Description
This Honey Pepper Chicken Mac and Cheese is a delicious twist on the classic comfort food, combining creamy cheese sauce, tender spiral pasta, crispy breaded chicken strips coated in a sweet and spicy honey pepper sauce, and smoky bacon crumbles. Garnished with fresh basil, it’s a flavorful and hearty dish perfect for dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pasta and Chicken
- 1 (16 ounces) box spiral noodles
- 1 (25 ounces) bag breaded chicken strips
- 5 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh basil, for garnish
Honey Pepper Sauce
- 3/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce (low sodium)
- 1/4 cup pineapple juice
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Cheese Sauce
- 1 stick butter (8 tablespoons)
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, freshly shredded
- 3/4 cup colby jack cheese, freshly shredded
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Cook the breaded chicken strips according to the package instructions, either by baking in the oven or frying until golden and fully cooked. Once done, set aside and keep warm.
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the spiral noodles, and cook until al dente as per package directions. Drain the noodles and set them aside.
- Make the Honey Pepper Sauce: In a saucepan, combine the honey, light brown sugar, low sodium soy sauce, pineapple juice, lemon juice, vinegar, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 15 minutes until the sauce slightly thickens. Remove from heat and let the sauce cool.
- Prepare the Cheese Sauce: In a large pan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add heavy cream and stir gently to combine. Gradually add parmesan, mozzarella, and colby jack cheeses, stirring continuously after each addition until the sauce becomes smooth and creamy. Add minced garlic along with salt and pepper to taste, and stir in chopped fresh basil.
- Combine Pasta and Cheese Sauce: Add the cooked spiral noodles to the cheese sauce, stirring well to coat the pasta evenly. Mix in the crumbled cooked bacon for added texture and flavor.
- Coat the Chicken: Dip each cooked breaded chicken strip into the honey pepper sauce until fully coated, making sure the sauce clings to all sides.
- Serve: Plate the creamy mac and cheese mixture, then top generously with the honey pepper coated chicken strips. Garnish with additional fresh basil and extra crumbled bacon if desired. Serve immediately for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- You can bake or fry the breaded chicken strips depending on your preference or package instructions.
- Adjust the cayenne pepper quantity in the honey pepper sauce to control the spiciness.
- Freshly shredded cheese yields the best melting texture in the cheese sauce.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half but expect a slightly thinner sauce.
- Garnish with fresh basil just before serving to keep it vibrant and aromatic.
