Adding protein powder to mac and cheese sounds wrong, but bodybuilders discovered it creates the creamiest sauce texture possible.
Easy High Protein Meal Prep Honey BBQ Chicken Mac & Cheese
Dive into a scrumptious twist on comfort food with our Honey BBQ Chicken Mac & Cheese, packed with protein to fuel your day! This easy-to-make dish combines tender chicken, rich cheese, and a finger-licking honey BBQ sauce for a delightful meal that's perfect for prepping ahead. Get ready to savor every cheesy, savory bite!
Prep
15
min
Cook
30
min
Serves
4
people
Level
beginner
📝 Ingredients
Serves 4🥩Meat & Seafood(2)
- 700g Diced Chicken Breast (raw weight) (1.54 lbs)
- 1.5 Tsp Chicken Stock Powder (7.5 ml)
🥛Dairy & Eggs(3)
- 100g Grated Light Cheddar Cheese (Dairyworks Natural Cheddar Cheese) (3.53 oz)Dairyworks Natural Cheddar Cheese
- 80g Light Cream Cheese (2.82 oz)
- 340ml Fat Free Evaporated Milk (Carnation Light & Creamy) (11.5 fl oz)Carnation Light & Creamy
🫙Pantry Staples(4)
- 85g Reduced Sugar or Sugar Free BBQ Sauce (Hughes Sugar Free BBQ Sauce) (3 oz)Hughes Sugar Free BBQ Sauce
- 25g Honey (0.88 oz)
- 320g Macaroni Pasta (uncooked weight) (11.3 oz)
- 1 Tsp Olive Oil (5 ml)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(1)
- 1 Tsp Each of Salt, Onion Powder, Smoked Paprika & Garlic Powder (5 ml)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Start by seasoning your diced chicken breast with 1 tsp each of salt, onion powder, smoked paprika & garlic powder then add 1 tsp of olive oil & mix well.
- 2
Cook the chicken on medium/high heat for 4 min each side or until cooked through, once the chicken is cooked take it off the heat & add 25g of honey with 85g of BBQ sauce.
- 3
Mix well to combine until the chicken is coated in the sauce.
- 4
Start cooking 320g of pasta (uncooked weight) in boiling water according to package directions.
- 5
While the pasta is cooking to a pan on medium heat add 340ml Fat Free Evaporated Milk, 80g light cream cheese, 1.5 tsp chicken stock powder, 100g light grated cheddar cheese & continue stirring until the sauce is fully combined & smooth/creamy.
- 6
Add the cooked & drained pasta to the Mac & cheese sauce then mix until the pasta is fully coated.
- 7
Divide the Honey BBQ Chicken and Mac & Cheese into 4 equal servings for meal prep.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Cook chicken to exactly 165°F internal temperature, then immediately add honey and BBQ sauce while the pan is still hot to create a caramelized glaze that adheres better than adding sauce to cooled meat.technique165°F internal temp
- ✓Heat evaporated milk to 140-150°F before adding cream cheese to prevent curdling and ensure the proteins emulsify smoothly into a silky sauce.timing140-150°F
- ✓Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water before draining because the starchy water helps bind the cheese sauce to pasta and prevents separation during reheating.technique1/2 cup pasta water
- ✓Add grated cheese gradually in 3 portions while stirring constantly to maintain emulsion temperature below 160°F and prevent the proteins from seizing into grainy clumps.techniqueBelow 160°F
- ✓Cool meal prep portions to room temperature within 30 minutes before refrigerating to prevent condensation that creates soggy pasta texture and bacterial growth.timing30 minutes
Share this recipe
Prep
15
min
Cook
30
min
Serves
4
people
Level
beginner
Share this recipe
Adding protein powder to mac and cheese sounds wrong, but bodybuilders discovered it creates the creamiest sauce texture possible.
Easy High Protein Meal Prep Honey BBQ Chicken Mac & Cheese
Dive into a scrumptious twist on comfort food with our Honey BBQ Chicken Mac & Cheese, packed with protein to fuel your day! This easy-to-make dish combines tender chicken, rich cheese, and a finger-licking honey BBQ sauce for a delightful meal that's perfect for prepping ahead. Get ready to savor every cheesy, savory bite!
📝 Ingredients
Serves 4🥩Meat & Seafood(2)
- 700g Diced Chicken Breast (raw weight) (1.54 lbs)
- 1.5 Tsp Chicken Stock Powder (7.5 ml)
🥛Dairy & Eggs(3)
- 100g Grated Light Cheddar Cheese (Dairyworks Natural Cheddar Cheese) (3.53 oz)Dairyworks Natural Cheddar Cheese
- 80g Light Cream Cheese (2.82 oz)
- 340ml Fat Free Evaporated Milk (Carnation Light & Creamy) (11.5 fl oz)Carnation Light & Creamy
🫙Pantry Staples(4)
- 85g Reduced Sugar or Sugar Free BBQ Sauce (Hughes Sugar Free BBQ Sauce) (3 oz)Hughes Sugar Free BBQ Sauce
- 25g Honey (0.88 oz)
- 320g Macaroni Pasta (uncooked weight) (11.3 oz)
- 1 Tsp Olive Oil (5 ml)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(1)
- 1 Tsp Each of Salt, Onion Powder, Smoked Paprika & Garlic Powder (5 ml)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Start by seasoning your diced chicken breast with 1 tsp each of salt, onion powder, smoked paprika & garlic powder then add 1 tsp of olive oil & mix well.
- 2
Cook the chicken on medium/high heat for 4 min each side or until cooked through, once the chicken is cooked take it off the heat & add 25g of honey with 85g of BBQ sauce.
- 3
Mix well to combine until the chicken is coated in the sauce.
- 4
Start cooking 320g of pasta (uncooked weight) in boiling water according to package directions.
- 5
While the pasta is cooking to a pan on medium heat add 340ml Fat Free Evaporated Milk, 80g light cream cheese, 1.5 tsp chicken stock powder, 100g light grated cheddar cheese & continue stirring until the sauce is fully combined & smooth/creamy.
- 6
Add the cooked & drained pasta to the Mac & cheese sauce then mix until the pasta is fully coated.
- 7
Divide the Honey BBQ Chicken and Mac & Cheese into 4 equal servings for meal prep.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Cook chicken to exactly 165°F internal temperature, then immediately add honey and BBQ sauce while the pan is still hot to create a caramelized glaze that adheres better than adding sauce to cooled meat.technique165°F internal temp
- ✓Heat evaporated milk to 140-150°F before adding cream cheese to prevent curdling and ensure the proteins emulsify smoothly into a silky sauce.timing140-150°F
- ✓Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water before draining because the starchy water helps bind the cheese sauce to pasta and prevents separation during reheating.technique1/2 cup pasta water
- ✓Add grated cheese gradually in 3 portions while stirring constantly to maintain emulsion temperature below 160°F and prevent the proteins from seizing into grainy clumps.techniqueBelow 160°F
- ✓Cool meal prep portions to room temperature within 30 minutes before refrigerating to prevent condensation that creates soggy pasta texture and bacterial growth.timing30 minutes