Hot Honey Chipotle Mac & Cheese
Get ready to elevate your mac and cheese game with our Hot Honey Chipotle Mac & Cheese! This creamy dish features a tantalizing blend of sharp cheddar and smoky chipotle, finished off with a luscious drizzle of sweet hot honey that adds the perfect kick. It's comfort food with an exciting twist that will leave your taste buds dancing!
Prep
15
min
Cook
30
min
Serves
4
people
Level
intermediate
📝 Ingredients
Serves 4🥩Meat & Seafood(1)
- 1 Knorr chicken bouillon cube
🥛Dairy & Eggs(5)
- 4 tbsp butter (≈57g) (56 g)
- 1 cup fontina (≈113g) (240 ml)
- 1 cup marble cheddar (≈113g) (240 ml)
- 3 cups milk (≈720g) (720 ml)
- 1 cup mozzarella (≈113g) (240 ml)
🫙Pantry Staples(3)
- 4 tbsp flour (≈32g) (60 ml)
- ½ cup honey (≈170g) (120 ml)
- 850g pasta (2½ packs) (30 oz)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(1)
- 1 tsp each: smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt & pepper (5 ml)
📦Other(3)
- 1 tsp chili flakes (5 ml)
- 2 tbsp chipotle in adobo (30 ml)
- ¼ cup Frank’s RedHot (≈60g) (60 ml)
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories
1468
Protein
55g
Carbs
210g
Fat
47g
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Simmer the honey, Frank’s and chili flakes for a couple minutes, then set aside.
- 2
Boil the pasta until just under al dente. Melt the butter, whisk in the flour, then slowly add the milk until smooth and creamy. Stir in the chipotle, bouillon and seasoning.
- 3
Melt in all three cheeses, toss with the pasta, and finish with a drizzle of hot honey.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Simmer honey and Frank's RedHot to exactly 225°F (107°C) for 2-3 minutes to evaporate 15-20% of water content, concentrating heat and sweetness while preventing the honey from crystallizing when cooled.timing225°F for 2-3 minutes
- ✓Cook pasta to 1-2 minutes under al dente (check at 7-8 minutes for standard pasta) because residual heat from the hot cheese sauce will complete cooking via carryover, preventing mushy starches that absorb excess sauce.timing1-2 minutes under al dente
- ✓Maintain a 1:1 butter-to-flour roux ratio (57g:32g is slightly heavy) and add milk slowly while whisking continuously to prevent lumps—the starch granules in flour need to cook 1-2 minutes in fat before hydrating to thicken properly.technique1:1 roux ratio, 1-2 minute cook
- ✓Blend chipotle in adobo into a smooth paste before adding to the béchamel so the heat distributes evenly; whole pieces create hot pockets that flavor unevenly and can overwhelm 15% of your sauce.ingredientPuree texture
- ✓Drizzle hot honey at serving (not beforehand) because honey's hygroscopic nature will absorb 8-10% moisture from the mac & cheese sauce over 5 minutes, diluting flavor and creating a slick texture.timingApply immediately before service
Share this recipe
Prep
15
min
Cook
30
min
Serves
4
people
Level
intermediate
Share this recipe
Hot Honey Chipotle Mac & Cheese
Get ready to elevate your mac and cheese game with our Hot Honey Chipotle Mac & Cheese! This creamy dish features a tantalizing blend of sharp cheddar and smoky chipotle, finished off with a luscious drizzle of sweet hot honey that adds the perfect kick. It's comfort food with an exciting twist that will leave your taste buds dancing!
📝 Ingredients
Serves 4🥩Meat & Seafood(1)
- 1 Knorr chicken bouillon cube
🥛Dairy & Eggs(5)
- 4 tbsp butter (≈57g) (56 g)
- 1 cup fontina (≈113g) (240 ml)
- 1 cup marble cheddar (≈113g) (240 ml)
- 3 cups milk (≈720g) (720 ml)
- 1 cup mozzarella (≈113g) (240 ml)
🫙Pantry Staples(3)
- 4 tbsp flour (≈32g) (60 ml)
- ½ cup honey (≈170g) (120 ml)
- 850g pasta (2½ packs) (30 oz)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(1)
- 1 tsp each: smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt & pepper (5 ml)
📦Other(3)
- 1 tsp chili flakes (5 ml)
- 2 tbsp chipotle in adobo (30 ml)
- ¼ cup Frank’s RedHot (≈60g) (60 ml)
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories
1468
Protein
55g
Carbs
210g
Fat
47g
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Simmer the honey, Frank’s and chili flakes for a couple minutes, then set aside.
- 2
Boil the pasta until just under al dente. Melt the butter, whisk in the flour, then slowly add the milk until smooth and creamy. Stir in the chipotle, bouillon and seasoning.
- 3
Melt in all three cheeses, toss with the pasta, and finish with a drizzle of hot honey.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Simmer honey and Frank's RedHot to exactly 225°F (107°C) for 2-3 minutes to evaporate 15-20% of water content, concentrating heat and sweetness while preventing the honey from crystallizing when cooled.timing225°F for 2-3 minutes
- ✓Cook pasta to 1-2 minutes under al dente (check at 7-8 minutes for standard pasta) because residual heat from the hot cheese sauce will complete cooking via carryover, preventing mushy starches that absorb excess sauce.timing1-2 minutes under al dente
- ✓Maintain a 1:1 butter-to-flour roux ratio (57g:32g is slightly heavy) and add milk slowly while whisking continuously to prevent lumps—the starch granules in flour need to cook 1-2 minutes in fat before hydrating to thicken properly.technique1:1 roux ratio, 1-2 minute cook
- ✓Blend chipotle in adobo into a smooth paste before adding to the béchamel so the heat distributes evenly; whole pieces create hot pockets that flavor unevenly and can overwhelm 15% of your sauce.ingredientPuree texture
- ✓Drizzle hot honey at serving (not beforehand) because honey's hygroscopic nature will absorb 8-10% moisture from the mac & cheese sauce over 5 minutes, diluting flavor and creating a slick texture.timingApply immediately before service