Honey Pepper Chicken Mac and Cheese (Print Version)

Creamy mac and cheese with crispy honey pepper chicken and bacon for a flavorful meal.

# Ingredients:

→ Pasta

01 - 16 oz box of spiral noodles

→ Chicken

02 - 25 oz bag of breaded chicken strips
03 - 5 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled

→ Seasonings

04 - Salt
05 - Black pepper
06 - Chopped fresh basil

→ Honey Pepper Sauce

07 - 3/4 cup honey
08 - 1/4 cup light brown sugar
09 - 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
10 - 1/4 cup pineapple juice
11 - Juice of 1 lemon
12 - 1 tablespoon vinegar
13 - 1 teaspoon black pepper
14 - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

→ Cheese Sauce

15 - 1 stick butter
16 - 2 cups heavy cream
17 - 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
18 - 1 cup freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
19 - 3/4 cup freshly shredded colby jack cheese
20 - 2-3 cloves minced garlic

# Instructions:

01 - Bake or deep fry the breaded chicken strips according to package directions, or prepare your own, and set aside.
02 - Boil spiral noodles according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
03 - Combine honey, light brown sugar, soy sauce, pineapple juice, lemon juice, vinegar, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring often. Remove from heat and let cool slightly to thicken.
04 - In a large pan, melt the butter and heavy cream together over medium heat. Gradually add parmesan, mozzarella, and colby jack cheeses, stirring after each addition. Add minced garlic and stir until fully incorporated and the cheese has melted. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
05 - Add the cooked pasta to the pan with the cheese sauce and mix until well combined. Stir in the crumbled bacon.
06 - Dip each chicken strip into the prepared Honey Pepper Sauce until fully coated and set aside.
07 - Serve the pasta on plates and place the coated chicken strips on top. Garnish with chopped fresh basil and additional crumbled bacon if desired.

# Notes:

01 - Simmering the Honey Pepper Sauce longer will result in a thicker consistency.

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