Creamy Honey Pepper Chicken Mac and Cheese 🧀🍯🍗

The ultimate comfort dish — creamy, cheesy pasta topped with crispy honey pepper chicken bites for a flavor-packed experience!

Ingredients

For the Pasta & Cheese Sauce:

• 12 oz elbow macaroni or cavatappi pasta
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups milk (whole or 2%)
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• Salt and pepper, to taste

For the Honey Pepper Chicken:

• 1 lb boneless chicken breast or tenders, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons oil (for frying or sautéing)

For the Honey Pepper Glaze:

• 3 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon crushed black pepper (adjust to taste)
• 1 tablespoon butter

Directions

1. Cook the pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour to create a roux, then slowly add milk and cream, whisking until smooth.
3. Stir in cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan until melted and creamy. Season with salt and pepper. Keep warm.
4. Season chicken with salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Coat lightly in cornstarch.
5. Heat oil in a pan and fry chicken until golden and crispy. Remove and drain excess oil.
6. In a small saucepan, combine honey, soy sauce, black pepper, and butter. Heat until slightly thickened, then toss chicken in the glaze.
7. Mix pasta with cheese sauce and top with honey pepper chicken.
8. Sprinkle extra cheese on top and broil for 2–3 minutes until bubbly, if desired.