High-Protein Hot Honey Crispy Chicken Mac & Cheese

High-Protein, Meal Prep Friendly, Oven-Baked

This High-Protein Hot Honey Crispy Chicken Mac & Cheese is the ultimate comfort food meal prep. Crispy breaded chicken tossed in a sweet and spicy hot honey buffalo sauce, piled over the creamiest high-protein mac & cheese... SO good. It tastes indulgent and comforting while still giving you a really satisfying, protein-packed meal.

I love making recipes like this because eating high-protein absolutely does NOT have to mean another boring chicken and rice bowl. The avocado mayo helps keep the chicken super juicy while the breadcrumbs get golden and crispy in the oven, and the mac & cheese is ridiculously easy, no roux, no complicated cheese sauce, just a handful of ingredients that come together into the creamiest sauce. This is definitely one I’d make a double batch of!

What You Need (Makes 4 Servings)

Crispy Chicken

700 g boneless, skinless chicken breast, diced
1 tsp sea salt
½ tsp onion powder
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 large egg
2 tbsp avocado mayo
Organic breadcrumbs or panko, as needed
Avocado oil spray

Hot Honey Buffalo Sauce

Frank’s RedHot Buffalo Sauce
Raw honey
Dash of cayenne pepper

High-Protein Mac & Cheese

320 g macaroni pasta, uncooked
300 ml organic milk
1 tsp smoked paprika
¼ tsp garlic powder
Salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
80 g light organic cream cheese
200 g grated cheddar cheese

Method

Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

Add the diced chicken to a large bowl and season with the sea salt, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and smoked paprika.

Add the egg and avocado mayo and toss until every piece of chicken is evenly coated.

Add the organic breadcrumbs or panko to a separate shallow bowl. Working in batches, coat the chicken pieces in the breadcrumbs, pressing gently so the coating adheres.

Arrange the breaded chicken in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, leaving a little space between each piece. Generously spray with avocado oil.

Bake for 12 minutes, then flip the chicken pieces and spray lightly with avocado oil again. Return to the oven and bake for another 8–10 minutes, or until golden, crispy, and cooked through to an internal temperature of 165°F.

For an extra-crispy finish, switch the oven to broil for 1–2 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.

Make the Hot Honey Buffalo Sauce

Add the Frank’s RedHot Buffalo Sauce, honey, and a dash of cayenne pepper to a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 2–3 minutes, whisking occasionally, until the honey has completely dissolved into the sauce and everything is smooth. Reduce the heat to low and whisk in 1 tablespoon butter until melted and emulsified. Remove from the heat. Then toss or dip your cooked chicken directly in the warm sauce.

Make the High-Protein Mac & Cheese

Cook the macaroni according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

In a saucepan over low heat, combine the high-protein milk, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and cream cheese.

Cook gently, stirring frequently, until the cream cheese has melted and the sauce is smooth.

Add the grated cheddar and continue stirring over low heat until completely melted and creamy. Avoid bringing the sauce to a boil.

Add the cooked macaroni and toss until evenly coated in the cheese sauce.

Divide the mac & cheese evenly between 4 meal prep containers.

Top each serving with the crispy hot honey chicken.

For the best meal-prep texture, you can store the chicken separately and add it to the mac & cheese after reheating.

Notes

You can use organic breadcrumbs or panko depending on the texture you prefer. Panko will give you a slightly lighter, crunchier coating.

Don’t overcrowd the baking sheet. Giving the chicken some space is important for getting that crispy coating rather than steaming it.

For the crispiest meal-prep chicken, store it separately from the mac & cheese and reheat it in the air fryer or oven before serving.

Keep the cheese sauce over low heat and avoid letting it boil to keep it smooth and creamy.

Recipe by Taylor Robinson | Holistic Health & Wellness Chef | Dishing with Tay