This recipe for Sweet and Spicy Honey Pepper Chicken with Creamy Macaroni Cheese is the perfect blend of bold flavors and comforting textures. It combines the heat and sweetness of honey pepper chicken with the rich, gooey goodness of homemade macaroni cheese.
Ingredients
For the Honey Pepper Chicken:
Chicken breasts, boneless and skinless: 2
Salt and pepper: to taste
Olive oil: 1 tablespoon
Honey: 1/2 cup
Soy sauce: 1/4 cup
Apple cider vinegar: 1 tablespoon
Ground black pepper: 1 teaspoon
Garlic powder: 1/2 teaspoon
Onion powder: 1/2 teaspoon
Ground cayenne pepper: 1/4 teaspoon
For the Creamy Macaroni Cheese:
Macaroni pasta: 8 ounces
Butter: 2 tablespoons
All-purpose flour: 2 tablespoons
Milk: 2 cups
Sharp cheddar cheese, shredded: 2 cups
Mozzarella cheese, shredded: 1 cup
Salt and pepper: to taste
Parsley, chopped: for garnish
Instructions
Prepare Chicken: Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium and cook chicken until golden, about 6-7 minutes each side. Remove and set aside.
Make Sauce: In the same skillet, mix honey, soy sauce, vinegar, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne. Simmer until thickened, about 2-3 minutes.
Combine: Slice chicken into strips, return to skillet, and coat with sauce.
Cook Pasta: Boil macaroni until al dente, drain, and set aside.
Make Cheese Sauce: Melt butter in a pot, stir in flour, then gradually whisk in milk until smooth. Cook until thickened, then remove from heat and blend in cheeses until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
Combine Pasta and Sauce: Mix macaroni with cheese sauce.
Serve: Plate macaroni cheese, top with honey pepper chicken, and garnish with parsley.
