Description
Bring the flavor of your favorite restaurant home with our perfect copycat of Applebee’s Honey Pepper Mac and Cheese. This indulgent dish features creamy mac and cheese tossed with tender chicken and savory bacon, all brought together with a sweet and zesty honey pepper sauce. It’s a combination so irresistible, you’ll be hooked after just one bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 16 oz box spiral noodles
- 1 25 oz. bag breaded chicken strips
- 5 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
- Salt and Pepper
- Basil
Honey Pepper Sauce:
- 3/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 3 Tbs soy sauce, low sodium
- 1/4 cup pineapple juice
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 Tbs vinegar
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
Cheese Sauce:
- 1 stick butter
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, freshly shredded
- 3/4 cup colby jack cheese, freshly shredded
- 2–3 cloves minced garlic
- Chopped fresh basil
Instructions
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Bake or deep fry chicken strips according to package directions (you can also make your own), set aside.
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Cook pasta according to package directions.
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Meanwhile mix all your Honey Pepper sauce ingredients in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring often. Remove from heat and let cool slightly to thicken.
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To make your cheese sauce melt your butter and cream together in a large pan.
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Once melted add in your cheese one at a time, stirring after each addition then and garlic and stir until incorporated and everything in melted.
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Add salt and pepper to taste.
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Add pasta to pan with sauce and stir to combine, add in your bacon and stir until incorporated.
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Dip each of your chicken strips into the honey pepper sauce until coated and set aside.
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When ready to serve, dish up your pasta and top with chicken strips and sprinkle with basil and additional bacon if desired.