High-Protein Crispy Hot Honey Chicken Mac & Cheese

Ingredients

• 700 g Boneless, skinless chicken breast (Diced; raw weight)
• 1 tsp Salt
• 0.5 tsp Onion powder
• 0.5 tsp Garlic powder
• 0.5 tsp Cayenne pepper (For seasoning the chicken)
• 1 tsp Smoked paprika (For seasoning the chicken)
• 1 Egg
• 120 g Cornflour/cornstarch (Not all is used; approximately 30–45 g sticks to the chicken)
• Light cooking oil spray (For spraying the chicken before air frying and again after flipping)
• 10 g Light butter (Nuttelex Light)
• 100 ml Hot sauce (Frank's RedHot Buffalo Sauce)
• 50 g Honey
• Cayenne pepper (A dash, for the hot honey sauce)
• 300 ml Fat-free evaporated milk (Carnation Light & Creamy)
• 1 tsp Smoked paprika (For the cheese sauce)
• 1 tsp Chicken stock powder
• 80 g Light cream cheese
• 100 g Light grated cheddar cheese (Dairyworks Natural Cheddar Cheese)
• 320 g Macaroni pasta (Uncooked weight; cook according to packet instructions)

Steps

1. 1

   Place the diced chicken in a bowl. Add the salt, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and smoked paprika, then mix to season evenly.

2. 2

   Add the egg and mix until every piece of chicken is evenly coated.

3. 3

   Toss the chicken through the cornflour until every piece is well coated.

4. 4

   Arrange the coated chicken on a lined tray. Spray it with light cooking oil, then air fry using the settings shown in the source until crispy. Flip the chicken halfway through, spray it again, and continue air frying until golden and crisp.

5. 5

   While the chicken cooks, melt the light butter in a pan over low heat.

6. 6

   Add the hot sauce, honey, and a dash of cayenne pepper to the melted butter. Stir until the hot honey sauce is combined.

7. 7

   Add the cooked crispy chicken to the hot honey sauce and toss until evenly coated.

8. 8

   In a separate pan, combine the evaporated milk, smoked paprika, chicken stock powder, light cream cheese, and grated cheddar cheese.

9. 9

   Stir the cheese-sauce mixture over low heat until the cheeses have melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy.

10. 10

    Cook the macaroni according to the packet instructions, then drain it well.

11. 11

    Add the cooked, drained macaroni to the cheese sauce and mix until the pasta is fully coated.

12. 12

    Divide the hot honey chicken and mac and cheese evenly among four meal-prep servings.

Notes

The source does not provide the air-fryer temperature or cooking time; use the settings shown in the original video. Listed nutrition is 688 calories, 84 g carbohydrates, 12 g fat, and 63 g protein per serving, as stated by the author. The cornflour quantity is the amount prepared, but only approximately 30–45 g adheres to the chicken.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• meal-prep
• high-protein
• air-fried
• mac-and-cheese
• chicken
• sweet-and-spicy