
This crispy, sticky, sweet-and-spicy honey pepper chicken pairs perfectly with ultra-creamy macaroni & cheese for a restaurant-worthy meal thatโs totally irresistible. The crunchy chicken, caramelized honey glaze, and velvety mac & cheese create an unforgettable combo!
๐ Prep Time: 20 minutes
โณ Cook Time: 30 minutes
โฑ Total Time: 50 minutes
๐ฝ Servings: 4
๐ฅ Calories per Serving: ~750
๐ Ingredients
For the Honey Pepper Chicken:
- ๐ 2 large chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- ๐ฅ 2 eggs, beaten
- ๐พ 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ๐ฅ 1 tsp salt
- ๐ถ ยฝ tsp black pepper
- ๐ฝ ยฝ cup cornstarch (for extra crispiness)
- ๐ข Vegetable oil, for frying
For the Honey Pepper Glaze:
- ๐ฏ ยฝ cup honey
- ๐ถ 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (adjust to spice level)
- ๐ฅฃ ยผ cup soy sauce
- ๐ฅ 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- ๐ฅ 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- ๐ง 1 clove garlic, minced
- ๐ฟ 1 tbsp butter (for richness)
For the Creamy Mac & Cheese:
- ๐ 2 cups elbow macaroni
- ๐ง 3 tbsp butter
- ๐พ 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- ๐ฅ 2 cups whole milk
- ๐ง 1 ยฝ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- ๐ง ยฝ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ๐ฅ 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- ๐ง Salt & pepper, to taste
๐ฉโ๐ณ Instructions
Make the Chicken:
1๏ธโฃ Heat the oil to 350ยฐF (175ยฐC) in a deep pan or fryer.
2๏ธโฃ Coat the chicken: In a bowl, mix flour, cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Dip each piece of chicken into the beaten eggs, then dredge in the flour mixture until well coated.
3๏ธโฃ Fry until golden: Cook chicken in batches for 4-5 minutes until crispy. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
Make the Honey Pepper Glaze:
4๏ธโฃ In a saucepan over medium heat, combine honey, red pepper flakes, soy sauce, vinegar, Dijon mustard, and garlic. Simmer for 3-5 minutes until slightly thickened.
5๏ธโฃ Remove from heat and stir in butter. Toss the fried chicken in the glaze until fully coated.
Make the Mac & Cheese:
6๏ธโฃ Cook macaroni according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
7๏ธโฃ In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute. Slowly add milk, whisking constantly, until smooth.
8๏ธโฃ Stir in cheddar and mozzarella cheese, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Cook until cheese is fully melted.
9๏ธโฃ Mix in the cooked macaroni and stir until creamy.
Assemble & Serve:
๐ Plate the creamy mac & cheese and top with the sweet and spicy honey pepper chicken. Garnish with extra honey drizzle and chopped parsley.
๐ฏ Why Youโll Love This Recipe
โ๏ธ Crispy, sticky, sweet & spicy chicken thatโs completely addictive!
โ๏ธ Extra creamy, cheesy mac & cheese for the ultimate comfort.
โ๏ธ The perfect balance of heat and sweetness in every bite!
โ๏ธ A restaurant-quality meal you can make at home!
๐ฅ Helpful Tips
โ
Want it spicier? Add more red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce.
โ
Extra crispy chicken? Double-fry itโfry once, let rest, then fry again for 2 minutes.
โ
Make it extra cheesy by adding Parmesan or smoked gouda to the mac & cheese.
Enjoy your Sweet and Spicy Honey Pepper Chicken with Creamy Mac & Cheeseโa flavor-packed dish that will have everyone asking for seconds! ๐ฏ๐ถ๏ธ๐ง Let me know if you need more delicious recipes! ๐
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