Honey Pepper Chicken Mac and Cheese

Ingredients:
– 1 16 ounces box spiral noodles
– 1 25 ounces bag breaded chicken strips
– 5 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
– Salt and Pepper to taste
– Basil for garnish
Honey Pepper Sauce:
– 3/4 cup honey
– 1/4 cup light brown sugar
– 3 tablespoon soy sauce (low sodium)
– 1/4 cup pineapple juice
– Juice of 1 lemon
– 1 tablespoon vinegar
– 1 teaspoon black pepper
– 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Cheese Sauce:
– 1 stick butter
– 2 cups heavy cream
– 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
– 1 cup mozzarella cheese (freshly shredded)
– 3/4 cup colby jack cheese (freshly shredded)
– 2-3 cloves minced garlic
– Chopped fresh basil
Instructions:
1️⃣ Prepare the chicken by following the instructions on the package. You have the option to either bake or fry the chicken strips. Once cooked, set them aside.
2️⃣ Cook the noodles by boiling them according to the instructions on the package until they’re al dente. Then drain them.
3️⃣ To make the honey pepper sauce, combine honey, brown sugar, soy sauce, pineapple juice, lemon juice, vinegar, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in a saucepan. Bring it to a boil. Let it simmer for 15 minutes until it thickens slightly. Allow it to cool down a bit after simmering.
4️⃣ In a pan, melt butter. Add heavy cream to create a cheese sauce. Gradually stir in parmesan, mozzarella, and colby jack cheese after each addition. Add minced garlic and season with salt and pepper according to your taste.
5️⃣ Combine the pasta with the cheese sauce. Mix everything well together. Stir in some bacon for added flavor.
6️⃣ Take your chicken strips and dip them into the honey pepper sauce so that they are thoroughly coated.
7️⃣ Serve: Plate up some of the pasta mixture, top it off with those flavorful honey pepper chicken strips. Finally garnish with some basil leaves, if desired, or even add more bacon for extra indulgence.
Enjoy your mouthwatering Honey Pepper Chicken Mac and Cheese!