# Hot Honey Tenders with Mac & Cheese

This recipe provides a simple and delicious method to prepare hot honey chicken tenders paired with creamy mac and cheese, perfect for a satisfying meal.

- Cuisine: American
- Category: Sauce & Condiment
- Language: en

## Ingredients

- 8 -10 chicken tenders
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 0.25 cup hot sauce
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp cayenne powder
- 1 cup flour
- 1 tsp cayenne powder
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 tbsp hot sauce
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 0.25 cup melted butter
- 1 tbsp hot sauce
- 1 tbsp honey
- 5 -Apr garlic, chopped
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp flour
- 2 cup heavy cream
- 4 tbsp cream cheese
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp hot sauce
- 0.5 cup pasta water
- 1 cup cheddar cheese
- 1 cup mozzarella
- 1 pound elbow macaroni

## Instructions

1. Place 8-10 chicken tenders in a large mixing bowl.
2. Pour 1 cup of buttermilk over the chicken tenders.
3. Add 1/4 cup of hot sauce.
4. Add 1 tsp of salt.
5. Add 1 tsp of black pepper.
6. Add 1 tsp of garlic powder.
7. Add 1 tsp of onion powder.
8. Add 1 tsp of cayenne powder.
9. Mix the ingredients thoroughly to coat the chicken tenders.
10. Rest the marinated chicken for 1-2 hours or overnight in the refrigerator.
11. In a separate bowl, add 1 cup of flour.
12. Add 1 tsp of cayenne powder to the flour.
13. Add 1 tsp of black pepper to the flour.
14. Add 1 tsp of salt to the flour.
15. Add 1 tsp of garlic powder to the flour.
16. Add 1 tsp of onion powder to the flour.
17. Whisk the dry ingredients together to create the flour mix for coating.
18. In a separate bowl, pour 1 cup of buttermilk.
19. Add 2 tbsp of hot sauce to the buttermilk.
20. Add 1 tsp of black pepper to the buttermilk.
21. Add 1 tsp of salt to the buttermilk.
22. Whisk the milk coating ingredients together.
23. Coat each chicken tender in the flour mix.
24. Dip the floured chicken tender into the milk mixture.
25. Coat the chicken tender in the flour mix again.
26. Place the coated chicken tenders on a cooling rack and let them rest for at least 10 minutes.
27. Heat oil in a frying pan until hot.
28. Carefully place the chicken tenders into the hot oil.
29. Fry the chicken tenders until they are golden brown on both sides.
30. In a small bowl, add 1/4 cup of melted butter for the hot honey glaze.
31. Add 1 tbsp of honey to the melted butter.
32. Add 1 tbsp of hot sauce to the mixture.
33. Whisk the ingredients until well combined.
34. Simmer the hot honey glaze on the stove for 10 minutes.
35. Brush the hot honey glaze onto the fried chicken tenders using a basting brush.
36. Ensure both sides of the chicken tenders are coated with the glaze.
37. In a saucepan, melt 2 tbsp of butter.
38. Add 4-5 chopped garlic cloves to the melted butter and sauté until fragrant.
39. Add 1 tbsp of flour to the garlic and butter mixture.
40. Stir the flour into the mixture to create a roux.
41. Pour 2 cups of heavy cream into the saucepan.
42. Add 4 tbsp of cream cheese.
43. Add 1 tsp of black pepper.
44. Add 1 tsp of paprika.
45. Add 1 tsp of onion powder.
46. Add 1 tsp of garlic powder.
47. Add 1 tsp of salt.
48. Add 2 tsp of hot sauce.
49. Whisk all ingredients together until smooth and creamy.
50. Add 1/2 cup of pasta water to the sauce for desired consistency.
51. Cook the sauce on low-medium heat until it thickens.
52. Add 1 cup of cheddar cheese to the sauce.
53. Add 1 cup of mozzarella cheese to the sauce.
54. Stir the cheese into the sauce until fully melted and incorporated.
55. Add the boiled elbow macaroni to the cheese sauce.
56. Mix the macaroni thoroughly with the cheese sauce until every noodle is coated.
57. Spoon a generous portion of the mac & cheese into individual baking dishes.
58. Add additional shredded mozzarella cheese on top of the mac & cheese.
59. Add additional shredded cheddar cheese on top of the mac & cheese.
60. Place the baking dishes in the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

## Equipment

- large mixing bowl
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- whisk
- bowl
- frying pan
- spatula
- baking dish
- baking rack
- saucepan
- small bowl

## Source

- Original video: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT6y1vxfy/
- Recipe page: https://www.cliprecipe.com/recipe/bd569025-143f-4b1c-901c-84008a18fba7
- Extracted: 2025-08-04

Extracted from the video by Clip Recipe (https://www.cliprecipe.com). Quantities and steps are as stated or shown in the video. Site guide for agents: https://www.cliprecipe.com/llms.txt