Description

A comforting, high-protein dish that pairs tender honey garlic butter chicken with creamy mac and cheese. Perfect for busy weeknights, meal prep, or cozy dinners when you need both indulgence and fuel.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken Marinade:

3 chicken breasts (~1.5 lb / 680 g), cubed
2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp smoked paprika
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried parsley
2 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper

For Cooking the Chicken:

3 tbsp avocado oil (or oil of choice)
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp honey
2 tbsp freshly chopped parsley

Mac & Cheese:

2 tbsp butter
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups (480 ml) heavy cream
½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
12 oz (340 g) elbow macaroni, cooked al dente
2 tsp smoked paprika
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper

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Instructions

Marinate the Chicken – Toss cubed chicken with olive oil, garlic, smoked paprika, garlic powder, parsley, salt, and pepper. Let rest 10 minutes.
Cook the Chicken – Heat avocado oil in a skillet. Cook chicken 10–15 minutes until fully cooked. Stir in butter, honey, and parsley. Coat well and set aside.
Start the Mac & Cheese – In the same skillet, melt butter. Sauté garlic until fragrant, about 2–3 minutes.
Build the Cream Sauce – Add heavy cream, bring to a gentle bubble, then stir in mozzarella, cheddar, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth.
Mix in Pasta – Stir in al dente macaroni. Simmer 5 minutes until the sauce thickens.
Serve – Plate creamy mac and cheese, topping with honey garlic butter chicken (or mix together).

Notes

Sauce may appear thin at first but thickens as it cools.

Keep heat low when adding cheese to prevent graininess.

Swap in whole wheat or protein pasta for extra nutrition.

To loosen reheated mac & cheese, add a splash of milk or cream.

Freezes up to 1 month; refrigerates 4 days.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Main Dish
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American