Sweet and Spicy Honey Pepper Chicken with Creamy Macaroni Cheese 🍯🍗🧀

Ingredients:

For the Honey Pepper Chicken:

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

For the Creamy Macaroni Cheese:

• 8 ounces macaroni pasta
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups milk
• 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Chopped parsley, for garnish

Instructions:

1. Prepare Chicken: Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook chicken until golden, about 6-7 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
2. Make Sauce: In the same skillet, mix honey, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. Simmer until the sauce thickens, about 2-3 minutes.
3. Combine: Slice the cooked chicken into strips, return to the skillet, and coat with the sauce.
4. Cook Pasta: Boil macaroni pasta until al dente, drain, and set aside.
5. Make Cheese Sauce: Melt butter in a pot. Stir in flour and gradually whisk in milk until smooth. Cook until thickened. Remove from heat and blend in cheddar and mozzarella cheeses until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
6. Combine Pasta and Sauce: Mix the cooked macaroni with the cheese sauce.
7. Serve: Plate the macaroni cheese, top with honey pepper chicken, and garnish with chopped parsley.