Honey Pepper Chicken Mac and Cheese Recipe
Honey Pepper Chicken Mac and Cheese is a delicious twist on the classic comfort food, combining creamy three-cheese pasta with crispy breaded chicken strips coated in a sweet and spicy honey pepper sauce. Enhanced with smoky bacon and fresh basil, this dish offers a perfect balance of flavors and textures that will delight your taste buds.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Mac and Cheese
- 1 16 oz box spiral noodles
- 1 stick butter
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, freshly shredded
- 3/4 cup colby jack cheese, freshly shredded
- 2–3 cloves minced garlic
- Salt and Pepper, to taste
- 5 slices bacon (cooked and crumbled)
- Chopped fresh basil
Chicken
- 1 25 oz. bag breaded chicken strips
Honey Pepper Sauce
- 3/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup pineapple juice
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Cook Chicken: Bake or deep fry the breaded chicken strips according to the package directions or prepare your own. Once cooked, set them aside.
- Cook Pasta: Prepare the spiral noodles following the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Make Honey Pepper Sauce: In a medium saucepan, combine honey, light brown sugar, low sodium soy sauce, pineapple juice, lemon juice, vinegar, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and let the sauce cool slightly to thicken.
- Prepare Cheese Sauce: In a large pan, melt the butter with heavy cream over medium heat. Gradually add parmesan, mozzarella, and colby jack cheeses one at a time, stirring well after each addition until smooth and fully melted.
- Add Garlic and Season: Stir in the minced garlic until fragrant and fully incorporated. Season the cheese sauce with salt and pepper to taste.
- Combine Pasta and Bacon: Add the cooked pasta to the cheese sauce and stir until well coated. Incorporate the crumbled cooked bacon into the mixture.
- Coat Chicken: Dip each cooked chicken strip into the honey pepper sauce until fully coated, then set aside.
- Serve: Plate the cheesy pasta mixture, top with the honey pepper coated chicken strips, and garnish with fresh chopped basil and additional crumbled bacon if desired.
Notes
- You can substitute the breaded chicken strips with homemade breaded chicken tenders for a fresher option.
- Adjust the cayenne pepper amount to control the spiciness of the honey pepper sauce.
- For a lighter version, consider using half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop or microwave.
- Adding a handful of steamed vegetables like broccoli can boost the nutritional content of this dish.
Keywords: Honey Pepper Chicken, Mac and Cheese, Comfort Food, Breaded Chicken, Three Cheese Sauce, Bacon, Sweet and Spicy Sauce
