High-Protein Honey BBQ Chicken Mac & Cheese
A comforting blend of creamy mac and cheese with tender shredded chicken, laced with a rich honey BBQ sauce that warms the heart.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: High-Protein
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz elbow macaroni
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup honey
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the elbow macaroni and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Mix the cheeses: In a large bowl, combine the shredded cheddar cheese and cottage cheese. Stir until well mixed.
- Combine the chicken and BBQ sauce: In another bowl, mix the shredded chicken with the BBQ sauce and honey until well-coated.
- Combine everything: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked macaroni with the chicken mixture and cheese mixture. Pour in the milk and stir until nicely incorporated.
- Season to taste: Add salt and pepper, tasting as you go.
- Transfer to baking dish: Pour the mixture into a greased 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Bake to perfection: Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, until golden and bubbly.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle chopped parsley on top and serve hot.
Notes
Feel free to substitute different cheeses or add vegetables for extra flavor and nutrition.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: mac and cheese, BBQ chicken, high-protein, comfort food, easy recipes