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Hot Honey Pretzel Chicken Mac & Cheese Crunch Bake

A creamy mac and cheese casserole loaded with chicken, topped with pretzel crunch, and finished with sweet-spicy hot honey drizzle.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Comfort Food, Dinner
Cuisine: American, Autumn
Calories: 520
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta & Chicken
  • 3 cups elbow macaroni
  • 2 cups cooked chicken breast cubed
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • to taste salt and pepper
Cheese Sauce
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1.5 cups cheddar cheese shredded
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
  • 0.5 tsp mustard powder
Crunch & Drizzle
  • 1 cup crushed pretzels
  • 0.5 cup breadcrumbs
  • 2 tbsp butter melted
  • 0.5 cup honey
  • 1 tsp chili flakes

Equipment

  • Baking dish
  • Saucepan
  • Whisk
  • Mixing spoon

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease baking dish.
  2. Cook macaroni until al dente and set aside.
  3. Season and cook chicken until golden.
  4. Make cheese sauce by preparing roux and melting cheese into milk.
  5. Combine pasta, chicken, and cheese sauce.
  6. Top with pretzels, breadcrumbs, and melted butter.
  7. Bake 20–25 minutes until bubbly and golden.
  8. Warm honey with chili flakes and drizzle before serving.

Notes

Best served hot with hot honey drizzle added just before serving.