Description
A delicious high-protein meal featuring tender honey garlic butter chicken paired with creamy, smoky mac & cheese. Perfect for a satisfying dinner or meal prep, this recipe combines juicy marinated chicken with a rich, cheesy pasta sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Marinade:
- 3 chicken breasts cubed
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 2 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
For Cooking the Chicken:
- 3 tablespoon avocado oil or oil of choice
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoon freshly chopped parsley
Mac & Cheese:
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 cups heavy cream
- ½ cup freshly grated mozzarella
- ½ cup freshly grated cheddar cheese
- 12 oz elbow macaroni cooked al dente
- 2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Marinate the Chicken: In a large bowl, combine the cubed chicken with olive oil, minced garlic, smoked paprika, garlic powder, dried parsley, salt, and black pepper. Mix well and let it marinate for 10 minutes to infuse the flavors.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add avocado oil. Add the marinated chicken and cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is fully cooked and slightly browned. Reduce heat to low, add butter, honey, and freshly chopped parsley. Stir until the butter melts and coats the chicken evenly. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic for Sauce: In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat to deglaze the pan. Add minced garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes until golden and fragrant, stirring frequently to avoid burning.
- Add Cream and Spices: Pour in heavy cream and bring it to a gentle simmer. Stir in mozzarella, cheddar cheese, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Continue stirring until the cheese melts completely and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Cook the Pasta: Meanwhile, bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add elbow macaroni and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain pasta and rinse briefly under cold water to stop cooking and prevent sticking.
- Combine Macaroni and Cheese Sauce: Add the drained pasta to the cheese sauce in the skillet. Stir gently and let it simmer on low heat for about 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken slightly.
- Serve and Store: Serve the honey garlic butter chicken over or alongside the creamy mac & cheese. Optionally, divide into four airtight containers for meal prep and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Notes
- For a lower fat version, substitute butter with olive oil and use reduced-fat cheeses.
- Adjust the amount of honey in the chicken for preferred sweetness level.
- Make sure to cook pasta al dente to avoid mushy mac & cheese.
- Freshly grated cheese melts better and yields a smoother sauce than pre-shredded cheese.
- Use avocado oil or any high smoke point oil for better searing of the chicken.
- The dish can be reheated in a skillet or microwave; add a splash of milk or cream to loosen the sauce if needed.
