Description
A comforting and flavorful dish featuring sweet and spicy honey pepper chicken served over creamy, cheesy macaroni for the perfect balance of heat and indulgence.
Ingredients
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- 8 ounces macaroni pasta
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Chopped parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook chicken for 6-7 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, combine honey, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Slice the cooked chicken into strips and return to the skillet to coat in the sauce.
- Boil macaroni in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a separate pot, melt butter, stir in flour, and cook for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk until smooth and cook until thickened.
- Remove the pot from heat and stir in cheddar and mozzarella cheese until melted and smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
- Combine the cooked macaroni with the cheese sauce.
- Serve macaroni cheese on plates, top with honey pepper chicken strips, and garnish with chopped parsley.
Notes
- Adjust cayenne pepper to control spice level.
- Use pre-shredded cheese for convenience, but freshly grated melts better.
- Chicken can be grilled or baked instead of pan-seared if preferred.
- Double the sauce if you like extra for drizzling.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 700 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 920 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 68 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
