Description
Creamy honey pepper chicken mac and cheese brings together zesty spice and rich comfort in one epic dinner. Your family will devour this delightful pasta dish that perfectly balances sweet, tangy, and creamy flavors in every single bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 16 ounces spiral noodles
- 25 ounces breaded chicken strips
- 5 slices bacon
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 stick butter
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¾ cup shredded Colby Jack cheese
- ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Supporting Ingredients:
- ¾ cup honey
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- ¼ cup pineapple juice
- 2–3 cloves garlic
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F for crispy chicken strips. Cook 25 ounces of breaded chicken strips according to package instructions until golden brown.
- Boil a large pot of salted water. Add 16 ounces of spiral noodles and cook for 8-9 minutes until al dente. Drain pasta and set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, combine ¾ cup honey, ¼ cup brown sugar, 3 tablespoons soy sauce, ¼ cup pineapple juice, lemon juice, 1 tablespoon vinegar, 1 teaspoon black pepper, and ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper.
- Heat honey pepper sauce over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 15 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat.
- Melt ½ cup butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 2-3 minced garlic cloves and saute for 30 seconds.
- Whisk 2 cups heavy cream into the butter. Gradually add ½ cup Parmesan, 1 cup mozzarella, and ¾ cup Colby Jack cheeses. Stir until smooth and fully melted.
- Season cheese sauce with salt and pepper to your taste. Fold cooked pasta into cheese sauce until evenly coated.
- Crumble 5 slices of cooked bacon. Mix most of the bacon into the mac and cheese, reserving some for garnish.
- Dip each chicken strip completely into the honey pepper sauce, ensuring full coverage.
- Plate mac and cheese, then arrange sauced chicken strips on top. Sprinkle reserved bacon and fresh basil for garnish.
Notes
- Check chicken strips for even coating and crispy texture before adding to the mac and cheese.
- Let honey pepper sauce reduce slowly to develop deep, rich flavor without burning.
- Reserve some bacon and cheese sauce for topping to enhance presentation and add extra layers of flavor.
- For gluten-free version, use gluten-free pasta and breadcrumbs for chicken breading.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 641 kcal
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 376 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 21 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 47 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 29 g
- Cholesterol: 121 mg