Description
A comforting mac and cheese dish enriched with honey pepper chicken, blending creamy cheese with sweet and spicy flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 1 lb chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook the elbow macaroni according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chicken pieces and season with salt and one teaspoon of black pepper. Cook until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt the butter and add the minced garlic, cooking for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Stir in the honey and the remaining teaspoon of black pepper, and let it simmer until slightly thickened, about 2-3 minutes.
- Return the cooked chicken to the skillet, tossing to coat the chicken pieces with the honey pepper glaze.
- In a large saucepan, bring the heavy cream to a gentle simmer over low heat. Gradually add the cheddar, mozzarella, and parmesan cheeses, whisking continuously until the cheese has melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce, stirring gently to combine.
- Fold in the honey pepper chicken into the macaroni and cheese, gently mixing the chicken throughout.
- Transfer the mac and cheese to a serving dish and garnish with freshly chopped parsley.
- Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
Ensure to cook the pasta al dente for the best texture. Feel free to experiment with different cheese combinations and add vegetables for extra flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 90mg