Cheesy Honey Chicken Bowl (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Pasta
01 -
One 16 oz package of rotini noodles
→ Chicken
02 -
Five slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
03 -
A 25 oz package of breaded chicken tenders
→ Seasonings
04 -
Chopped fresh basil leaves
05 -
A pinch of salt
06 -
Ground black pepper
→ Honey Pepper Sauce
07 -
3 tablespoons of soy sauce (low-sodium)
08 -
One-quarter cup pineapple juice
09 -
1 tablespoon of white vinegar
10 -
3/4 cup of honey
11 -
Juice from one lemon
12 -
1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
13 -
A teaspoon of black pepper
14 -
1/4 cup of light brown sugar
→ Cheese Sauce
15 -
2-3 garlic cloves, finely minced
16 -
One-half cup parmesan cheese, shredded
17 -
Three-quarters cup of freshly shredded colby jack
18 -
1 stick of butter
19 -
A cup of shredded mozzarella, freshly grated
20 -
Two cups of heavy cream
# Instructions:
01 -
Cook the breaded tenders as per the package (baking or frying both work). Once done, put them aside for now.
02 -
Follow the cooking directions on the box to boil the rotini. Drain the water out and keep the pasta ready.
03 -
Add honey, soy sauce, light brown sugar, pineapple juice, lemon juice, vinegar, black pepper, and cayenne pepper into a medium pot. Heat until it starts to boil. Lower the heat, let it simmer gently for about 15 minutes, and stir it frequently. Allow it to cool slightly so it gets thicker as it rests.
04 -
On medium heat, melt butter in a large pan along with the heavy cream. Gradually mix in parmesan, mozzarella, and colby jack, stirring well each time. Toss in the minced garlic last and keep mixing until everything's smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust salt and pepper if needed.
05 -
Once the cheese sauce is ready, stir the cooked pasta into the pan until it's nicely coated. Toss in crumbled bacon and combine thoroughly.
06 -
Take each piece of chicken and dunk it in the Honey Pepper Sauce until it's completely covered. Set them aside as you finish.
07 -
Dish out the creamy pasta onto plates, then lay the sauced chicken tenders on top. You can sprinkle extra crumbled bacon or fresh basil over everything if you'd like.
# Notes:
01 -
Letting the Honey Pepper Sauce simmer for longer will make it thicker.