Ingredients
Scale
For the Honey Pepper Chicken:
- 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
For the Creamy Macaroni Cheese:
- 8 ounces macaroni pasta
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 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, ground black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. Simmer for 2–3 minutes, stirring, until slightly thickened.
- Slice the chicken into strips and return to the skillet, coating each piece evenly in the sticky honey pepper glaze. Set aside while preparing the mac and cheese.
- Cook macaroni according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- In a pot, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Gradually whisk in milk until smooth and thickened (2–3 minutes).
- Remove from heat and stir in cheddar and mozzarella cheese until melted and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Combine cooked macaroni with cheese sauce until fully coated.
- Serve the honey pepper chicken over the creamy macaroni cheese. Garnish with chopped parsley for freshness.
Notes
- For extra spice, add an extra pinch of cayenne or a few chili flakes to the glaze.
- Use leftover rotisserie chicken to cut down on cooking time.
- Mac and cheese can be made ahead and reheated gently with a splash of milk to keep it creamy.
- Pair with a crisp green salad to balance the richness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 780 kcal
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 940 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 68 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 45 g
- Cholesterol: 135 mg