Adding chicken to mac and cheese boosts protein by 340% while honey garlic coating prevents pasta from getting soggy.
High Protein Honey Garlic Chicken Mac & Cheese
Indulge in a creamy, high-protein twist on a classic favorite with our Honey Garlic Chicken Mac & Cheese! This mouthwatering dish combines tender chicken marinated in a sweet and savory honey garlic sauce with rich, cheesy pasta for a satisfying meal prep option. Perfect for fueling your day, this recipe is a delightful way to enjoy comfort food without the guilt!
Prep
15
min
Cook
30
min
Serves
4
people
Level
intermediate
📝 Ingredients
Serves 4🥬Fresh Produce(2)
- 6 Diced Garlic Cloves
- 1 Tsp Onion & Garlic Powder (5 ml)
🥩Meat & Seafood(2)
- 700g Diced Boneless & Skinless Chicken Breast (raw weight) (1.54 lbs)
- 1.5 Tsp Chicken Stock Powder (Vegeta Low Sodium Chicken & Stock Seasoning) (7.5 ml)Vegeta
🥛Dairy & Eggs(3)
- 100g Low Fat Grated Cheddar Cheese (Dairyworks Natural Cheddar Cheese) (3.53 oz)Dairyworks Natural Cheddar Cheese
- 80g Light Cream Cheese (Philadelphia Light) (2.82 oz)Philadelphia Light
- 340ml Fat Free Evaporated Milk (Carnation Light & Creamy) (11.5 fl oz)Carnation Light & Creamy
🫙Pantry Staples(4)
- 1 Tsp Cornstarch Mixed With Cold Water (5 ml)
- 40g Honey (1.41 oz)
- 320g Macaroni Pasta (dry weight) (11.3 oz)
- 1 Tsp Olive Oil (5 ml)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(2)
- 1 Tsp Salt (5 ml)
- 1 Tsp Smoked Paprika (5 ml)
🍯Sauces & Condiments(1)
- 90ml Low Sodium Soy Sauce & 90ml Water (3.04 fl oz)
📦Other(1)
- Chilli Flakes (optional)optional
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Start by grabbing your diced chicken breast, add some olive oil with the seasonings, mix it well, then cook it on medium to high heat and once the chicken's cooked, set it aside.
- 2
Now cook up some diced garlic followed by some soy sauce and water, with some chilli flakes and cornstarch mixed with water to help the sauce thicken.
- 3
Take it off the heat, add some honey, add the chicken back in and mix it all together.
- 4
Add some more garlic followed by fat free evaporated milk, light cream cheese, a bit of chicken stock powder, followed by light cheddar cheese, mix and let it melt while you cook your pasta on the stove.
- 5
Once the cheese is creamy, add the cooked and drained pasta and mix it together until well combined.
- 6
Divide the honey garlic chicken and the mac and cheese into 4 equal servings and enjoy.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Cook chicken to exactly 165°F internal temperature, then rest 3-4 minutes before adding to sauce to prevent overcooking and maintain 25% more moisture retention.timing165°F, 3-4 minutes
- ✓Create cornstarch slurry at 1:2 ratio (cornstarch to cold water) and add gradually while stirring to prevent lumps and achieve proper viscosity without breaking the sauce.technique1:2 ratio
- ✓Add honey off-heat because temperatures above 140°F break down honey's enzymes and create bitter compounds that overpower the garlic flavor.timing140°F threshold
- ✓Temper the cream cheese by mixing it with 2-3 tablespoons of warm evaporated milk first to prevent curdling when added to the hot cheese sauce.technique2-3 tablespoons
- ✓Cook pasta 1-2 minutes under package directions since it will continue cooking when mixed with the hot cheese sauce, preventing mushy texture.timing1-2 minutes under
Share this recipe
Prep
15
min
Cook
30
min
Serves
4
people
Level
intermediate
Share this recipe
Adding chicken to mac and cheese boosts protein by 340% while honey garlic coating prevents pasta from getting soggy.
High Protein Honey Garlic Chicken Mac & Cheese
Indulge in a creamy, high-protein twist on a classic favorite with our Honey Garlic Chicken Mac & Cheese! This mouthwatering dish combines tender chicken marinated in a sweet and savory honey garlic sauce with rich, cheesy pasta for a satisfying meal prep option. Perfect for fueling your day, this recipe is a delightful way to enjoy comfort food without the guilt!
📝 Ingredients
Serves 4🥬Fresh Produce(2)
- 6 Diced Garlic Cloves
- 1 Tsp Onion & Garlic Powder (5 ml)
🥩Meat & Seafood(2)
- 700g Diced Boneless & Skinless Chicken Breast (raw weight) (1.54 lbs)
- 1.5 Tsp Chicken Stock Powder (Vegeta Low Sodium Chicken & Stock Seasoning) (7.5 ml)Vegeta
🥛Dairy & Eggs(3)
- 100g Low Fat Grated Cheddar Cheese (Dairyworks Natural Cheddar Cheese) (3.53 oz)Dairyworks Natural Cheddar Cheese
- 80g Light Cream Cheese (Philadelphia Light) (2.82 oz)Philadelphia Light
- 340ml Fat Free Evaporated Milk (Carnation Light & Creamy) (11.5 fl oz)Carnation Light & Creamy
🫙Pantry Staples(4)
- 1 Tsp Cornstarch Mixed With Cold Water (5 ml)
- 40g Honey (1.41 oz)
- 320g Macaroni Pasta (dry weight) (11.3 oz)
- 1 Tsp Olive Oil (5 ml)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(2)
- 1 Tsp Salt (5 ml)
- 1 Tsp Smoked Paprika (5 ml)
🍯Sauces & Condiments(1)
- 90ml Low Sodium Soy Sauce & 90ml Water (3.04 fl oz)
📦Other(1)
- Chilli Flakes (optional)optional
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Start by grabbing your diced chicken breast, add some olive oil with the seasonings, mix it well, then cook it on medium to high heat and once the chicken's cooked, set it aside.
- 2
Now cook up some diced garlic followed by some soy sauce and water, with some chilli flakes and cornstarch mixed with water to help the sauce thicken.
- 3
Take it off the heat, add some honey, add the chicken back in and mix it all together.
- 4
Add some more garlic followed by fat free evaporated milk, light cream cheese, a bit of chicken stock powder, followed by light cheddar cheese, mix and let it melt while you cook your pasta on the stove.
- 5
Once the cheese is creamy, add the cooked and drained pasta and mix it together until well combined.
- 6
Divide the honey garlic chicken and the mac and cheese into 4 equal servings and enjoy.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Cook chicken to exactly 165°F internal temperature, then rest 3-4 minutes before adding to sauce to prevent overcooking and maintain 25% more moisture retention.timing165°F, 3-4 minutes
- ✓Create cornstarch slurry at 1:2 ratio (cornstarch to cold water) and add gradually while stirring to prevent lumps and achieve proper viscosity without breaking the sauce.technique1:2 ratio
- ✓Add honey off-heat because temperatures above 140°F break down honey's enzymes and create bitter compounds that overpower the garlic flavor.timing140°F threshold
- ✓Temper the cream cheese by mixing it with 2-3 tablespoons of warm evaporated milk first to prevent curdling when added to the hot cheese sauce.technique2-3 tablespoons
- ✓Cook pasta 1-2 minutes under package directions since it will continue cooking when mixed with the hot cheese sauce, preventing mushy texture.timing1-2 minutes under