Easy High Protein Honey BBQ Chicken Mac & Cheese
Get ready to indulge in a protein-packed delight with our Honey BBQ Chicken Mac & Cheese! This mouthwatering dish combines tender, succulent chicken drizzled in a sweet and tangy honey BBQ sauce, all nestled in a creamy, cheesy pasta. Perfect for meal prep, it’s a satisfying blend of flavors that will keep your taste buds dancing all week long!
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) (3.53 oz)
- 80g Light Cream Cheese (2.82 oz)
- 340ml Fat Free Evaporated Milk (Carnation Light & Creamy) (11.5 fl oz)
🫙Pantry Staples(4)
- 85g Reduced Sugar or Sugar Free BBQ Sauce (Hughes Sugar Free) (3 oz)
- 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, Salt, Onion Powder, Smoked Paprika, Garlic Powder (5 ml)
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories
680
Protein
60g
Carbs
75g
Fat
15g
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Season diced chicken with salt, onion powder, smoked paprika & garlic powder, add olive oil & mix well.
- 2
Cook chicken on medium to high heat for around 4 minutes each side or until fully cooked. Remove from heat then add honey & BBQ sauce.
- 3
Mix until the chicken is evenly coated in the sauce.
- 4
Cook macaroni in boiling water according to packet instructions.
- 5
While pasta cooks, add evaporated milk, light cream cheese, chicken stock powder & grated cheese to a pan on medium heat, stir until smooth & creamy.
- 6
Add drained pasta into the cheese sauce & mix until fully coated.
- 7
Divide the Honey BBQ Chicken & Mac & Cheese evenly into 4 meal prep servings.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Cut chicken into uniform 1-1.5cm cubes before cooking to ensure even doneness in 4 minutes per side; larger pieces will have raw centers since chicken breast reaches 165°F at ~12-14 minutes depending on thickness.technique1-1.5cm cubes, 165°F internal temp
- ✓Add honey and BBQ sauce immediately after removing chicken from heat (residual carryover heat will be ~170-180°F), not while still cooking, because sugars in honey will caramelize and burn above 160°F, creating bitter flavors.timing160°F threshold for sugar caramelization
- ✓Reserve 60ml of starchy pasta water before draining and whisk it into the evaporated milk sauce after removing from heat; the starch (approximately 2% concentration) acts as an emulsifier to prevent the fat-free milk from breaking and creates a creamier mouthfeel.technique60ml pasta water, ~2% starch concentration
- ✓Keep the cheese sauce pan at medium (not medium-high) heat because evaporated milk proteins denature and curdle above 160°F; stir constantly for 2-3 minutes until it reaches 150°F for a silky texture without separation.timing150°F target, 2-3 minutes, avoid 160°F+
- ✓Add the drained hot pasta to the cheese sauce while both are 140-150°F to allow starch granules to absorb sauce and create adhesion; if pasta cools below 120°F, the sauce will slide off rather than coat.technique140-150°F for optimal starch absorption
Share this recipe
Prep
15
min
Cook
30
min
Serves
4
people
Level
beginner
Share this recipe
Easy High Protein Honey BBQ Chicken Mac & Cheese
Get ready to indulge in a protein-packed delight with our Honey BBQ Chicken Mac & Cheese! This mouthwatering dish combines tender, succulent chicken drizzled in a sweet and tangy honey BBQ sauce, all nestled in a creamy, cheesy pasta. Perfect for meal prep, it’s a satisfying blend of flavors that will keep your taste buds dancing all week long!
📝 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) (3.53 oz)
- 80g Light Cream Cheese (2.82 oz)
- 340ml Fat Free Evaporated Milk (Carnation Light & Creamy) (11.5 fl oz)
🫙Pantry Staples(4)
- 85g Reduced Sugar or Sugar Free BBQ Sauce (Hughes Sugar Free) (3 oz)
- 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, Salt, Onion Powder, Smoked Paprika, Garlic Powder (5 ml)
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories
680
Protein
60g
Carbs
75g
Fat
15g
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Season diced chicken with salt, onion powder, smoked paprika & garlic powder, add olive oil & mix well.
- 2
Cook chicken on medium to high heat for around 4 minutes each side or until fully cooked. Remove from heat then add honey & BBQ sauce.
- 3
Mix until the chicken is evenly coated in the sauce.
- 4
Cook macaroni in boiling water according to packet instructions.
- 5
While pasta cooks, add evaporated milk, light cream cheese, chicken stock powder & grated cheese to a pan on medium heat, stir until smooth & creamy.
- 6
Add drained pasta into the cheese sauce & mix until fully coated.
- 7
Divide the Honey BBQ Chicken & Mac & Cheese evenly into 4 meal prep servings.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Cut chicken into uniform 1-1.5cm cubes before cooking to ensure even doneness in 4 minutes per side; larger pieces will have raw centers since chicken breast reaches 165°F at ~12-14 minutes depending on thickness.technique1-1.5cm cubes, 165°F internal temp
- ✓Add honey and BBQ sauce immediately after removing chicken from heat (residual carryover heat will be ~170-180°F), not while still cooking, because sugars in honey will caramelize and burn above 160°F, creating bitter flavors.timing160°F threshold for sugar caramelization
- ✓Reserve 60ml of starchy pasta water before draining and whisk it into the evaporated milk sauce after removing from heat; the starch (approximately 2% concentration) acts as an emulsifier to prevent the fat-free milk from breaking and creates a creamier mouthfeel.technique60ml pasta water, ~2% starch concentration
- ✓Keep the cheese sauce pan at medium (not medium-high) heat because evaporated milk proteins denature and curdle above 160°F; stir constantly for 2-3 minutes until it reaches 150°F for a silky texture without separation.timing150°F target, 2-3 minutes, avoid 160°F+
- ✓Add the drained hot pasta to the cheese sauce while both are 140-150°F to allow starch granules to absorb sauce and create adhesion; if pasta cools below 120°F, the sauce will slide off rather than coat.technique140-150°F for optimal starch absorption