Honey Chipotle Chicken Mac and Cheese

Directions

  1. 1Cube chicken thighs and submerge them in buttermilk.
  2. 2Add hot sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, chicken bouillon, and cayenne pepper to the chicken and buttermilk mixture.
  3. 3Toss the chicken mixture to combine.
  4. 4Marinate the chicken.
  5. 5Melt butter in a pan.
  6. 6Add smoked paprika, chipotle chili powder, chicken bouillon, and garlic powder to the melted butter.
  7. 7Once spices are fragrant, add heavy cream.
  8. 8Bring the sauce to a slight bubble.
  9. 9Reduce heat and slowly add shredded cheddar and Colby Jack cheese to the sauce, stirring to emulsify.
  10. 10Once the cheese sauce is creamy, add cooked elbow macaroni.
  11. 11Ensure every piece of macaroni is coated with the cheese sauce.
  12. 12Add another layer of shredded cheese on top of the mac and cheese.
  13. 13Bake the mac and cheese in the oven set at 400°F (200°C).
  14. 14In a bowl, mix flour with corn starch.
  15. 15Add smoked paprika, chipotle chili powder, chicken bouillon, and garlic powder to the flour mixture.
  16. 16Take a few pieces of marinated chicken, dripping off excess moisture.
  17. 17Dredge the chicken pieces in the dry flour and corn starch mixture.
  18. 18Deep fry the coated chicken in oil set at 375°F (190°C) for 5 minutes until golden brown.
  19. 19For the honey chipotle sauce, melt butter in a clean pan.
  20. 20Add chipotle hot sauce to the melted butter.
  21. 21Reduce heat and add honey to the sauce.
  22. 22Pour the honey chipotle sauce over the fried chicken.
  23. 23Carefully drop the honey chipotle chicken onto the baked mac and cheese.

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs chicken thighs, cubed
  • 2 cups buttermilk
  • 0.25 cup hot sauce
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp chicken bouillon
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup corn starch
  • 2 tsp paprika
  • 2 tsp chipotle chili powder
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • 16 oz heavy cream
  • 1.5 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1.5 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese
  • 1 lb cooked elbow macaroni
  • 2 tbsp butter for sauce
  • 1 cup Chipotle hot sauce for sauce
  • 0.75 cup honey

Equipment

bowlpanfrying basketgratedeep fryer

Tips

  • Marinate chicken until you lose patience for maximum flavor.
  • Pre-shredded cheese helps emulsify the sauce better.