Hot Honey Popcorn Chicken Mac and Cheese

15m
Serves 1
instagram.com

Directions

  1. 1Make some large chicken thigh cubes.
  2. 2Put chicken in a bowl.
  3. 3Pour buttermilk into the bowl with chicken.
  4. 4Pour hot sauce into the bowl with chicken.
  5. 5Season chicken with spices and love.
  6. 6Massage the chicken to distribute all flavors.
  7. 7Marinate the chicken.
  8. 8Start making mac and cheese with butter in a pan.
  9. 9Introduce the same spices as earlier into the butter.
  10. 10Start heating up heavy cream.
  11. 11Once the cream comes to a slight bubble, kill the heat.
  12. 12Add pre-shredded cheese to the cream.
  13. 13Drop in elbow macaroni.
  14. 14Pour macaroni into a baking dish to make a singular layer.
  15. 15Make a quick layer of cheese on top of the macaroni.
  16. 16Finish with another layer of macaroni.
  17. 17Add one last layer of cheese.
  18. 18Put mac and cheese into the oven at 375 degrees for 15 minutes.
  19. 19For the chicken, combine cornstarch to all-purpose flour.
  20. 20Add more spices to the flour mixture.
  21. 21Throw in the marinated chicken chunks into the flour mixture.
  22. 22Drop chicken into oil set at 350 degrees.
  23. 23Remove perfectly golden popcorn chicken after 5-7 minutes.
  24. 24For hot honey sauce, melt butter in a pan.
  25. 25Add cayenne pepper to the melted butter.
  26. 26Add lemon juice to the butter and cayenne pepper mixture.
  27. 27Kill the heat and add lots of honey.
  28. 28Pour the hot honey sauce over the popcorn chicken in a bowl.
  29. 29Make a healthy pile of hot honey chicken on top of the mac and cheese.

Ingredients

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

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