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honey pepper chicken mac cheese

Honey Pepper Chicken Mac and Cheese

Applebees copycat Honey Pepper Chicken Macaroni and Cheese recipe made with frozen chicken strips coated in a homemade honey and soy pepper sauce set on top a bed of Colby Jack and Mozzarella macaroni and cheese.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Entree, Homemade Ingredients, Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Calories/Serving 992 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 8 strips frozen breaded chicken strips, ...[$5.53]
  • 1 lb spiral or large elbow noodles, ...[$1.00]
  • 4 strips bacon, ...[$1.84]

Honey Pepper Sauce

  • ¾ cup honey, ...[$2.88]
  • 3 tbsp soy sauce, ...[$0.24]
  • ¼ cup brown sugar, ...[$0.12]
  • ¼ cup pineapple juice, ...[$0.12]
  • 1 tbsp white vinegar, ...[$0.02]
  • 1 tsp black pepper, ...[$0.92]
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper, ...[$0.04]
  • ¼ tsp garlic powder, ...[$0.01]
  • 1 dash paprika, ...[$0.05]

Cheese Sauce

  • 4 tbsp butter, ...[$0.50]
  • 4 tbsp all purpose flour, ...[$0.04]
  • 1 cup heavy cream, ...[$1.15]
  • 1½ cup milk, ...[$0.35]
  • ½ cup parmesan cheese, ...[$1.25]
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese, ...[$1.50]
  • 1 cup Colby Jack cheese, ...[$1.50]

Instructions
 

  • Cook 4 strips bacon until crispy, chop and set aside for later. 
    Cook 1 lb spiral or large elbow noodles accordingly and set aside for later. 
    Bake 8 strips frozen breaded chicken strips accordingly and keep warm.

Honey Pepper Sauce

  • In a medium or small saucepan, combine all ingredients (¾ cup honey, 3 tbsp soy sauce, ¼ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup pineapple juice, 1 tbsp white vinegar, 1 tsp black pepper, ¼ tsp cayenne pepper, ¼ tsp garlic powder, 1 dash paprikamix and bring to a boil. Reduce to a low simmer until the end of cooking and ready to use.

Cheese Sauce

  • Melt 4 tbsp butter in a large saucepan and whisk in 4 tbsp all purpose flour. Cook for one minute over low/medium heat.
  • Whisk in 1 cup heavy cream and 1½ cup milk. Let warm back up for 5 minutes or until it mixture thickens up over medium heat.
  • Toss in all cheese (½ cup parmesan cheese, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, 1 cup Colby Jack cheese) and stir until cheese is melted and combined well. Reduce heat to warm and toss in drained cooked pasta.

Put It Together

  • To plate, lay a good portion of mac and cheese on each plate and sprinkle with chopped bacon.
  • Dip baked chicken strips into warm honey pepper sauce. Make sure all breading is coated thoroughly. Don't leave too long in sauce or the breading may start to fall off.
  • Top mac and cheese with coated chicken and enjoy.

Nutrition

Calories: 992kcalCarbohydrates: 112gProtein: 30gFat: 48gSaturated Fat: 27gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 130mgSodium: 1149mgPotassium: 479mgFiber: 3gSugar: 51gVitamin A: 1381IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 480mgIron: 2mg