Description
Golden breaded chicken strips drenched in a sweet-spicy honey pepper glaze combined with creamy, indulgent mac and cheese made with Parmesan, mozzarella, and Colby Jack cheeses. A hearty, flavorful comfort meal.
Ingredients
Pasta and Chicken
1 (16 oz) box spiral noodles
1 (25 oz) bag breaded chicken strips
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Fresh basil for garnish (optional)
Honey Pepper Sauce
¾ cup honey
¼ cup light brown sugar
3 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
¼ cup pineapple juice
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tbsp vinegar
1 tsp black pepper
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
Cheese Sauce
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
2 cups heavy cream
½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1 cup freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
¾ cup freshly shredded Colby Jack cheese
2–3 garlic cloves, minced
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
-
Cook chicken: Prepare breaded chicken strips according to package directions until crisp and golden. Set aside on paper towels to remove excess oil.
-
Cook pasta: Boil noodles in salted water until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
-
Make honey pepper sauce: In a saucepan, combine honey, brown sugar, soy sauce, pineapple juice, lemon juice, vinegar, black pepper, and cayenne. Bring to a boil, then simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally until slightly thickened. Remove from heat.
-
Prepare cheese sauce: In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in heavy cream until blended. Gradually add Parmesan, mozzarella, and Colby Jack, stirring until smooth and creamy. Add minced garlic, salt, and pepper to taste.
-
Combine pasta and sauce: Add drained pasta to the cheese sauce, tossing until evenly coated. Remove from heat to maintain a silky consistency.
-
Glaze chicken: Dip cooked chicken strips in the honey pepper sauce to coat fully.
-
Assemble: Serve cheesy pasta on plates topped with glazed chicken. Garnish with fresh basil if desired.
Notes
Cook pasta to al dente to avoid softening in sauce.
Simmer sauce long enough to thicken for coating.
Add cheeses gradually, stirring to prevent graininess.
Adjust cayenne for spice preference.
Top with bacon bits or herbs for extra flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish, Pasta
- Method: Stovetop, Baking
- Cuisine: American Comfort Food
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 recipe
- Calories: 715
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 740 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Carbohydrates: 64 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 170 mg
Keywords: honey pepper chicken mac and cheese, sweet spicy pasta, glazed chicken mac, cheesy comfort food, creamy honey pepper pasta