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Creamy mac loaded with sweet-and-spicy chicken and topped with crunchy bacon hits every craving and turns any day awesome. Imagine juicy chicken after a good breading dunk, glazed with sticky honey pepper sauce, all cozied up on a cheesy pasta blanket, with a pop of bacon for that extra snap. Watch everybody grin as soon as bowls hit the table.
I first threw this together on a cold day using leftover mac and honey chicken. Now my crew asks for it for every birthday dinner without fail.
Irresistible Ingredients
- Minced garlic: Adds tasty warmth. Bust up some fresh garlic for best punch.
- Fresh basil: Optional, but brings a splash of green and fresh flavor. Pick crisp, bright leaves.
- Colby Jack cheese: Super melty and smooth. Shred it yourself right before using.
- Mozzarella cheese: For that classic drooly stretch. Shred from a block for top results.
- Parmesan cheese: Nutty punch with an edge of salt. Grate fresh for a smooth melt.
- Heavy cream: Delivers max creaminess. Full fat, cold from the fridge is best.
- Butter: Rich base for our cheese dream. Go for unsalted, sweet-tasting butter.
- Cayenne pepper: Turns up the mild heat and brings color. Add as much as you dare.
- Black pepper: Loads on spicy aroma. Fresh cracked is where it's at.
- Vinegar: A splash of tang. I like apple cider but grab white if that's all you have.
- Lemon juice: Pulls all the flavors together. Fresh lemon wins, always.
- Pineapple juice: Makes it bright and perkier. Fresh pressed is cool, but canned does the trick.
- Low sodium soy sauce: Adds the umami backbone. Go with real brewed for richer depth.
- Light brown sugar: Bumps up the honey flavor with cozy molasses notes. Grab the soft kind.
- Honey: Sweet and sticky, gives chicken that shiny finish.
- Bacon: Smoky crunch, thick cut wins for meaty crumbles.
- Breaded chicken strips: Pick your favorite brand or fry some up at home for extra crunch.
- Spiral noodles: The curls catch all the cheese. Good pasta gives the best bite.
Simple Step-by-Step
- Finishing and Assembly:
- Stir those drained noodles in with the cheese sauce, then gently blend in the crispy bacon bits so every forkful has a little of everything.
- Glazing the Chicken:
- Swirl the cooked chicken strips all around in the cooled honey pepper mix, roll to cover real good, and don’t let them soak too long so the coating sticks right.
- Serving:
- Fill up bowls with loaded pasta, stack those saucy chicken strips right on top, then finish with another sprinkle of bacon and a dash of fresh basil if you want some color.
- Preparing the Cheese Sauce:
- Melt butter in a big pan on medium. Add cream and mix until smooth. Keep tossing in your shredded cheeses while stirring to a silky sauce, then stir in garlic and add salt or pepper if it needs more kick.
- Making the Honey Pepper Sauce:
- Mix up honey, brown sugar, soy sauce, pineapple juice, lemon juice, vinegar, black pepper, and cayenne in a saucepan. Let it bubble up, then drop heat and let it go for 15 minutes so it thickens. Let it cool off for a sticky finish.
- Cooking the Pasta:
- Get a big pot of salty water boiling, toss in your spiral noodles, let them cook till just the right bite, then drain and set aside.
- Preparing the Chicken Strips:
- Bake or fry store-bought or homemade breaded chicken following the bag or your own method. Let them rest out of the pan so they stay crispy for glazing.
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I’m all about the smoky, chunky bacon scattered over every bite. My kid swipes the crispiest chicken before I even get to the table — it’s a running joke at dinnertime.
Keeping Leftovers Fresh
Pop leftover pasta in a tight lid container in the fridge under two hours or noodles dry out fast. For reheating, splash in milk or cream and slowly warm over low, stirring until it’s nice and smooth. Chicken gets its crunch back if you blast it in a hot oven instead of the microwave.
Swaps and Alternatives
No Colby Jack? Grab Monterey Jack or mild cheddar to melt just as well. Gluten-free pasta or chicken sub work if you need. Maple syrup will give a deeper sweet vibe if you’re out of honey.
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How to Serve
Pile it up next to a crisp green salad tossed with lemony dressing, or some garlicky steamed broccoli. Want more crunch? Throw on crispy onions at the end. You can set the honey pepper sauce on the table for extra dunking.
Backstory and Inspiration
Mac and cheese, the ultimate classic in the US, gets a fun upgrade with sweet heat vibes straight from Asian-American favorite takeout. Roll together cozy cheesy pasta and crave-worthy honey pepper chicken and you’ll have a whole new family hit that brings everyone back for seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions About Recipes
- → Which pasta shapes handle the cheesy sauce best?
Rotini or other twisty noodles are awesome since they grab onto that creamy cheese mix.
- → Is it okay to swap in homemade chicken?
Go for it! Fresh, breaded chicken works great if you want to make your own.
- → How do I make it less spicy?
Cut back on the black or cayenne pepper in the honey sauce to tone down the heat.
- → What’s a good cheese combo for this?
Mixing up Colby Jack, mozzarella, and Parmesan gives a smooth sauce that’s loaded with cheesy flavor.
- → What toppings take this up a notch?
Toss on extra crumbled bacon and a few torn basil leaves for awesome color and taste.
- → Can you warm up leftovers?
Yep! Pop it in the microwave or heat gently on the stove. A splash of cream helps keep it silky if it’s dry.