Protein powder in mac and cheese sounds wrong until you realize bodybuilders invented this combo in 1990s Gold's Gym.
High Protein Honey BBQ Chicken Mac & Cheese Meal Prep
Get ready to savor a mouthwatering meal prep delight with our Honey BBQ Chicken Mac & Cheese! This scrumptious dish combines tender, protein-packed chicken glazed in a sweet and tangy honey BBQ sauce, paired with creamy, dreamy mac and cheese that will have you coming back for seconds. Perfect for busy weekdays, this recipe is your ticket to flavorful comfort food that fuels your day!
Prep
15
min
Cook
30
min
Serves
4
people
Level
intermediate
📝 Ingredients
Serves 4🥬Fresh Produce(2)
- 3-4 Garlic Cloves Minced
- Garnish with Parsleyoptional
🥩Meat & Seafood(1)
- 700g Raw Chicken Breast (1.54 lbs)
🥛Dairy & Eggs(3)
- 40g Low Fat Cheddar Cheese (1.41 oz)
- 120g Light Cream Cheese (4.24 oz)Brand: Philadelphia Lightest
- 250ml Skimmed Milk (8.45 fl oz)
🫙Pantry Staples(4)
- 40g BBQ Sauce Reduced Sugar (1.41 oz)Brand: Tescos
- 30g Honey (1.06 oz)
- 225g Uncooked Macaroni Pasta (7.94 oz)
- 2 tsp Olive Oil (10 ml)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(3)
- 1 tsp Black Pepper (5 ml)
- 2 tsp Paprika (10 ml)
- 1 tsp Salt (5 ml)
🍯Sauces & Condiments(1)
- 60ml Hot Sauce (2.03 fl oz)Brand: @sauce_shop, use less if too spicy
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Cook the chicken on medium high heat for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown.
- 2
Turn off the heat before adding honey and BBQ sauce, then mix well and set the chicken aside.
- 3
In a separate pan, add skimmed milk, hot sauce, light cream cheese, and low fat cheddar cheese on low heat, stirring gently with a whisk until it thickens and is smooth.
- 4
Add the cooked macaroni to the sauce and mix well.
- 5
Distribute into 4 equal servings and enjoy.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Turn off heat completely before adding honey to prevent caramelization above 320°F, which creates bitter compounds and causes the honey to seize into hard clumps.timing320°F threshold
- ✓Heat your milk to 140-160°F before adding to cheese to prevent the proteins from shocking and breaking the emulsion, which causes grainy texture.technique140-160°F
- ✓Add cream cheese first, then cheddar in small handfuls while whisking because cream cheese acts as an emulsifier with 33% fat content, stabilizing the sauce before adding lower-fat cheddar.technique33% fat content
- ✓Cook pasta 1-2 minutes under package directions since it will continue cooking in the hot cheese sauce, preventing mushy texture during meal prep reheating.timing1-2 minutes under
- ✓Let assembled portions cool to room temperature before refrigerating to prevent condensation buildup that dilutes the sauce and creates separation during storage.timing
Share this recipe
Prep
15
min
Cook
30
min
Serves
4
people
Level
intermediate
Share this recipe
Protein powder in mac and cheese sounds wrong until you realize bodybuilders invented this combo in 1990s Gold's Gym.
High Protein Honey BBQ Chicken Mac & Cheese Meal Prep
Get ready to savor a mouthwatering meal prep delight with our Honey BBQ Chicken Mac & Cheese! This scrumptious dish combines tender, protein-packed chicken glazed in a sweet and tangy honey BBQ sauce, paired with creamy, dreamy mac and cheese that will have you coming back for seconds. Perfect for busy weekdays, this recipe is your ticket to flavorful comfort food that fuels your day!
📝 Ingredients
Serves 4🥬Fresh Produce(2)
- 3-4 Garlic Cloves Minced
- Garnish with Parsleyoptional
🥩Meat & Seafood(1)
- 700g Raw Chicken Breast (1.54 lbs)
🥛Dairy & Eggs(3)
- 40g Low Fat Cheddar Cheese (1.41 oz)
- 120g Light Cream Cheese (4.24 oz)Brand: Philadelphia Lightest
- 250ml Skimmed Milk (8.45 fl oz)
🫙Pantry Staples(4)
- 40g BBQ Sauce Reduced Sugar (1.41 oz)Brand: Tescos
- 30g Honey (1.06 oz)
- 225g Uncooked Macaroni Pasta (7.94 oz)
- 2 tsp Olive Oil (10 ml)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(3)
- 1 tsp Black Pepper (5 ml)
- 2 tsp Paprika (10 ml)
- 1 tsp Salt (5 ml)
🍯Sauces & Condiments(1)
- 60ml Hot Sauce (2.03 fl oz)Brand: @sauce_shop, use less if too spicy
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Cook the chicken on medium high heat for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown.
- 2
Turn off the heat before adding honey and BBQ sauce, then mix well and set the chicken aside.
- 3
In a separate pan, add skimmed milk, hot sauce, light cream cheese, and low fat cheddar cheese on low heat, stirring gently with a whisk until it thickens and is smooth.
- 4
Add the cooked macaroni to the sauce and mix well.
- 5
Distribute into 4 equal servings and enjoy.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Turn off heat completely before adding honey to prevent caramelization above 320°F, which creates bitter compounds and causes the honey to seize into hard clumps.timing320°F threshold
- ✓Heat your milk to 140-160°F before adding to cheese to prevent the proteins from shocking and breaking the emulsion, which causes grainy texture.technique140-160°F
- ✓Add cream cheese first, then cheddar in small handfuls while whisking because cream cheese acts as an emulsifier with 33% fat content, stabilizing the sauce before adding lower-fat cheddar.technique33% fat content
- ✓Cook pasta 1-2 minutes under package directions since it will continue cooking in the hot cheese sauce, preventing mushy texture during meal prep reheating.timing1-2 minutes under
- ✓Let assembled portions cool to room temperature before refrigerating to prevent condensation buildup that dilutes the sauce and creates separation during storage.timing