Hot Honey Chicken Tenders with Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe
Crispy and flavorful Hot Honey Chicken Tenders served alongside rich and creamy Baked Mac and Cheese make a delightful comfort food meal. The chicken tenders are marinated in buttermilk, coated with a spiced flour mix, fried to golden perfection, and brushed with a sweet and spicy hot honey glaze. The baked mac and cheese features a luscious cheese sauce made from cheddar and mozzarella, baked until bubbly and golden on top.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Tenders and Marinade
- 1 pound chicken tenders
- 1 cup buttermilk
Coating
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Oil, for frying (about 2 cups)
Hot Honey Glaze
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons hot sauce
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted
Baked Mac and Cheese
- 2 cups elbow macaroni, cooked and drained
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Extra shredded cheese (about 1/2 cup) for topping
Instructions
- Marinate Chicken: Place the chicken tenders in a bowl and cover them with buttermilk. Let them marinate for at least 30 minutes to tenderize and impart flavor.
- Prepare Coating: In a separate bowl, combine the flour, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper to create the seasoned dredging mixture.
- Coat Chicken: Remove chicken tenders from buttermilk, allowing excess to drip off, then dredge each piece thoroughly in the flour mixture, ensuring an even coating.
- Fry Chicken: Heat oil in a deep pan or fryer to 350°F (175°C). Fry the coated chicken tenders in batches until golden brown and fully cooked through, about 4-6 minutes per batch. Drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
- Make Hot Honey Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together honey, hot sauce, and melted butter until smooth.
- Glaze Chicken: While the tenders are still hot, brush them generously with the hot honey glaze, coating each piece thoroughly for a perfect sweet and spicy finish.
- Preheat Oven: Set the oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the mac and cheese.
- Make Roux: In a medium saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Whisk in 2 tablespoons of flour and cook for 1-2 minutes to eliminate raw flour taste, forming a roux.
- Add Milk and Thicken: Gradually pour in 2 cups of milk, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Continue to cook until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add Cheese and Seasoning: Remove sauce from heat and stir in shredded cheddar, mozzarella, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder until all cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Toss the cooked and drained elbow macaroni into the cheese sauce until evenly coated.
- Bake Mac and Cheese: Transfer the cheesy macaroni to a greased baking dish. Sprinkle extra shredded cheese on top. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown on top.
Notes
- Marinating the chicken in buttermilk helps keep it moist and tender during frying.
- Use a thermometer to maintain oil temperature at 350°F to ensure the chicken cooks evenly and stays crispy.
- The hot honey glaze can be adjusted for sweetness or spiciness by varying the amount of honey or hot sauce used.
- Macaroni can be cooked al dente before baking to avoid mushy texture after baking.
- For a richer mac and cheese, substitute some milk with half-and-half or cream.
- Make sure the roux is cooked briefly to avoid a raw flour taste in the cheese sauce.
- Leftover baked mac and cheese can be reheated in the oven to maintain its creamy texture and crisp topping.
Keywords: hot honey chicken tenders, baked mac and cheese, comfort food, fried chicken, creamy mac and cheese, spicy honey glaze, easy dinner recipe
