Description

A comforting and indulgent mac and cheese dish topped with crispy, honey‑pepper glazed chicken. It’s creamy, cheesy, slightly sweet, and has a spicy kick all in one satisfying bowl.

Ingredients

Chicken pieces (like tenders or boneless thighs)

Buttermilk for soaking the chicken

All-purpose flour

Paprika

Salt & black pepper

Vegetable oil for frying

Honey

Soy sauce

Cracked black pepper

Red pepper flakes (optional, for extra heat)

Elbow macaroni

Butter

All-purpose flour (for roux)

Milk

Heavy cream

Cheddar cheese, shredded

Mozzarella cheese, shredded

Garlic powder

Onion powder

Fresh parsley or extra black pepper for garnish

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Instructions

Soak the chicken in buttermilk for at least 20 minutes (up to an hour if possible).
Dredge the chicken in a flour mixture seasoned with paprika, salt, and black pepper, then fry in heated oil for 4–5 minutes on each side until golden brown and crispy. Drain on paper towels.
In a saucepan, combine honey, soy sauce, cracked black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Simmer over low heat, then toss the fried chicken in the glaze until evenly coated.
Cook the macaroni until al dente and drain. In a separate pan, melt butter, whisk in flour to form a roux, then slowly whisk in milk and heavy cream until smooth.
Reduce heat and stir in shredded cheddar and mozzarella until melted. Season with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
Stir the cooked macaroni into the cheese sauce until fully coated. Spoon the mac and cheese into bowls, top with the glazed chicken, and garnish with fresh parsley or extra black pepper.

Notes

For extra spice, swap in pepper jack cheese or add cayenne pepper to the roux.
For a crunchier texture, coat the chicken with panko breadcrumbs in addition to flour.
For a lighter version, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
Feel free to add vegetables like broccoli florets or roasted bell peppers to the mac and cheese.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or stovetop, adding milk or cream to maintain creaminess. Reheat the chicken in the oven at 350°F for 10 minutes to keep it crispy.

Prep Time: 20 minutes (plus 20–60 minutes soaking time)
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Comfort Food, Dinner
Method: Frying, Baking, Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 650
Sugar: 18g
Sodium: 850mg
Fat: 32g
Saturated Fat: 14g
Unsaturated Fat: 16g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 56g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 30g
Cholesterol: 80mg