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High-Protein Honey Garlic Butter Chicken with Mac & Cheese

High-Protein Honey Garlic Butter Chicken with Mac & Cheese

This recipe features tender chicken bites in a sweet and savory honey garlic butter glaze, served over a creamy, high-protein mac and cheese. It's a decadent and satisfying comfort food meal that is surprisingly simple to make, balancing indulgence with a significant protein boost. The entire dish comes together quickly, making it perfect for a special weeknight dinner.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 600
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ingredients
  • 3 chicken breasts, cubed
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp dried parsley
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 3 tbsp avocado oil (or oil of choice)
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 2 tbsp freshly chopped parsley
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated mozzarella
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated cheddar cheese
  • 12 oz elbow macaroni, cooked al dente

Equipment

  • Medium bowl
  • large skillet
  • Pot

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Marinate the Chicken: In a medium bowl, combine the cubed chicken with olive oil, minced garlic, smoked paprika, garlic powder, dried parsley, salt, and black pepper. Toss everything together until the chicken is evenly coated. Let it sit for at least 10 minutes to let the flavors sink in.
  2. Cook the Chicken: Heat the avocado oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the marinated chicken and cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it's golden brown and cooked through. In the last minute of cooking, stir in the butter, honey, and freshly chopped parsley. The sauce will thicken into a beautiful glaze. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
  3. Start the Cheese Sauce: In the same skillet (don't wipe it out!), melt a little more butter if needed and sauté a bit more minced garlic for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in the heavy cream, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring the cream to a gentle bubble, then reduce the heat to low.
  4. Melt the Cheeses: Gradually stir in the freshly grated mozzarella and cheddar cheese. Keep stirring gently until the cheese is completely melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy. You can experiment with different cheeses like gouda or pepper jack for a different flavor profile.
  5. Cook the Macaroni: While the sauce is coming together, boil the elbow macaroni in a separate pot of salted water according to package directions until it's al dente. It's important not to overcook it, as it will cook a bit more in the sauce. Drain the pasta well and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process.
  6. Combine and Serve: Add the cooked macaroni to the skillet with the cheese sauce. Stir everything together and let it simmer on low for about 5 minutes, allowing the pasta to absorb the creamy sauce. Serve the mac and cheese topped with the honey garlic butter chicken.

Notes

For the best results, use freshly grated cheese for a smoother sauce. Cook pasta al dente as it will continue to cook in the sauce. For variations, you can substitute chicken with turkey or tofu, or use different cheeses like gouda or pepper jack. To add nutrition, stir in steamed broccoli or spinach. For a bit of spice, add red pepper flakes to the chicken marinade.