Honey Chipotle Chicken Mac n Cheese
Honey Chipotle Chicken Mac n Cheese
Ingredients
For the Honey Chipotle Chicken
- 1100 g boneless chicken thighs, fat trimmed and cubed
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 3 teaspoons oregano
- 2 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, for marinating
- 100 g Cholula chipotle hot sauce
- 50 g honey
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped, plus more for garnish
- 40 g light butter, for cooking
For the Smokey Chipotle Mac & Cheese
- 260 g uncooked macaroni
- 20 g light butter, to toast spices
- 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 300 ml fat free evaporated milk or skimmed milk
- 100 g Chipotle hot sauce, Cholula brand recommended
- 180 g light cream cheese
- 100 g low fat cheddar cheese
Instructions
- 1
Slice the boneless chicken thighs into cubes. Place the cubed chicken in a bowl. Season with 2 teaspoons salt, 3 teaspoons oregano, 2 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika, 2 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Mix well until all the chicken is coated. Let it marinate for a few minutes while you prepare other ingredients.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add the 260 grams of uncooked macaroni to the boiling water and cook for 8 minutes, or according to package directions for al dente. Drain the water and set the cooked macaroni aside.
⏱️ 10 min
- 3
Heat a large pan or skillet over medium heat. Melt half of the 40 grams of light butter in the pan. Add the marinated chicken to the pan, cooking in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding. Cook the chicken for 4-5 minutes per side, until golden brown and crispy. Remove the cooked chicken from the pan and set aside.
⏱️ 15 min
- 4
Reduce the heat to low. Add the remaining 40 grams of light butter, 2 tablespoons minced garlic, 50 grams honey, 100 grams Cholula chipotle hot sauce, and 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley to the same pan. Stir well to combine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Return the cooked chicken to the pan and toss until fully coated in the honey chipotle sauce. Set the chicken aside in a separate dish.
⏱️ 5 min
- 5
In the same pan (no need to clean), on low heat, add 20 grams of light butter. Once melted, add 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika, and 1 teaspoon salt. Toast the spices for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
⏱️ 2 min
- 6
Pour in 300 ml of fat-free evaporated milk or skimmed milk. Add 100 grams of Cholula chipotle hot sauce and 180 grams of light cream cheese. Stir continuously until all ingredients are melted and the sauce is smooth. Add 100 grams of low-fat cheddar cheese and continue stirring until the sauce is creamy and cheesy.
⏱️ 8 min
- 7
Add the cooked macaroni to the cheesy sauce in the pan. Sprinkle with additional fresh parsley, if desired. Mix thoroughly until the macaroni is fully combined with the sauce and is silky smooth and creamy.
⏱️ 3 min
- 8
Serve the Smokey Chipotle Mac & Cheese immediately, topped with the Honey Chipotle Chicken. Garnish with more fresh parsley if desired.
⏱️ 2 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Honey Chipotle Chicken Mac n Cheese
For the Honey Chipotle Chicken
- 1100 g boneless chicken thighs, fat trimmed and cubed
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 3 teaspoons oregano
- 2 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, for marinating
- 100 g Cholula chipotle hot sauce
- 50 g honey
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped, plus more for garnish
- 40 g light butter, for cooking
For the Smokey Chipotle Mac & Cheese
- 260 g uncooked macaroni
- 20 g light butter, to toast spices
- 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 300 ml fat free evaporated milk or skimmed milk
- 100 g Chipotle hot sauce, Cholula brand recommended
- 180 g light cream cheese
- 100 g low fat cheddar cheese
Instructions
- 1
Slice the boneless chicken thighs into cubes. Place the cubed chicken in a bowl. Season with 2 teaspoons salt, 3 teaspoons oregano, 2 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika, 2 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Mix well until all the chicken is coated. Let it marinate for a few minutes while you prepare other ingredients.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add the 260 grams of uncooked macaroni to the boiling water and cook for 8 minutes, or according to package directions for al dente. Drain the water and set the cooked macaroni aside.
⏱️ 10 min - 3
Heat a large pan or skillet over medium heat. Melt half of the 40 grams of light butter in the pan. Add the marinated chicken to the pan, cooking in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding. Cook the chicken for 4-5 minutes per side, until golden brown and crispy. Remove the cooked chicken from the pan and set aside.
⏱️ 15 min - 4
Reduce the heat to low. Add the remaining 40 grams of light butter, 2 tablespoons minced garlic, 50 grams honey, 100 grams Cholula chipotle hot sauce, and 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley to the same pan. Stir well to combine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Return the cooked chicken to the pan and toss until fully coated in the honey chipotle sauce. Set the chicken aside in a separate dish.
⏱️ 5 min - 5
In the same pan (no need to clean), on low heat, add 20 grams of light butter. Once melted, add 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika, and 1 teaspoon salt. Toast the spices for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
⏱️ 2 min - 6
Pour in 300 ml of fat-free evaporated milk or skimmed milk. Add 100 grams of Cholula chipotle hot sauce and 180 grams of light cream cheese. Stir continuously until all ingredients are melted and the sauce is smooth. Add 100 grams of low-fat cheddar cheese and continue stirring until the sauce is creamy and cheesy.
⏱️ 8 min - 7
Add the cooked macaroni to the cheesy sauce in the pan. Sprinkle with additional fresh parsley, if desired. Mix thoroughly until the macaroni is fully combined with the sauce and is silky smooth and creamy.
⏱️ 3 min - 8
Serve the Smokey Chipotle Mac & Cheese immediately, topped with the Honey Chipotle Chicken. Garnish with more fresh parsley if desired.
⏱️ 2 min