Description
A decadent twist on classic mac and cheese, featuring a creamy three-cheese sauce and topped with crispy, sweet-and-spicy honey pepper chicken for the ultimate comfort food experience.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Crust:
- 1 lb elbow macaroni
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Gruyère cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 tbsp hot sauce
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt to taste
Instructions
1. Prepare the Crust:
- Cook the macaroni according to package instructions until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat, whisk in flour to form a roux, then gradually add milk, stirring until thickened.
- Reduce heat to low, stir in cheddar, Gruyère, and Parmesan cheeses until melted and smooth, then toss with cooked macaroni.
- Season chicken pieces with salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika, then coat in panko breadcrumbs.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and cook chicken until golden and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes.
- In a small bowl, mix honey and hot sauce, then toss the cooked chicken in the mixture until evenly coated.
- Serve the creamy mac and cheese in bowls, topped with the sweet-heat honey pepper chicken.
Notes
You can customize the seasonings to taste.