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Delicious Honey Pepper Chicken Mac and Cheese inspired by Applebee's

Copycat Applebee's Honey Pepper Chicken Mac and Cheese

This recipe brings the popular Applebee's Honey Pepper Chicken Mac and Cheese right to your kitchen, featuring tender fried chicken tossed in a sweet and spicy honey pepper sauce, served over creamy, homemade macaroni and cheese.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 750
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Macaroni and Cheese
  • 8 ounces Elbow macaroni
  • 4 tbsp Unsalted butter
  • 4 tbsp All-purpose flour
  • 2 cups Milk warm
  • 2 cups Sharp cheddar cheese shredded
  • 0.5 tsp Salt
  • 0.25 tsp Black pepper
Honey Pepper Chicken
  • 2 large Boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 0.5 tsp Salt
  • 0.5 tsp Black pepper
  • 2 tbsp Vegetable oil for frying
Honey Pepper Sauce
  • 0.5 cup Honey
  • 2 tbsp Soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp Apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp Garlic powder
  • 1 tsp Black pepper freshly ground
  • 0.5 tsp Red pepper flakes optional, for heat

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Large saucepan
  • Whisk
  • Large skillet
  • Small bowl

Method
 

Macaroni and Cheese
  1. Cook macaroni according to package directions until al dente; drain and set aside.
  2. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat, then whisk in flour to create a roux and cook for 1 minute.
  3. Gradually whisk in warm milk until smooth, then bring to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes until thickened.
  4. Remove from heat, stir in shredded cheddar cheese until melted and smooth, then season with salt and pepper.
  5. Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce and stir to combine thoroughly.
Honey Pepper Chicken
  1. Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  3. Add chicken and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through.
  4. In a small bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.
  5. Pour the honey pepper sauce over the cooked chicken in the skillet and toss to coat, cooking for an additional 1-2 minutes until slightly thickened.
Assembly
  1. Divide the creamy macaroni and cheese among serving plates.
  2. Top each serving with a generous portion of the honey pepper chicken.
  3. Serve immediately and enjoy your copycat Applebee's meal.

Notes

For an extra crunch, consider topping with some crispy fried onions or a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley before serving.