Description
Indulge in the perfect combination of sweet and savory with this Honey Pepper Mac recipe. Creamy mac and cheese is topped with crispy honey pepper chicken strips and garnished with fresh basil for a delightful twist on a classic favorite.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 (16 oz) box spiral noodles
- 1 (25 oz) bag breaded chicken strips
- 5 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh basil for garnish
For the Honey Pepper Sauce:
- 3/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 3 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup pineapple juice
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 tbsp vinegar
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
For the Cheese Sauce:
- 1 stick butter
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
- 3/4 cup freshly shredded Colby Jack cheese
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
- Chopped fresh basil for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the Chicken: Follow package instructions to cook the breaded chicken strips. Set aside once cooked.
- Cook the Noodles: Boil spiral noodles until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare Honey Pepper Sauce: Combine all sauce ingredients in a saucepan, simmer until slightly thickened, then cool.
- Make Cheese Sauce: Melt butter, add heavy cream, cheeses, garlic, salt, and pepper. Stir until smooth.
- Combine and Serve: Toss noodles in cheese sauce, add bacon. Dip chicken in honey pepper sauce, then plate over the pasta. Garnish with basil and extra bacon.
Notes
- This mac and cheese features a sweet and spicy honey pepper chicken topping with crispy bacon.
- The creamy cheese sauce is a rich blend of Parmesan, mozzarella, and Colby Jack cheeses.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 1050mg
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 22g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 135mg
