If you’re craving the ultimate comfort meal, this honey bbq chicken with mac and cheese is exactly what you need! Combining sweet and smoky BBQ chicken with rich, creamy mac and cheese, this dish is packed with flavor and satisfaction. Perfect for family dinners or indulgent weekends, honey bbq chicken with mac and cheese brings together two all-time favorites into one irresistible meal.

Method

To start, prepare the chicken by cutting it into bite-sized pieces. Once cut, season the chicken generously with black pepper, paprika, and salt. Heat olive oil in a large frying pan or skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the minced garlic and sauté it for about 1 minute or until fragrant. Then, add the seasoned chicken pieces to the pan. Cook the chicken for about 6-8 minutes, turning the pieces occasionally, until they are golden brown and fully cooked through.

While the chicken is cooking, it’s time to boil the pasta. In a separate pot, bring water to a boil and cook the macaroni pasta according to the package directions until it’s tender. Once cooked, drain the pasta and set it aside.

Next, in a small bowl, mix together the honey and BBQ sauce until smooth. Once the chicken is fully cooked, pour the honey BBQ sauce mixture over the chicken in the pan. Stir everything together to coat the chicken evenly. Let it cook for another 2-3 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly and absorb into the chicken.

Now, it’s time to make the mac and cheese! Using the same pot that you cooked the pasta in, pour in skimmed milk and add hot sauce. Then, add the light cream cheese and low-fat cheddar cheese. Stir everything together over medium heat until the cheese has melted and the sauce is smooth. Once the sauce is ready, add the drained pasta to the cheese sauce and stir well to combine.Once the mac and cheese is creamy and smooth, plate the dish by serving the chicken over the bed of cheesy macaroni. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired, and your delicious Honey BBQ Chicken with Mac & Cheese is ready to be served!

Necessary Tools

Knife and chopping board (for mincing garlic and cutting chicken)
Large frying pan or skillet (for cooking chicken)
Pot for boiling pasta
Spoon or spatula (for stirring)
Small bowl (for mixing honey and BBQ sauce)
Serving plates

Honey BBQ Chicken with Mac and Cheese!

Recipe by Troy Jorge

0.0 from 0 votes

Cuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

minutes

Total time

minutes

Ingredients

700g chicken breast
3-4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp black pepper
1 tbsp paprika
1 tsp salt
2 tsp olive oil
1 tbsp honey
40g low-sugar BBQ sauce
220g uncooked macaroni pasta
250ml skimmed milk
60ml hot sauce (I used Sriracha)
120g light cream cheese
40g low-fat cheddar cheese
Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

Directions

To start, prepare the chicken by cutting it into bite-sized pieces. Season the chicken with black pepper, paprika, and salt. In a large frying pan or skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Once hot, add the minced garlic and sauté it for a minute or until it becomes fragrant. Then, add the chicken pieces to the pan and cook for about 6-8 minutes, turning them occasionally, until golden brown and fully cooked through.
While the chicken is cooking, boil the pasta. In a separate pot, cook the macaroni according to the package directions until it’s tender. Once done, drain the pasta and set it aside.
In a small bowl, mix together the honey and BBQ sauce. When the chicken is ready, pour the honey BBQ sauce mixture over the chicken, and stir well to coat each piece evenly. Let it cook for another 2-3 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly.
Now, let’s make the mac and cheese! In the same pot used for the pasta, add skimmed milk, hot sauce, light cream cheese, and low-fat cheddar cheese. Stir everything together until the cheese has melted and the sauce is smooth. Add the cooked pasta to the cheese mixture and stir to combine.
Once the mac and cheese is creamy and smooth, serve the chicken over a bed of mac and cheese. Garnish with fresh parsley if you like a little extra color and flavor!

Notes

Be sure to cook the chicken all the way through to avoid any risk of undercooking. Check with a meat thermometer to ensure it reaches 165°F (74°C).
When mixing the cheese sauce, stir constantly to prevent it from burning on the bottom.
Keep an eye on the pasta while it cooks so it doesn’t get too soft. Drain it as soon as it’s ready!

Serving Suggestions

This dish is hearty and filling on its own, but if you want to add more variety, you could serve it with a side of roasted veggies or a crisp green salad. You can also add a slice of garlic bread for some extra crunch!

Fun Fact

Did you know that chicken breast is one of the best sources of lean protein? It’s low in fat and helps build muscle, making it a great choice for anyone looking to get more protein into their diet.

Conclusion

This honey bbq chicken with mac and cheese is the perfect combination of sweet, smoky, and creamy flavors that everyone will love. It’s easy to make, incredibly satisfying, and ideal for any occasion. Once you try this honey bbq chicken with mac and cheese, it’s sure to become a go-to comfort food in your kitchen.