Hot Honey Chicken Tenders, Mac & Cheese with Collard Greens

Serves 1
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Directions

  1. 1Season chicken tenders with pepper, garlic powder, Tony Chachere's No Salt Seasoning Blend, and paprika.
  2. 2Add Louisiana hot sauce to the seasoned chicken tenders.
  3. 3Submerge the chicken tenders in buttermilk and mix well.
  4. 4Marinate the chicken tenders in the refrigerator for 2 to 4 hours.
  5. 5Chop the collard greens.
  6. 6Wash the chopped collard greens thoroughly about five to six times until the water is clear.
  7. 7Chop an entire onion and some garlic.
  8. 8Sauté the chopped onion and garlic in a pot for a few minutes.
  9. 9Add a smoked turkey drum to the pot with the sautéed onions and garlic.
  10. 10Pour in 4 cups of chicken stock.
  11. 11Add the collard greens to the pot until they wilt down.
  12. 12Season the collard greens with chicken bouillon, brown sugar, butter, and a splash of vinegar.
  13. 13Cover the pot and let the collard greens simmer on low for about 2 hours until the turkey meat falls off the bone.
  14. 14Shred 1 pound of mozzarella, 1 pound of Colby Jack, and 8 ounces of sharp cheddar cheese.
  15. 15Boil Cellentani noodles for about 8 minutes.
  16. 16Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a pan.
  17. 17Season the melted butter with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.
  18. 18Add 3 tablespoons of flour to the seasoned butter to create a roux.
  19. 19Slowly whisk in an entire can of Carnation Kickin' Jalapeño Flavored Evaporated Milk.
  20. 20Add a few tablespoons of Dijon mustard to the sauce.
  21. 21Slowly whisk in 2 cups of heavy whipping cream.
  22. 22Slowly whisk in half of the shredded cheese mixture.
  23. 23Add more seasonings to the cheese sauce and fold in the cooked noodles.
  24. 24Layer the mac and cheese in a baking dish with noodles and cheese, topping with the remaining cheese.
  25. 25Bake the mac and cheese in the oven at 375°F for about 25 minutes until the top is crispy.
  26. 26Dredge the marinated chicken tenders in a mixture of flour, corn starch, and seasonings.
  27. 27Let the coated chicken tenders rest on a wire rack.
  28. 28Fry the chicken tenders in oil heated to 350°F for about 8 minutes until crispy.
  29. 29Melt butter, hot sauce, and honey in a pan to create the hot honey sauce.
  30. 30Toss the fried chicken tenders in the hot honey sauce.
  31. 31Serve the hot honey chicken tenders, mac and cheese, and collard greens on a plate.
  32. 32Drizzle collard greens with vinegar and hot sauce.

Ingredients

  • chicken tenders
  • pepper
  • garlic powder
  • Tony Chachere's No Salt Seasoning Blend
  • paprika
  • Louisiana hot sauce
  • buttermilk
  • collard greens
  • 1 onion
  • garlic
  • 1 smoked turkey drum
  • 4 cups chicken stock
  • chicken bouillon
  • brown sugar
  • butter
  • vinegar
  • Barilla Cellentani pasta
  • 1 pound mozzarella cheese
  • 1 pound Colby Jack cheese
  • 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese
  • 3 tablespoons butter for roux
  • salt
  • pepper for roux
  • garlic powder for roux
  • paprika for roux
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • 1 can Carnation Kickin' Jalapeño Flavored Evaporated Milk
  • tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream
  • flour for dredging
  • corn starch
  • honey

Equipment

mixing bowlknifecutting boardpotstrainergraterfrying panwhiskbaking dishwire rackoven

Tips

  • Always chop up an entire onion and some garlic for the collard greens.
  • Wash collard greens five to six times until the water runs clear to avoid graininess.
  • For mac and cheese, use jalapeño flavored condensed milk for a unique taste.
  • Rest chicken tenders on a wire rack after coating them to prepare for frying.