zest in one incredible skillet, making your dinner table come alive with flavor. Tender chicken, melted cheese, and a sweet-spicy kick turn this classic pasta into a weeknight meal your whole family will devour.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1 (25 oz) bag breaded chicken strips
- 5 slices bacon
Main Starches:
- 1 (16 oz) box spiral noodles
Sauce & Seasonings:
- ¾ cup honey
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- 1 stick butter
- 2 cups heavy cream
- ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
- ¾ cup shredded Colby Jack cheese
- 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- ¼ cup pineapple juice
- 1 lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
- 2–3 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Boil 16 oz spiral noodles in salted water for 8-10 minutes at a rolling boil until perfectly tender. Drain and reserve.
- Combine ¾ cup honey, ¼ cup brown sugar, 3 tbsp soy sauce, ¼ cup pineapple juice, lemon juice, 1 tbsp vinegar, 1 tsp black pepper, and ¼ tsp cayenne in a saucepan. Simmer at medium heat for 6 minutes until sauce thickens.
- Cook 25 oz breaded chicken strips in 400°F oven for 15-18 minutes until golden and crisp. Toss hot chicken in prepared honey pepper sauce until completely glazed.
- Crisp 5 bacon slices in skillet over medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes until dark brown. Crumble into small pieces.
- Melt 1 stick butter in large pan at medium heat. Sauté 2-3 minced garlic cloves for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour 2 cups heavy cream into butter mixture. Stir in ½ cup Parmesan, 1 cup Mozzarella, and ¾ cup Colby Jack cheeses. Whisk continuously until sauce becomes smooth and creamy.
- Fold cooked noodles and bacon pieces into cheese sauce, ensuring complete coverage.
- Arrange mac and cheese on serving plates. Top with glazed chicken strips. Drizzle remaining honey pepper sauce over dish.
Notes
- Toast your pasta just shy of al dente since it will continue cooking when mixed with the sauce.
- Choose thick-cut bacon for maximum crunch and flavor throughout the mac and cheese.
- Let the honey pepper sauce reduce completely to create a concentrated, sticky glaze on the chicken.
- Grate cheese fresh from blocks for the smoothest, most luxurious cheese sauce texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 590 kcal
- Sugar: 17 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg