Description
A creamy and cheesy pasta dish featuring chicken tossed in a luscious honey sauce, perfect for a comforting family meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme (optional)
Instructions
- Start by boiling a large pot of salted water. Once it reaches a rolling boil, toss in the elbow macaroni and cook according to the package instructions, usually around 8-10 minutes. Make sure to stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- While the pasta cooks, grab a skillet and heat the olive oil over medium heat. Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and paprika if using. Once the oil is hot, lay the chicken breasts in the skillet. Cook for about 6-7 minutes on each side, or until they are golden brown and thoroughly cooked. Remove them from the pan and let them rest for a few minutes before cutting them into bite-sized pieces.
- In the same skillet you just used for the chicken, sauté the minced garlic until fragrant, about 1 minute. Be careful not to burn it—nobody likes bitter garlic.
- Once the garlic is aromatic, pour in the milk and add the honey. Stir to combine, then lower the heat. Mix in the shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheeses until melted and smooth.
- By now, your macaroni should be ready. Drain it and add it directly to the cheese sauce, mixing thoroughly to coat all the pasta. Then, fold in the chopped chicken until everything is evenly distributed.
- If you’d like to add some freshness, toss in dried thyme at this point for an extra layer of flavor.
- Serve hot, and if you fancy, sprinkle a bit more cheese on top before enjoying.
Notes
Can be made vegetarian by replacing chicken with tofu or chickpeas. For a low-carb option, consider using zoodles instead of pasta.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 70mg