Description
Comfort meets excitement in this honey pepper chicken mac and cheese, blending creamy pasta with spicy-sweet protein. Crispy chicken and melted cheese create a luxurious meal that satisfies hunger and delights senses, inviting you to savor each indulgent bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1 (25 ounces/709 grams) bag breaded chicken strips
- 5 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
Pasta:
- 1 (16 ounces/454 grams) box spiral noodles
Seasonings and Garnish:
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- Fresh basil, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven or prepare skillet for cooking chicken strips, ensuring they are thoroughly cooked and golden brown, then set aside to rest and cool slightly.
- Fill a large pot with water, add salt, and bring to a rolling boil. Cook pasta until tender yet firm, then drain completely and set aside.
- Create honey pepper sauce by combining honey, brown sugar, soy sauce, pineapple juice, lemon juice, vinegar, black pepper, and cayenne in a saucepan. Bring mixture to a vigorous boil, then reduce heat and simmer until sauce thickens and develops a glossy consistency, approximately 12-15 minutes.
- Melt butter in a spacious skillet over medium heat, then gradually pour in heavy cream while continuously stirring. Slowly incorporate Parmesan, mozzarella, and Colby Jack cheeses, whisking until sauce becomes smooth and velvety. Add minced garlic and season with salt and pepper.
- Fold cooked pasta into cheese sauce, ensuring each noodle is evenly coated. Crumble bacon and gently mix into the mac and cheese for added texture and flavor.
- Generously coat each chicken strip in prepared honey pepper sauce, ensuring complete coverage and maximum flavor absorption.
- Arrange mac and cheese on serving plates, strategically placing honey pepper chicken strips on top. Enhance presentation by garnishing with fresh basil leaves and additional crispy bacon crumbles if desired.
Notes
- Avoid overboiling pasta to maintain perfect al dente texture, which prevents mushy mac and cheese.
- Use freshly grated cheese instead of pre-shredded for smoother, more luxurious cheese sauce consistency.
- Create a gluten-free version by substituting regular pasta with gluten-free alternatives and using tamari instead of soy sauce.
- For a lighter option, swap heavy cream with Greek yogurt or half-and-half to reduce overall calorie content while maintaining creamy texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 1200 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 65 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg