Description

This Creamy Honey Pepper Chicken Mac and Cheese is the ultimate comfort food upgrade. Crispy chicken tossed in a sweet and peppery honey glaze sits on top of rich, creamy mac and cheese for a meal that tastes even better than takeout. Perfect for weeknights, family dinners, or when you need serious comfort in a bowl.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Chicken:
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
Salt and black pepper, to taste
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 cup all-purpose flour (or cornstarch)
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
Oil for frying (or use an air fryer)
For the Honey Pepper Sauce:
1/3 cup honey
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
For the Mac and Cheese:
12 oz elbow macaroni
3 tablespoons butter
2 cups milk or light cream
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella or Monterey Jack
Salt, to taste

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Instructions

Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook macaroni until just tender. Drain and set aside.
Prepare the Chicken: Season chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Dredge in flour, dip in eggs, then coat with breadcrumbs.
Cook the Chicken: Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Fry chicken until golden and crispy, 3–4 minutes per side. Remove and drain.
Make the Honey Pepper Sauce: In a small pan, melt butter over low heat. Add garlic, honey, soy sauce, and black pepper. Simmer for 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened.
Coat the Chicken: Toss the crispy chicken in the honey pepper sauce until evenly glazed.
Make the Cheese Sauce: In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add milk and warm gently. Stir in cheeses until smooth. Season with salt.
Combine: Add cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce and stir until fully coated.
Serve: Spoon mac and cheese into bowls and top with honey pepper chicken. Serve warm.

Notes

For a lighter version, bake or air-fry the chicken instead of frying. Keep the cheese sauce over low heat to prevent it from becoming grainy. Add a splash of milk when reheating to restore creaminess.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Main Dish
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bowl
Calories: 560
Sugar: 14g
Sodium: 920mg
Fat: 28g
Saturated Fat: 12g
Unsaturated Fat: 14g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 52g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 28g
Cholesterol: 95mg