Description
A deliciously creamy and protein-packed meal featuring golden honey-garlic butter chicken paired with rich, creamy mac & cheese enhanced with Greek yogurt for added protein and tang.
Ingredients
Scale
Golden Honey-Garlic Chicken
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Creamy Protein Macaroni
- 12 oz elbow macaroni
- 2 cups 2% milk
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- Pinch of nutmeg
Fresh Finishes
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare Chicken and Honey-Garlic Sauce: Pat dry chicken thighs and season them with salt and black pepper. In a bowl, combine honey, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, minced garlic, and red pepper flakes to create the honey-garlic sauce.
- Cook Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken thighs for 5-7 minutes on each side until golden brown and fully cooked. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Simmer Sauce with Butter: Lower heat to medium and add unsalted butter to the skillet. Pour in the honey-garlic sauce and simmer while stirring constantly until the sauce thickens slightly, about 2-3 minutes. Return chicken to skillet and toss to coat evenly.
- Cook Macaroni: Meanwhile, boil elbow macaroni in salted water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain well without rinsing.
- Prepare Cheese Sauce: In the same pot, melt cream cheese over medium-low heat. Gradually whisk in 2% milk until smooth. Stir in cheddar cheese, Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, and nutmeg until melted and creamy.
- Combine Macaroni and Cheese Sauce: Add drained macaroni to the cheese sauce and stir until fully coated.
- Serve and Garnish: Plate the creamy mac & cheese alongside the honey garlic butter chicken. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley for freshness and color.
Notes
- Let the chicken rest in the sauce a few minutes before serving to intensify flavor absorption.
- Prep the honey-garlic sauce in advance and refrigerate to save time on cooking day.
- For thicker mac & cheese, increase cheddar cheese by 1-2 oz.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; reheat gently on stovetop or microwave.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: honey garlic chicken, mac and cheese, high protein, creamy mac & cheese, comfort food, skillet chicken
