Honey Garlic Butter Chicken with Mac and Cheese

If Honey Garlic Butter Chicken with Mac and Cheese sounds like the kind of dinner that could fix your whole mood… you’re in the right kitchen. This is one of those “I’m tired, everyone’s hungry, and I need comfort food to do its job” meals—except it also packs in protein and feels a little more “I’ve got my life together” than a plain boxed situation.

And listen, I love a slow cooker moment as much as anyone (hi, it’s Mounia 😄), but some nights you need fast comfort—the kind that happens in one skillet and makes your house smell like a cozy hug.

Why You’ll Love This Honey Garlic Butter Chicken with Mac and Cheese

• High-protein comfort food that actually keeps you full (no snack scavenger hunt an hour later).
• One skillet = less cleanup, more living your life.
• Sweet + savory chicken with a buttery honey glaze that feels restaurant-y.
• Creamy mac that clings to every noodle, because that’s the whole point of mac and cheese.

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Chicken

• 3 chicken breasts (cubed)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic (minced)
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp dried parsley
• 2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 3 tbsp avocado oil (or oil of choice)
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp freshly chopped parsley

For the Mac & Cheese

• 2 tbsp butter
• 4 cloves garlic (minced)
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1/2 cup freshly grated mozzarella
• 1/2 cup freshly grated cheddar cheese
• 12 oz elbow macaroni (cooked al dente)
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

How to Make High-Protein Honey Garlic Butter Chicken with Mac and Cheese

Step 1: Marinate the Chicken

In a large bowl, add your cubed chicken, olive oil, garlic, smoked paprika, garlic powder, dried parsley, salt, and black pepper. Toss well so every piece gets coated.

Let it sit for about 10 minutes while you get everything else ready. (This is the cooking equivalent of letting your friend vent before offering solutions—necessary and effective.)

Step 2: Cook the Chicken

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add your marinated chicken and cook for 10–15 minutes, stirring now and then, until it’s cooked through and lightly golden.

Turn the heat to low. Stir in the butter, honey, and chopped parsley. Watch it turn glossy and gorgeous as the chicken gets coated in that sweet, buttery glaze.

Transfer the chicken to a plate for a moment (or push it to one side of the skillet if you’re feeling rebellious).

Step 3: Start the Mac & Cheese Sauce

In the same skillet (because flavor lives here now), add 2 tbsp butter over medium heat. Stir and scrape up any browned bits—those are little flavor treasures.

Add minced garlic and sauté until golden and fragrant, about 30–60 seconds.

Step 4: Make It Cheesy

Pour in the heavy cream and let it gently bubble. Then stir in mozzarella and cheddar, plus smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.

Keep stirring until the sauce is smooth and creamy. If you catch yourself “taste testing” repeatedly, that’s normal. That’s science.

Step 5: Cook the Pasta

Boil your elbow macaroni until al dente (you want it firm enough to hold up to the sauce). Drain well.

Quick tip: Rinsing under cold water helps stop the cooking, which is great if you tend to get distracted by… literally anything.

Step 6: Combine

Add your cooked pasta right into the cheese sauce. Stir well, then let it simmer on low for about 5 minutes so the flavors meld and the pasta soaks up some of that creamy goodness.

Now bring the chicken back in (or spoon it right over the top when serving).

Step 7: Serve & Store

Serve warm for the ultimate cozy dinner moment. Or portion into airtight containers for meal prep—you’ll be thrilled with your past self later.

Mounia’s Tips for Maximum Creamy Comfort

• Grate your own cheese if you can. Pre-shredded cheese often has anti-caking agents that can make sauces less smooth.
• Keep the heat low once the cheese goes in. High heat can make cheese sauce separate and get grainy.
• If your sauce feels too thick, add a splash of cream (or even a little warm pasta water). If it’s too thin, simmer a couple extra minutes. No stress—mac and cheese is forgiving like that.
• Smoked paprika is the secret “wow.” It adds that cozy, slightly smoky flavor that makes everything taste more expensive.

A Little Real-Life Moment

I first made this on one of those weeks where the to-do list was doing the most—laundry mountain, emails multiplying, and dinner needing to appear like magic. This High-Protein Honey Garlic Butter Chicken with Mac and Cheese saved the night because it felt indulgent, but it didn’t take forever. Also, nobody complained. And honestly? That’s the highest compliment a weekday meal can get.

FAQs About Honey Garlic Butter Chicken with Mac and Cheese

Your New Comfort-Food Favorite

If you’re craving something creamy, cozy, and just a little bit sweet-and-savory, Honey Garlic Butter Chicken with Mac and Cheese is about to become a regular in your dinner rotation. It’s comforting enough for a tough day, simple enough for a busy night, and satisfying in that “okay wow, I needed this” kind of way.

When you make this High-Protein Honey Garlic Butter Chicken with Mac and Cheese, don’t be surprised if your family suddenly wanders into the kitchen “just to check what smells so good.”

More Cozy Dinners You’ll Love Next

• If that sweet-and-savory glaze was your favorite part, you’ll probably be obsessed with Honey Butter Chicken (same comforting vibes, different delicious twist).
• Want to keep the mac-and-cheese comfort train rolling? Try Chick-fil-A Mac and Cheese for that ultra-creamy, crowd-pleasing side (or “oops it became dinner” moment).
• Need another easy chicken dinner for busy nights? This Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken is the set-it-and-forget-it cousin to today’s recipe—perfect for days when you’re running on coffee and good intentions.
• And if you’re building a whole “protein-first” week, don’t miss High-Protein Chicken Alfredo Bake—it’s creamy, filling, and meal-prep friendly like a champ.

⭐ Made this recipe? I’d love to hear how it turned out—leave a quick review and tap your star rating (★★★★★). Your feedback helps other readers pick their next cozy dinner!

Honey Garlic Butter Chicken with Mac and Cheese

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• Author: Mounia
• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 6 servings 1x

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Description

Sweet, buttery, garlicky chicken bites served with ultra-creamy mac and cheese. Cozy comfort food with a high-protein boost—perfect for weeknights or meal prep.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

For the Honey Garlic Butter Chicken

• 3 chicken breasts, cubed

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 4 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 tsp smoked paprika

• 2 tsp garlic powder

• 1 tsp dried parsley

• 2 tsp salt

• 1/2 tsp black pepper

• 3 tbsp avocado oil (or oil of choice)

• 2 tbsp butter

• 1 tbsp honey

• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

For the Mac & Cheese

• 2 tbsp butter

• 4 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 cups heavy cream

• 1/2 cup freshly grated mozzarella

• 1/2 cup freshly grated cheddar

• 12 oz elbow macaroni, cooked al dente

• 2 tsp smoked paprika

• 2 tsp garlic powder

• 2 tsp salt

• 1/2 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Marinate chicken: In a large bowl, toss chicken with olive oil, garlic, smoked paprika, garlic powder, dried parsley, salt, and pepper. Let sit 10 minutes.

2. Cook chicken: Heat avocado oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and cook 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cooked through.

3. Glaze: Lower heat. Stir in 2 tbsp butter, honey, and fresh parsley until chicken is glossy and coated. Transfer chicken to a plate (or push to one side).

4. Start sauce: In the same skillet, add 2 tbsp butter. Sauté garlic 30–60 seconds until fragrant.

5. Add cream: Pour in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer.

6. Melt cheese: Stir in mozzarella, cheddar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth and creamy.

7. Combine: Add cooked macaroni to the sauce. Simmer on low 5 minutes, stirring, until thick and creamy.

8. Serve: Plate mac and cheese with honey garlic butter chicken on top or on the side.

Notes

Cheese tip: Freshly grated cheese melts smoother than pre-shredded.

Sauce too thick? Add a splash of warm cream (or a little pasta water).

Meal prep: Store in airtight containers up to 4 days. Reheat gently and add a splash of cream to loosen.

Swap idea: Chicken thighs work great and stay extra juicy.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Stovetop / Skillet
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe (about 1½ cups)
• Calories: 830 kcal
• Sugar: 5 g
• Sodium: 1670 mg
• Fat: 57 g
• Saturated Fat: 28 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 28 g
• Trans Fat: 1 g
• Carbohydrates: 41 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 38 g
• Cholesterol: 215 mg