Description
A rich and indulgent mac and cheese dish topped with crispy honey-pepper glazed chicken. This comforting recipe blends creamy, cheesy pasta with sweet and spicy flavors, making it perfect for both family dinners and special gatherings.
Ingredients
- 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
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- Vegetable oil for frying
- ⅓ cup honey
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp cracked black pepper
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Soak the chicken pieces in buttermilk for at least 20 minutes to tenderize.
- Dredge the chicken in a mixture of flour, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
- Fry the chicken in vegetable oil for 4–5 minutes per side or until golden and crispy.
- In a small saucepan, whisk together honey, soy sauce, cracked black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Simmer for 2–3 minutes.
- Toss the fried chicken pieces in the honey pepper glaze until well coated.
- Cook the elbow macaroni until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a saucepan, melt butter and whisk in flour to form a roux. Gradually add milk and heavy cream, stirring until smooth.
- Stir in cheddar and mozzarella cheeses until melted and smooth. Season with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Mix the cooked pasta into the cheese sauce until well coated.
- Serve the mac and cheese in bowls and top with honey pepper chicken. Garnish with parsley or extra cracked pepper if desired.
Notes
- Reheat mac and cheese with a splash of milk to restore creaminess.
- Reheat chicken in oven or air fryer to maintain crispiness.
- Freeze mac and cheese separately for up to 2 months; avoid freezing chicken.
- Use rotisserie chicken for a quicker version of the dish.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 720
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 740mg
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 58g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 145mg
