Honey Pepper Chicken Mac Cheese (Print)

Sweet-spicy chicken tops creamy pasta with bacon and basil, creating a savory twist on classic comfort food.

# Ingredients:

→ Pasta

01 - 450 grams spiral noodles
02 - Salt, to taste

→ Chicken

03 - 710 grams breaded chicken strips
04 - Black pepper, to taste

→ Bacon and Garnish

05 - 5 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
06 - Fresh basil, chopped, plus extra whole leaves for garnish

→ Honey Pepper Sauce

07 - 180 millilitres honey
08 - 55 grams light brown sugar
09 - 45 millilitres low-sodium soy sauce
10 - 60 millilitres pineapple juice
11 - Juice of 1 lemon
12 - 15 millilitres vinegar
13 - 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
14 - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

→ Cheese Sauce

15 - 115 grams unsalted butter
16 - 480 millilitres heavy cream
17 - 60 grams shredded parmesan cheese
18 - 110 grams freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
19 - 85 grams freshly shredded colby jack cheese
20 - 2–3 cloves garlic, minced

# Steps:

01 - Prepare the breaded chicken strips according to the package instructions, either baking or frying until golden and cooked through. Set aside to rest.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spiral noodles until al dente following package directions. Drain well.
03 - In a medium saucepan, combine honey, brown sugar, low-sodium soy sauce, pineapple juice, lemon juice, vinegar, ground black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
04 - Melt unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Pour in heavy cream and whisk to combine. Gradually add parmesan, mozzarella, and colby jack cheeses, stirring after each addition to ensure a smooth sauce. Add minced garlic and season with salt and black pepper to taste. Remove from heat.
05 - Add cooked spiral noodles to the cheese sauce, stirring gently to coat evenly. Fold in crumbled cooked bacon and chopped basil. Adjust seasoning if needed.
06 - Dip each cooked chicken strip into the honey pepper sauce until thoroughly coated.
07 - Plate the mac and cheese mixture into serving bowls. Top generously with honey pepper chicken strips. Garnish with extra bacon and fresh basil leaves as desired.

# Notes:

01 - For a gluten-free adaptation, use gluten-free pasta varieties and choose breaded chicken made with gluten-free breadcrumbs or almond flour.

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