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Creamy Honey Pepper Chicken Mac and Cheese Delight

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Creamy Honey Pepper Chicken Mac and Cheese Delight is a comforting and indulgent dish that blends the richness of mac and cheese with the irresistible sweetness and spice of honey pepper chicken. The creamy mac and cheese serves as the perfect base for crispy, glazed chicken.

Ingredients

For the Mac and Cheese:

2 cups elbow macaroni

2 tbsp butter

2 tbsp all-purpose flour

2 cups whole milk

1 cup heavy cream

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 cup mozzarella cheese

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

Salt and pepper to taste

For the Honey Pepper Chicken:

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed

1 cup buttermilk

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

Vegetable oil for frying

For the Honey Pepper Glaze:

1/3 cup honey

1 tbsp soy sauce

1 tsp cracked black pepper

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

  1. Cook the Macaroni: Bring salted water to a boil and cook the macaroni according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
  2. Prepare the Cheese Sauce: In the same pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add flour and whisk constantly for 1 minute. Gradually add milk and cream, whisking to prevent lumps. Simmer until thickened, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in cheeses, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Add cooked macaroni and stir until well combined.
  3. Cook the Chicken: Soak chicken in buttermilk for 15-20 minutes. In a separate bowl, combine flour, paprika, salt, and pepper. Coat chicken in flour mixture.
  4. Fry the Chicken: Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Fry chicken for 4-5 minutes per side until golden and crispy. Remove from skillet and set aside.
  5. Make the Honey Pepper Glaze: In a small saucepan, combine honey, soy sauce, cracked black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook on low heat for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
  6. Assemble the Dish: Drizzle glaze over the crispy chicken, tossing to coat. Serve the chicken on top of or mixed into the creamy mac and cheese.
  7. Serve: Garnish with extra cracked black pepper, red pepper flakes, or fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

For extra crunch, you can bake the breaded chicken at 400°F (200°C) for 20-25 minutes instead of frying.

Substitute buttermilk with regular milk and lemon juice if needed.

For more heat, increase the amount of red pepper flakes in the glaze or add hot sauce to the mac and cheese.

Feel free to use other cheeses like gouda or pepper jack for a unique flavor.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://familydinnercooking.com/creamy-honey-pepper-chicken-mac-and-cheese-delight/