Description
Creamy honey pepper chicken mac and cheese with crispy bacon delivers pure comfort on a plate. Succulent chicken, golden bacon, and velvety cheese sauce combine to create a mouthwatering meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 25 ounces (709 grams) breaded chicken strips
- 5 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
Pasta and Cheese:
- 16 ounces (454 grams) spiral noodles
- 1/2 cup (50 grams) shredded parmesan cheese
- 1 cup (100 grams) mozzarella cheese, freshly shredded
- 3/4 cup (75 grams) Colby jack cheese, freshly shredded
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 3/4 cup (240 milliliters) honey
- 1/4 cup (50 grams) light brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) pineapple juice
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) vinegar
- 1 teaspoon (5 grams) black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon (1 gram) cayenne pepper
- 1 stick (113 grams) butter
- 2 cups (480 milliliters) heavy cream
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh basil, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven or prepare a skillet to cook chicken strips according to package instructions until golden and fully cooked, then set aside to rest.
- Cook spiral pasta in salted boiling water for 8-10 minutes until perfectly tender, then drain and reserve.
- Create honey pepper glaze by combining honey, brown sugar, soy sauce, pineapple juice, lemon juice, vinegar, black pepper, and cayenne in a saucepan, simmering at medium heat for 15 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Craft the creamy cheese sauce by melting butter in a separate pan, then gradually whisking in heavy cream and blending cheeses until smooth and velvety.
- Incorporate minced garlic into the cheese sauce, seasoning with salt and pepper to enhance flavor profile.
- Fold cooked pasta into the rich cheese sauce, ensuring even coating of noodles.
- Crumble crispy bacon and gently mix into the cheesy pasta mixture.
- Brush prepared chicken strips thoroughly with the reduced honey pepper glaze, creating a glossy and flavorful exterior.
- Plate the cheesy pasta, arranging glazed chicken strips on top and garnishing with fresh basil leaves for a vibrant finish.
Notes
- Swap out heavy cream for Greek yogurt or half-and-half to reduce calories and make the dish lighter.
- Toast bread crumbs with parmesan for an extra crispy topping that adds texture and depth to the mac and cheese.
- For gluten-free options, use chickpea or rice pasta instead of traditional wheat pasta.
- Marinate chicken in honey pepper sauce overnight to intensify the flavor profile and create more tender meat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 752
- Sugar: 31g
- Sodium: 1122mg
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 70g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 126mg