Sweet & Spicy Honey Pepper Chicken with Creamy Mac and Cheese
A comforting and flavorful dish combining sweet honey and spicy pepper chicken with creamy mac and cheese.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet Cooking and Boiling
- Cuisine: Southern
- Diet: Poultry
Ingredients
Scale
- 4–6 pieces of chicken thighs
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1–2 teaspoons black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon salt, to taste
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix honey and black pepper. Coat the chicken with the mixture and let marinate for at least 15 minutes.
- Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium heat and sear the marinated chicken for about 7-8 minutes on each side until cooked through.
- Meanwhile, boil salted water and cook macaroni according to package instructions (8-10 minutes), then drain.
- In the same pot, melt remaining butter, whisk in milk, then add shredded cheddar, stirring until smooth and creamy.
- Add the drained macaroni to the cheese sauce, mixing well.
- Serve chicken alongside mac and cheese, drizzled with any remaining honey glaze.
Notes
Consider reducing black pepper for a milder flavor, or swapping chicken for turkey or tofu for alternative options.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 100mg
Keywords: chicken, honey, spicy, mac and cheese, comfort food