High-Protein Honey Garlic Butter Chicken with Mac & Cheese
A delightful and satisfying meal featuring sweet, tender chicken coated in a honey garlic butter sauce paired with creamy mac and cheese, perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 3 pieces 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
For the Mac & Cheese
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup freshly grated mozzarella
- 1/2 cup freshly grated cheddar cheese
- 12 oz elbow macaroni (cooked al dente)
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
Preparation
- In a large bowl, combine the cubed chicken with olive oil, garlic, smoked paprika, garlic powder, parsley, salt, and black pepper. Let it marinate for 10 minutes while you prepare the other ingredients.
Cooking the Chicken
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the marinated chicken. Cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fully cooked.
- Reduce the heat to low and stir in the butter, honey, and chopped parsley. Let it melt and coat the chicken, then set aside.
Making the Mac & Cheese
- In the same skillet, add butter to deglaze the pan over medium heat.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes until golden and fragrant.
- Pour in the heavy cream and let it gently bubble.
- Stir in the mozzarella, cheddar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix until smooth and creamy.
- Boil the elbow macaroni according to package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water to prevent overcooking.
Combining
- Add the cooked pasta to the cheese sauce and let it simmer on low for about 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
Serving
- Enjoy warm or divide into four airtight containers for meal prep.
Notes
Leftovers will keep well in the fridge for about 3-4 days in an airtight container. If you want to save it for longer, you can freeze the chicken and mac & cheese in separate containers. When ready to reheat, just warm it up in the microwave or on the stovetop until heated through.