Sweet Spicy Honey Pepper Chicken Mac Cheese (Print version)
Tender chicken with sweet and spicy glaze paired with creamy mac and cheese for a comforting, flavorful meal that's easy to prepare and perfect for family dinners.
# What you'll need:
→ For the Chicken
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tsp salt
03 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
04 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
05 - 2 tbsp olive oil
→ For the Honey Pepper Sauce
06 - 1/3 cup honey
07 - 2 tbsp soy sauce
08 - 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
09 - 1 tbsp sriracha or hot sauce
10 - 1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
11 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
12 - 1 tbsp unsalted butter
→ For the Creamy Mac and Cheese
13 - 12 oz elbow macaroni or small pasta
14 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
15 - 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
16 - 2 cups whole milk
17 - 1 cup heavy cream
18 - 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
19 - 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
20 - 1/2 tsp salt
21 - 1/4 tsp ground mustard
22 - 1/4 tsp white or black pepper
# Method:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F.
02 - Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken on both sides until golden, about 3 minutes per side.
04 - In a small saucepan, combine honey, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, sriracha, black pepper, and minced garlic. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, cook for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened. Stir in butter.
05 - Brush half the honey pepper sauce over seared chicken. Transfer skillet to oven and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
06 - Cook macaroni in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package directions; drain and set aside.
07 - In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute.
08 - Gradually whisk in milk and cream; cook, stirring, until thickened, 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat. Add cheddar and mozzarella cheeses, salt, mustard, and pepper; stir until smooth.
09 - Add pasta to cheese sauce, stirring to coat evenly.
10 - Remove chicken from oven, brush with remaining honey pepper sauce. Let rest 5 minutes before slicing.
11 - Serve sliced chicken over or alongside creamy mac and cheese.
# Expert advice:
01 -
- The honey pepper sauce strikes this perfect balance that makes your taste buds light up without overwhelming them
- Creamy homemade mac and cheese beats boxed versions by a mile and comes together faster than youd expect
- Everything cooks in about an hour but tastes like you spent all afternoon in the kitchen
02 -
- Letting the chicken rest for 5 minutes after baking keeps all those juices inside instead of on your cutting board
- Removing the cheese sauce from heat before adding cheese prevents grainy texture and separation
- The glaze thickens quickly as it cools, so dont over-reduce or itll become too sticky
03 -
- Use an instant-read thermometer to avoid overcooking the chicken into dryness
- Salt your pasta water generously since its the only chance to season the macaroni itself