Description
A delightful fusion of creamy mac and cheese with crispy honey pepper chicken and crumbled bacon.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 16 oz box spiral noodles
- 1 25 oz bag breaded chicken strips
- 5 slices bacon (cooked and crumbled)
- Salt and Pepper
- Basil
- 3/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 3 Tbs soy sauce, low sodium
- 1/4 cup pineapple juice
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 Tbs vinegar
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 stick butter
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, freshly shredded
- 3/4 cup colby jack cheese, freshly shredded
- 2–3 cloves minced garlic
- Chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- Prep the Chicken: Bake or deep fry the chicken strips according to package instructions. Set aside after cooking.
- Cook the Pasta: Bring water to a boil in a large pot and cook the spiral noodles according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- Make the Honey Pepper Sauce: In a medium saucepan, mix honey, light brown sugar, soy sauce, pineapple juice, lemon juice, vinegar, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let simmer for 15 minutes, stirring often. Remove from heat and let cool.
- Make the Cheese Sauce: In a large pan, melt the butter over medium heat, then stir in the heavy cream until melted. Gradually add the shredded cheeses one at a time, stirring until completely melted. Add minced garlic and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Stir the cooked pasta into the cheese sauce until well combined, then mix in the crumbled bacon.
- Coat the Chicken: Dip each chicken strip into the honey pepper sauce until fully coated.
- Serve: Plate the cheesy pasta, top with honey pepper-coated chicken, and garnish with chopped basil and crumbled bacon if desired.
Notes
Be sure to not overcook the pasta and add cheese slowly to prevent clumping.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 700
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 36g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 65g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 85mg