High Protein Honey Garlic Butter Chicken Mac n Cheese
Get ready to elevate your comfort food game with this mouthwatering High Protein Honey Garlic Butter Chicken Mac n Cheese! Juicy chicken thighs are glazed in a rich honey garlic sauce, while creamy, cheesy pasta brings the ultimate indulgence to every bite. Perfect for meal prep, this dish is a flavor-packed powerhouse that will keep your taste buds dancing!
Prep
15
min
Cook
30
min
Serves
4
people
Level
intermediate
📝 Ingredients
Shopping List
- 800 g chicken breast
- 1 tsp (5 ml) chili flakes
- 1 handful fresh chopped parsley
- 2 tsp (10 ml) ground meatd garlic
- 160 g light cream cheese
- 100 g low fat cheddar cheese
- 300 ml skimmed milk
- 220 g uncooked macaroni pasta
Pantry Items
Amounts also listed in instructions below
- black pepper (to taste)
- garlic powder (to taste)
- honey (to taste)
- light butter (to taste)
- nutmeg (to taste)
- olive oil (to taste)
- onion powder (to taste)
- paprika (to taste)
- salt (to taste)
- smoked paprika (to taste)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Heat a pan on medium heat and add light butter. Let it melt, then add the chicken cubes. Cook for 4-5 minutes on one side until golden brown, then flip and cook for another 3-4 minutes.
- 2
Lower the heat and add extra butter, minced garlic, and honey. Mix until well coated and sticky, then set aside.
- 3
In the same pan, add minced garlic and cook for 2 minutes until fragrant. Then add skimmed milk, light cream cheese, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and nutmeg. Mix until smooth.
- 4
Lower the heat and add low fat cheddar cheese, stirring until it melts. Add the cooked macaroni and mix well.
- 5
Serve and enjoy your high protein meal!
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Cube chicken breast to 1-inch pieces and cook at medium heat (275-300°F pan surface) to achieve proper browning while maintaining 165°F internal temperature without overcooking the proteins.technique275-300°F pan surface
- ✓Add honey only after reducing heat to low because honey begins caramelizing at 230°F and will burn at medium heat, creating bitter compounds instead of the desired sticky glaze.timing230°F caramelization point
- ✓Temper your cream cheese to room temperature before adding to prevent breaking the sauce - cold dairy proteins seize when heated rapidly, causing grainy texture instead of smooth emulsion.ingredient
- ✓Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water before draining because the starchy water (containing 2-3% dissolved starches) helps bind the cheese sauce to pasta and prevents separation.technique2-3% starch content
- ✓Add cheese off heat or at lowest setting because low-fat cheeses have less fat to protect proteins from heat, causing them to seize and become stringy above 180°F.timing180°F maximum
Share this recipe
Prep
15
min
Cook
30
min
Serves
4
people
Level
intermediate
Share this recipe
High Protein Honey Garlic Butter Chicken Mac n Cheese
Get ready to elevate your comfort food game with this mouthwatering High Protein Honey Garlic Butter Chicken Mac n Cheese! Juicy chicken thighs are glazed in a rich honey garlic sauce, while creamy, cheesy pasta brings the ultimate indulgence to every bite. Perfect for meal prep, this dish is a flavor-packed powerhouse that will keep your taste buds dancing!
📝 Ingredients
Shopping List
- 800 g chicken breast
- 1 tsp (5 ml) chili flakes
- 1 handful fresh chopped parsley
- 2 tsp (10 ml) ground meatd garlic
- 160 g light cream cheese
- 100 g low fat cheddar cheese
- 300 ml skimmed milk
- 220 g uncooked macaroni pasta
Pantry Items
Amounts also listed in instructions below
- black pepper (to taste)
- garlic powder (to taste)
- honey (to taste)
- light butter (to taste)
- nutmeg (to taste)
- olive oil (to taste)
- onion powder (to taste)
- paprika (to taste)
- salt (to taste)
- smoked paprika (to taste)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Heat a pan on medium heat and add light butter. Let it melt, then add the chicken cubes. Cook for 4-5 minutes on one side until golden brown, then flip and cook for another 3-4 minutes.
- 2
Lower the heat and add extra butter, minced garlic, and honey. Mix until well coated and sticky, then set aside.
- 3
In the same pan, add minced garlic and cook for 2 minutes until fragrant. Then add skimmed milk, light cream cheese, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and nutmeg. Mix until smooth.
- 4
Lower the heat and add low fat cheddar cheese, stirring until it melts. Add the cooked macaroni and mix well.
- 5
Serve and enjoy your high protein meal!
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Cube chicken breast to 1-inch pieces and cook at medium heat (275-300°F pan surface) to achieve proper browning while maintaining 165°F internal temperature without overcooking the proteins.technique275-300°F pan surface
- ✓Add honey only after reducing heat to low because honey begins caramelizing at 230°F and will burn at medium heat, creating bitter compounds instead of the desired sticky glaze.timing230°F caramelization point
- ✓Temper your cream cheese to room temperature before adding to prevent breaking the sauce - cold dairy proteins seize when heated rapidly, causing grainy texture instead of smooth emulsion.ingredient
- ✓Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water before draining because the starchy water (containing 2-3% dissolved starches) helps bind the cheese sauce to pasta and prevents separation.technique2-3% starch content
- ✓Add cheese off heat or at lowest setting because low-fat cheeses have less fat to protect proteins from heat, causing them to seize and become stringy above 180°F.timing180°F maximum