Creamy Honey Pepper Chicken Mac and Cheese

Creamy Honey Pepper Chicken Mac & Cheese

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

• 2 large chicken breasts (or thighs), cut into strips or cubes
• 1 tbsp olive oil or butter
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp cracked black pepper (adjust to taste)
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• Salt, to taste

For the Mac & Cheese:

• 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni (or pasta of choice)
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp flour
• 2 cups milk (whole milk or half & half for extra creaminess)
• 1/2 cup heavy cream (optional but extra creamy)
• 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar
• 1/2 cup mozzarella (for stretch!)
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan
• 1 tbsp honey (for a sweet touch in the sauce)
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• Salt, to taste

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Instructions

1. 

Cook the Pasta

Boil macaroni in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.

2. 

Make the Chicken

• In a pan over medium heat, add olive oil or butter.
• Add chicken, honey, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and salt.
• Cook until the chicken is golden, caramelized, and cooked through (about 6–8 minutes). Set aside.

3. 

Make the Cheese Sauce

• In the same pan or a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
• Whisk in the flour and cook for 1–2 minutes to create a roux.
• Slowly add milk and cream, whisking constantly until smooth.
• Let simmer and thicken for 3–4 minutes.
• Stir in cheeses (cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan), honey, pepper, and salt. Mix until fully melted and smooth.

4. 

Combine Everything

• Add the cooked pasta to the cheese sauce. Stir to coat.
• Gently fold in the honey pepper chicken pieces.
• (Optional: Transfer to a baking dish, top with extra cheese, and broil for 3–5 minutes until bubbly and golden.)

5. 

Serve Hot!

Garnish with extra cracked pepper or chopped parsley if you want to get fancy.