Description
Spicy Honey Pepper Chicken with Mac and Cheese brings explosive flavor right to your dinner table, melding crispy chicken with creamy pasta in a way that satisfies your deepest comfort food cravings. Prepare for a crowd-pleasing meal that delivers serious taste without complicated cooking techniques.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
Dairy and Cheese:
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 cups whole milk
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
Seasonings and Pantry Items:
- ½ cup pure honey
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to precisely 375°F and generously season 4 chicken breasts with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Melt 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté 3 minced garlic cloves until their aroma fills your kitchen.
- Pour ½ cup of pure honey into the skillet with the garlic. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of black pepper and stir until the mixture becomes thick and glossy.
- Brush the honey-pepper sauce generously over each chicken breast, ensuring complete coverage.
- Transfer the sauced chicken to a baking dish and roast for exactly 25-30 minutes at 375°F until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- While the chicken bakes, boil 2 cups of elbow macaroni in salted water according to package directions until perfectly al dente.
- In a separate saucepan, melt ¼ cup of butter over medium-low heat. Slowly pour in 2 cups of whole milk.
- Gradually add 2 cups of shredded sharp cheddar cheese to the milk, stirring constantly until the sauce becomes smooth and creamy.
- Season the mac and cheese with salt to your preferred taste.
- Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for 3-5 minutes before serving alongside the creamy mac and cheese.
Notes
- Always use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken reaches 165°F for safe cooking.
- Swap regular milk with whole milk or half-and-half for extra creamy mac and cheese.
- For gluten-free version, use gluten-free pasta and check that honey is certified gluten-free.
- Adjust black pepper quantity to match your preferred spice level, starting with less and adding more gradually.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 747 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 310 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 22 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 46 g
- Cholesterol: 135 mg