Creamy Honey Pepper Chicken Mac and Cheese
Let me tell you something real quick—if you’ve never tried honey pepper chicken on top of creamy mac and cheese… girl, you’re in for a treat.
I remember the first time I made this dish. It was one of those midweek nights where I wanted something that felt fancy but didn’t take forever to cook. I was craving mac and cheese (because, duh), but I also wanted something crispy and spicy. So I grabbed some chicken, made a quick honey pepper glaze, threw it all together—and boom! A new favorite was born.
Now it’s a go-to when I want to impress someone, treat myself, or just eat something really, really good. And you can do it too.
Let’s make this magic happen.
What You’ll Need
For the Mac and Cheese:
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Honey Pepper Chicken:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Vegetable oil for frying
For the Honey Pepper Glaze:
- ⅓ cup honey
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, if you like heat)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Soak & Prep the Chicken
Start by soaking your chicken pieces in 1 cup of buttermilk. Let them hang out there for at least 20 minutes—this helps keep the chicken juicy and tender.
In a bowl, mix together 1 cup flour, 1 teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper. That’s your seasoned flour.
Heat your oil in a skillet—enough to shallow fry the chicken—and let it get hot over medium heat.
Take the chicken out of the buttermilk, shake off the excess, then coat it in your flour mix. Make sure every piece is covered.
Fry the chicken for about 4–5 minutes per side or until it’s golden, crispy, and cooked through. Place it on a plate lined with paper towels when it’s done.
Step 2: Make the Honey Pepper Glaze
In a small saucepan, add:
- ⅓ cup honey
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (if you like it spicy)
Simmer over low heat, stirring constantly, for 2–3 minutes until it thickens just a little.
Toss your fried chicken pieces in the glaze. Make sure they’re all nicely coated and shiny.
Step 3: Cook the Macaroni & Cheese Sauce
Boil 2 cups of elbow macaroni in salted water. Follow the box directions, then drain and set aside.
In a large saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons of flour, and whisk it for about a minute or two to form a roux.
Slowly pour in 2 cups of milk and 1 cup of heavy cream, whisking constantly to make a smooth sauce.
Turn the heat to low and stir in your cheeses:
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese
Add ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir it all until it’s smooth, melty, and dreamy.
Step 4: Put It All Together
Now for the best part!
Add your cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce and stir it all together until every piece is coated and creamy.
Scoop the mac and cheese into serving bowls.
Top with your honey pepper chicken.
You can add a sprinkle of fresh parsley or a little extra black pepper on top if you’re feeling fancy.
Then—dig in.
Tips & Little Secrets
- The chicken gets extra crispy if you double dip it—dip in buttermilk, then flour, back to buttermilk, then flour again. Totally optional but next-level crunchy.
- Want it creamier? Add an extra ½ cup of cheese. No one ever said no to more cheese.
- Don’t skip the glaze. It’s the sweet + spicy kick that makes this dish unforgettable.
- Leftovers? Store them separately. Reheat the mac and cheese slowly on the stove with a splash of milk, and re-crisp the chicken in the oven or air fryer.
This is the kind of meal that makes people think you spent hours in the kitchen—but you didn’t. You just made something amazing with what you had and a little love.
And now, it’s your turn to serve it up.
Let me know how it goes. I already know you’re going to crush it.
