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sweet and spicy honey pepper chicken with creamy mac and cheese topped with parsley and sesame seeds.
Hannah Cooking

Sweet and Spicy Honey Pepper Chicken with Creamy Mac and Cheese

Crispy sweet and spicy honey pepper chicken served over creamy mac and cheese for the ultimate homemade comfort food dinner that tastes better than Applebee’s.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Resting Time 5 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 720
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Honey Pepper Chicken
  • 1.5 lbs Boneless skinless chicken breasts Cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 teaspoon Salt For seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon Black pepper Divided use
  • ½ teaspoon Garlic powder Adds depth
  • 2 tablespoon Vegetable oil For searing
  • ¼ cup Honey For sticky glaze
  • 3 tablespoon Butter For rich texture
  • 1 teaspoon Crushed red pepper flakes For heat
  • 1 teaspoon Coarse black pepper For spice balance
  • 1 tablespoon Soy sauce For savory depth
  • Sesame seeds & parsley For garnish
For the Creamy Mac and Cheese
  • 1 lb Elbow macaroni Cooked al dente
  • 4 tablespoon Butter For roux
  • ¼ cup All-purpose flour Thickens sauce
  • 3 cups Whole milk For creaminess
  • 2 cups Sharp cheddar cheese Freshly shredded
  • 1 cup Mozzarella cheese For stretch and melt
  • ½ teaspoon Salt To taste
  • ¼ teaspoon Black pepper To balance flavor
  • ¼ teaspoon Garlic powder Optional for extra flavor

Equipment

  • Large pot For boiling pasta
  • Large skillet For searing and glazing chicken
  • Saucepan For preparing cheese sauce
  • Whisk For smooth roux and cheese sauce
  • Tongs For flipping chicken easily

Method
 

  1. Boil macaroni until al dente; drain and set aside.
  2. Melt butter, whisk in flour, and cook 1 minute.
  3. Gradually whisk in milk; cook until thickened.
  4. Remove from heat, stir in cheeses until melted.
  5. Stir macaroni into cheese sauce; season.
  6. Coat with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
  7. Cook in hot oil until golden and crispy.
  8. Melt butter with honey, soy sauce, and peppers.
  9. Toss seared chicken in honey mixture to coat.
  10. Plate mac and cheese, top with glazed chicken, and garnish.
    sweet and spicy honey pepper chicken with creamy mac and cheese topped with parsley and sesame seeds.

Notes

Nutrition facts are estimated and may vary based on specific ingredients and portion sizes used