Honey Pepper Chicken Mac Cheese (Print-Friendly Version)

Creamy, cheesy pasta with crispy chicken and honey pepper sauce, finished with bacon and basil.

# What You’ll Need to Make This:

→ Pasta and Chicken

01 - 450 g spiral pasta, dry
02 - 710 g breaded chicken strips
03 - 5 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
04 - Salt, to taste
05 - Black pepper, to taste
06 - Fresh basil leaves, for garnish

→ Honey Pepper Sauce

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

→ Cheese Sauce

15 - 115 g unsalted butter
16 - 480 ml heavy cream
17 - 50 g parmesan cheese, shredded
18 - 110 g mozzarella cheese, freshly shredded
19 - 85 g colby jack cheese, freshly shredded
20 - 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
21 - Chopped fresh basil, to taste

# How to Prepare:

01 - Bake or fry the breaded chicken strips according to the manufacturer's package directions until crisp and fully cooked. Set aside.
02 - Boil spiral pasta in salted water following package instructions until al dente. Drain thoroughly.
03 - Combine honey, light brown sugar, soy sauce, pineapple juice, lemon juice, vinegar, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 15 minutes until slightly thickened. Allow to cool briefly after simmering.
04 - In a large pan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in heavy cream. Gradually add parmesan, mozzarella, and colby jack cheeses, stirring after each addition until smooth. Incorporate minced garlic and season with salt and black pepper to taste.
05 - Add drained spiral pasta to the cheese sauce, mixing well to coat. Fold in crumbled bacon for enhanced flavor.
06 - Dip cooked chicken strips into the honey pepper sauce, making sure each piece is thoroughly coated.
07 - Portion the cheesy pasta onto plates. Top with honey pepper chicken strips. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and additional bacon if desired.

# Extra Tips:

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

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