Honey Garlic Butter Chicken & Mac and Cheese
A quick, easy, and comforting dish featuring tender chicken in a rich honey garlic butter sauce, served with creamy macaroni and cheese. Perfect for weeknights or feeding a crowd.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Marinade
- 3 chicken breasts Chicken breasts (Boneless, skinless, cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 3 tbsp Avocado oil
- 4 tsp Smoked paprika
- 4 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Black pepper
Sauce Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
- 8 cloves Garlic (Minced)
- 4 tsp Garlic powder
- 4 tbsp Butter
- 1 tbsp Honey
- 1 tsp Parsley, dried
- 0.25 tsp Salt (For balancing sweetness)
- 2 cups Heavy cream
- 0.5 cup Cheddar cheese (Shredded)
- 0.5 cup Mozzarella cheese (Shredded)
Macaroni
- 12 oz Elbow macaroni
Garnish
- 2 tbsp Parsley, fresh (Chopped)
Instructions
- Cut your chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. Think about what would be easy to eat with a fork alongside your macaroni!
- In a medium bowl, toss those chicken pieces with the avocado oil, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Make sure every single piece is coated evenly. This step is crucial for flavor!
- Grab a large skillet (a cast iron skillet works wonders here if you have one!) and heat your olive oil over medium-high heat. You want it nice and hot, but not smoking.
- Carefully add your seasoned chicken to the hot skillet. Let it cook until it’s beautifully browned on all sides and cooked all the way through. Once it’s done, scoop it out of the skillet and set it aside on a plate. Don’t worry about any bits stuck to the pan – those are flavor!
- In that same skillet (no need to wash it!), add your butter. Once it’s melted, toss in your minced garlic and garlic powder. Sauté them for about 1-2 minutes until they’re wonderfully fragrant. Oh, that smell!
- Stir in your honey and dried parsley. Add just a tiny pinch of extra salt here to balance the sweetness.
- Pour in your heavy cream. Stir everything together and bring it to a gentle simmer. Watch it transform into a beautiful sauce!
- Once the sauce is simmering, stir in your cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese. Keep stirring until they’re completely melted and you have a smooth, luscious sauce. This is the moment!
- Now, return your cooked chicken to the skillet. Gently toss everything together so that every piece of chicken is coated in that divine honey garlic butter sauce.
- While your sauce is simmering, cook your elbow macaroni according to the package directions. Drain it really well once it’s al dente.
- Add the drained macaroni directly into the skillet with the chicken and sauce. Toss everything together until the macaroni is beautifully coated.
- Sprinkle with your fresh parsley for a burst of color and freshness. Serve immediately and watch everyone devour it!
Notes
This recipe is a complete meal on its own. For a lighter option, serve with a simple side salad or steamed green beans. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days and reheated, adding a splash of milk or cream to loosen the sauce.