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Sweet and Spicy Honey Pepper Chicken with Creamy Mac and Cheese taken with iphone 15 pro max --iw 2 --ar 4:5 --v 6.0 --raw

Copycat Applebee’s Honey Pepper Chicken Mac and Cheese

Sweet and spicy honey pepper chicken meets creamy mac and cheese in this delightful copycat recipe.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 1037 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Pressure cooker
  • 1 Large skillet

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients

  • 1 16 oz box spiral noodles
  • 1 25 oz bag breaded chicken strips
  • 5 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Basil fresh or dried
  • ¾ cup honey
  • ¼ cup light brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoon soy sauce low sodium
  • ¼ cup pineapple juice
  • 1 lemon juice of
  • 1 tablespoon vinegar

Instructions
 

Instructions

  • Cook your spiral noodles according to package instructions until just tender. Drain and set aside so they don't overcook later.
  • Heat up a large skillet and cook those breaded chicken strips over medium heat. Wait for that golden brown color and tender pull inside. Set them aside.
  • In the same skillet, toss in your cooked bacon pieces and sauté for a quick minute to warm and infuse the pan.
  • Mix honey, brown sugar, soy sauce, pineapple juice, lemon juice, and vinegar in a bowl. This is your sweet and tangy sauce base.
  • Pour your honey sauce over the bacon in the skillet and let it simmer just enough to thicken slightly, stirring now and then.
  • Add the chicken strips back into the skillet, stirring gently so each piece gets coated with that lovely sauce. This step is where the flavors really come together.
  • Combine the cooked noodles with the chicken and sauce mixture. Season everything with salt, pepper, and sprinkle in basil. Give a gentle toss, then serve warm. Your comfort dinner is ready!

Notes

Serve with extra basil for an added fresh herbal note.