Creamy Honey Pepper Chicken Mac and Cheese

Creamy Honey Pepper Chicken Mac and Cheese blends sweet-spicy glazed chicken strips, crispy bacon, and a velvety three-cheese sauce tossed with pasta. A comforting, crowd-pleasing dinner idea perfect for weeknights or Sunday meals.

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 35 minutes
Total time: 50 minutes
Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

1 (16 oz) box spiral noodles 1 (25 oz) bag breaded chicken strips 5 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled Salt and pepper to taste Fresh basil for garnish Honey Pepper Sauce: ¾ cup honey ¼ cup light brown sugar 3 tbsp low sodium soy sauce ¼ cup pineapple juice Juice of 1 lemon 1 tbsp vinegar 1 tsp black pepper ¼ tsp cayenne pepper Cheese Sauce: 1 stick butter 2 cups heavy cream ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese 1 cup freshly shredded mozzarella cheese ¾ cup freshly shredded Colby Jack cheese 2–3 cloves garlic, minced Chopped fresh basil for garnish (optional)

Instructions

Step 1: Follow package instructions to bake or fry the chicken strips until golden and crisp, then set aside.
Step 2: Cook spiral noodles in salted water until al dente, then drain.
Step 3: In a saucepan, combine honey, brown sugar, soy sauce, pineapple juice, lemon juice, vinegar, black pepper, and cayenne. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 15 minutes until thickened.
Step 4: In a large pan, melt butter, add cream, and slowly whisk in cheeses until smooth and velvety. Add garlic, season with salt and pepper.
Step 5: Toss pasta in the cheese sauce, stir in crumbled bacon, and coat chicken with honey pepper glaze.
Step 6: Plate pasta, top with saucy chicken, sprinkle with basil, and serve immediately.

Notes

For a one-pot version, cook chicken and pasta in the same pan. To lighten the dish, use whole wheat pasta and Greek yogurt in place of heavy cream. Top with a parmesan crust or truffle oil for a gourmet finish.

Nutrition

Calories: 630
Fat: 38g
Saturated fat: 20g
Sugar: 14g
Sodium: 950mg
Protein: 34g
Carbohydrates: 42g
Fiber: 2g