Hot Honey Chicken Mac N Cheese

Name: Hot Honey Chicken Mac N Cheese
Prep time: 35 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 80 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups elbow macaroni; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter; 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 2 cups whole milk; 1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded; 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded; Salt, to taste; Black pepper, to taste; 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon paprika; Salt, to taste; Black pepper, to taste; 1 tablespoon oil or butter; 1/3 cup hot honey; 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Recipe by Sam Rivera · Updated May 2026

Chicken

This creamy, cheesy mac and cheese gets a spicy-sweet kick from crispy hot honey chicken—comfort food with a little fire.

⏱ 80 mins

American

Servings 4

Ingredients

2 cupselbow macaroni

2 tablespoonsunsalted butter

2 tablespoonsall-purpose flour

2 cupswhole milk

1 1/2 cupssharp cheddar cheese, shredded

1 cupmozzarella cheese, shredded

Salt, to taste

Black pepper, to taste

1 poundboneless skinless chicken thighs

1 teaspoongarlic powder

1 teaspoonpaprika

Salt, to taste

Black pepper, to taste

1 tablespoonoil or butter

1/3 cuphot honey

1 tablespoonchopped fresh parsley

Nutrition

743 caloriesCalories

Per serving · Values are estimates

Instructions

Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C) so it’s ready when you are.

Boil a big pot of salted water, add the elbow macaroni, and cook until it’s just tender—about 7–8 minutes. Drain it well and set the pasta aside.

Melt butter in a medium pot over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook for a full minute. Slowly pour in the milk, whisking until it’s smooth. Keep stirring until the sauce thickens, then fold in the sharp cheddar and mozzarella until they melt completely. Finish with salt and pepper to taste.

Dump the drained pasta into the cheese sauce and toss until every piece is coated.

Pat the chicken thighs dry, then season both sides with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.

Set a large skillet over medium-high heat with a little oil or butter. Once hot, add the chicken and cook 4–5 minutes per side until golden and cooked through.

Right after the chicken comes off the skillet, brush or spoon the hot honey all over so every bite gets a little sweet heat.

Spread the mac and cheese in a baking dish, then top with the glazed chicken thighs.

Bake for 10–12 minutes, until the top is bubbly and just golden.

Sprinkle fresh parsley on top before serving so it looks as good as it tastes.