Hot Honey Popcorn Chicken Mac and Cheese

15 mins
Serves 1
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Directions

  1. 1Make some large chicken thigh cubes.
  2. 2Make some large chicken thigh cubes.
  3. 3Make some large chicken thigh cubes.
  4. 4Put chicken in a bowl.
  5. 5Put chicken in a bowl.
  6. 6Put chicken in a bowl.
  7. 7Pour buttermilk into the bowl with chicken.
  8. 8Pour buttermilk into the bowl with chicken.
  9. 9Pour buttermilk into the bowl with chicken.
  10. 10Pour hot sauce into the bowl with chicken.
  11. 11Pour hot sauce into the bowl with chicken.
  12. 12Pour hot sauce into the bowl with chicken.
  13. 13Season chicken with spices and love.
  14. 14Season chicken with spices and love.
  15. 15Season chicken with spices and love.
  16. 16Massage the chicken to distribute all flavors.
  17. 17Massage the chicken to distribute all flavors.
  18. 18Massage the chicken to distribute all flavors.
  19. 19Marinate the chicken.
  20. 20Marinate the chicken.
  21. 21Marinate the chicken.
  22. 22Start making mac and cheese with butter in a pan.
  23. 23Start making mac and cheese with butter in a pan.
  24. 24Start making mac and cheese with butter in a pan.
  25. 25Introduce the same spices as earlier into the butter.
  26. 26Introduce the same spices as earlier into the butter.
  27. 27Introduce the same spices as earlier into the butter.
  28. 28Start heating up heavy cream.
  29. 29Start heating up heavy cream.
  30. 30Start heating up heavy cream.
  31. 31Once the cream comes to a slight bubble, kill the heat.
  32. 32Once the cream comes to a slight bubble, kill the heat.
  33. 33Once the cream comes to a slight bubble, kill the heat.
  34. 34Add pre-shredded cheese to the cream.
  35. 35Add pre-shredded cheese to the cream.
  36. 36Add pre-shredded cheese to the cream.
  37. 37Drop in elbow macaroni.
  38. 38Drop in elbow macaroni.
  39. 39Drop in elbow macaroni.
  40. 40Pour macaroni into a baking dish to make a singular layer.
  41. 41Pour macaroni into a baking dish to make a singular layer.
  42. 42Pour macaroni into a baking dish to make a singular layer.
  43. 43Make a quick layer of cheese on top of the macaroni.
  44. 44Make a quick layer of cheese on top of the macaroni.
  45. 45Make a quick layer of cheese on top of the macaroni.
  46. 46Finish with another layer of macaroni.
  47. 47Finish with another layer of macaroni.
  48. 48Finish with another layer of macaroni.
  49. 49Add one last layer of cheese.
  50. 50Add one last layer of cheese.
  51. 51Add one last layer of cheese.
  52. 52Put mac and cheese into the oven at 375 degrees for 15 minutes.
  53. 53Put mac and cheese into the oven at 375 degrees for 15 minutes.
  54. 54Put mac and cheese into the oven at 375 degrees for 15 minutes.
  55. 55For the chicken, combine cornstarch to all-purpose flour.
  56. 56For the chicken, combine cornstarch to all-purpose flour.
  57. 57For the chicken, combine cornstarch to all-purpose flour.
  58. 58Add more spices to the flour mixture.
  59. 59Add more spices to the flour mixture.
  60. 60Add more spices to the flour mixture.
  61. 61Throw in the marinated chicken chunks into the flour mixture.
  62. 62Throw in the marinated chicken chunks into the flour mixture.
  63. 63Throw in the marinated chicken chunks into the flour mixture.
  64. 64Drop chicken into oil set at 350 degrees.
  65. 65Drop chicken into oil set at 350 degrees.
  66. 66Drop chicken into oil set at 350 degrees.
  67. 67Remove perfectly golden popcorn chicken after 5-7 minutes.
  68. 68Remove perfectly golden popcorn chicken after 5-7 minutes.
  69. 69Remove perfectly golden popcorn chicken after 5-7 minutes.
  70. 70For hot honey sauce, melt butter in a pan.
  71. 71For hot honey sauce, melt butter in a pan.
  72. 72For hot honey sauce, melt butter in a pan.
  73. 73Add cayenne pepper to the melted butter.
  74. 74Add cayenne pepper to the melted butter.
  75. 75Add cayenne pepper to the melted butter.
  76. 76Add lemon juice to the butter and cayenne pepper mixture.
  77. 77Add lemon juice to the butter and cayenne pepper mixture.
  78. 78Add lemon juice to the butter and cayenne pepper mixture.
  79. 79Kill the heat and add lots of honey.
  80. 80Kill the heat and add lots of honey.
  81. 81Kill the heat and add lots of honey.
  82. 82Pour the hot honey sauce over the popcorn chicken in a bowl.
  83. 83Pour the hot honey sauce over the popcorn chicken in a bowl.
  84. 84Pour the hot honey sauce over the popcorn chicken in a bowl.
  85. 85Make a healthy pile of hot honey chicken on top of the mac and cheese.
  86. 86Make a healthy pile of hot honey chicken on top of the mac and cheese.
  87. 87Make a healthy pile of hot honey chicken on top of the mac and cheese.

Ingredients

  • chicken thigh cubes
  • chicken thigh cubes
  • chicken thigh cubes
  • buttermilk
  • buttermilk
  • buttermilk
  • hot sauce
  • hot sauce
  • hot sauce
  • spices
  • spices
  • spices
  • butter
  • butter
  • butter
  • heavy cream
  • heavy cream
  • heavy cream
  • pre-shredded cheese
  • pre-shredded cheese
  • pre-shredded cheese
  • Colby Jack cheese
  • Colby Jack cheese
  • Colby Jack cheese
  • elbow macaroni
  • elbow macaroni
  • elbow macaroni
  • cornstarch
  • cornstarch
  • cornstarch
  • all-purpose flour
  • all-purpose flour
  • all-purpose flour
  • oil
  • oil
  • oil
  • cayenne pepper
  • cayenne pepper
  • cayenne pepper
  • lemon juice
  • lemon juice
  • lemon juice
  • honey
  • honey
  • honey

Equipment

knifebowlpanbaking dishcolanderskimmer

Tips

  • Adding shredded cheese saves time and properly binds the sauce without a roux.
  • You can add Colby Jack cheese to the mac and cheese if desired.
  • Marinade the chicken until you lose patience for maximum flavor absorption.
  • Cook the popcorn chicken at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 5-7 minutes for perfectly golden chicken.
  • Kill the heat before adding shredded cheese to the cream sauce to prevent clumping and ensure smooth melting.
  • For the hot honey sauce, kill the heat after adding lemon juice and then add honey to preserve its flavor and consistency.
  • Make sure to massage the chicken and mix the dry ingredients for even coating and flavor distribution.
  • Ensure the mac and cheese has a single layer for even baking and a healthy pile of chicken on top for a visually appealing and delicious dish.
  • Ensure the macaroni is properly drained before combining with the cheese sauce to avoid watering down the dish and to maintain a creamy texture.
  • Ensure you cut large chicken thigh cubes to get enough meat to be properly seasoned and breaded.
  • When coating the chicken in the dry mix, make sure the chicken is beautifully marinated to hold the breading effectively and ensure a crispy texture.
  • When making the hot honey sauce, the amount of honey can be adjusted to personal preference; the video suggests a generous amount for a rich flavor.
  • The video doesn't explicitly state the specific blend of spices used for seasoning the chicken and the mac and cheese, referring to them as 'love' and 'same spices as earlier.' This implies a general poultry or all-purpose seasoning can be used.
  • The mac and cheese baking time of 15 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit is crucial for achieving a golden, bubbly top while keeping the inside creamy.
  • The video mentions 20-minute mac and cheese, suggesting that this recipe is relatively quick to prepare for a homemade dish.
  • The entire dish is designed to be made efficiently, with the mac and cheese taking only about 20 minutes to prepare from start to finish before baking.
  • The recipe calls for a specific order of layering the mac and cheese and cheese in the baking dish for optimal melting and flavor distribution.
  • The popcorn chicken is a key component, so ensuring it's golden and crispy is essential for the dish's texture and taste contrast.
  • The hot honey sauce is applied to the fried chicken, adding a sweet and spicy kick, making it important to coat the chicken thoroughly for an even flavor experience.
  • The use of pre-shredded cheese simplifies the process, making it quicker and easier to prepare the mac and cheese sauce.
  • The process of preparing the chicken involves marinating, coating, and frying, which are critical steps for achieving the desired texture and flavor of the popcorn chicken.
  • The baking process for the mac and cheese is short, indicating it’s more about melting the cheese and heating through than extensive cooking.
  • The video implies that the entire dish can be prepared relatively quickly, making it a good option for a meal that doesn't require a lot of time.
  • The combination of hot honey and mac and cheese provides a unique flavor profile that is both sweet and savory, with a spicy kick.