Description
Creamy honey pepper chicken mac and cheese blends crispy glazed chicken with rich, velvety pasta. Bold, sweet, and spicy comfort food in one dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Mac and Cheese Base:
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Crispy Chicken:
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (cut into bite-size pieces)
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- Vegetable oil for frying
Honey Pepper Glaze:
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp cracked black pepper
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Soak chicken in buttermilk for at least 20 minutes.
- Mix flour, paprika, salt, and black pepper in a bowl.
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Dredge chicken in seasoned flour, then fry until golden brown.
- Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
- In a saucepan, melt butter and whisk in flour for 1–2 minutes.
- Slowly add milk and cream, whisk until smooth.
- Stir in cheddar and mozzarella until fully melted.
- Add garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Cook macaroni according to package instructions and drain.
- Combine pasta with cheese sauce.
- In a small pan, heat honey, soy sauce, cracked pepper, and red pepper flakes until slightly thickened.
- Toss fried chicken in the glaze to coat.
- Top mac and cheese with the honey pepper chicken.
- Serve warm.
Notes
- Use freshly shredded cheese for the best melt and flavor.
- Adjust the glaze’s heat by adding or reducing red pepper flakes.
- Reheat chicken in an oven or air fryer for crispiness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop, Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 690
- Sugar: 11g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 58g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 120mg