If you're trying to hit your protein without eating the same boring meal prep every day, this high protein chicken mac and cheese is it. Honey garlic butter chicken over rich, cheesy mac, divided into four containers that make the week so much easier. Ogi always ends up stealing one, so really more like three in our house.

High protein chicken mac and cheese meal prep in three glass containers, honey garlic chicken beside creamy mac

The chicken gets marinated and seared, then tossed in a sweet-and-savory honey garlic butter, and the mac and cheese underneath stays properly creamy. It feels like a treat but still gets you a solid hit of protein, which is why it's on repeat at my place.

Need a few more filling dinners in the rotation? Try my Marry Me Chicken Pasta, my Creamy Sausage Pasta and my Tomato Garlic Pasta!

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Ingredients
Instructions & Video
Honey Garlic Chicken Mac and Cheese
Frequently Asked Questions for High Protein Honey Garlic Butter Mac & Cheese
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Dessert Pairings

Ingredients

Close-up of a meal-prep container with creamy mac and cheese and honey garlic butter chicken

Cheese: the mozzarella melts smooth and the cheddar brings the sharp, cheesy flavor, so use both. Provolone or Monterey Jack sub for the mozz, gouda or pepper jack for the cheddar.
Honey: this is what makes the honey-garlic butter. Maple syrup or agave work if that's what you've got.
Heavy Cream: makes the mac properly creamy. Half-and-half works for lighter, or coconut cream to keep it dairy-free.

See recipe card for remaining ingredients and quantities.

Instructions & Video

Cubed chicken breast marinating in spices in a glass bowl

Marinate the cubed chicken breast!

Honey garlic chicken searing in a skillet

Cook the marinated chicken!

Cooked macaroni added to the creamy cheese sauce

Make the pasta sauce & add in the al dente macaroni!

The finished chicken and mac portioned into meal-prep containers

Put it all together in an airtight container & have 4 meal prepped meals ready!

Honey Garlic Chicken Mac and Cheese

5 from 6 votes

Juicy honey garlic butter chicken over a rich, creamy mac and cheese. A high-protein dinner made for meal prep, it makes four filling containers.

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Prep Time 15

Cook Time 30

Total Time 45

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Calories: 1311

Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients

US CustomaryMetric

Chicken Marinade:

3 chicken breasts cubed
2 tablespoon olive oil
4 cloves garlic minced
2 teaspoon smoked paprika
2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried parsley
2 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper

For Cooking the Chicken:

3 tablespoon avocado oil or oil of choice
2 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoon freshly chopped parsley

Mac & Cheese:

2 tablespoon butter
4 cloves garlic minced
2 cups heavy cream
½ cup freshly grated mozzarella
½ cup freshly grated cheddar cheese
12 oz elbow macaroni cooked al dente
2 teaspoon smoked paprika
2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper

Equipment

Large Skillet
Measuring Cups & Spoons

Method

Marinate the Chicken: In a large bowl, combine the cubed chicken with olive oil, garlic, smoked paprika, garlic powder, parsley, salt, and black pepper. Let it marinate for 10 minutes while you prepare the other ingredients.
Cook the Chicken: Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the marinated chicken. Cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fully cooked. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the butter, honey, and chopped parsley. Let it melt and coat the chicken, then set aside.
Make the Mac & Cheese: In the same skillet, add butter to deglaze the pan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes until golden and fragrant. Pour in the heavy cream and let it gently bubble.
Melt the Cheese: Stir in the mozzarella, cheddar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix until smooth and creamy.
Cook the Pasta: Boil the elbow macaroni according to package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water to prevent overcooking.
Combine: Add the cooked pasta to the cheese sauce and let it simmer on low for about 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
Serve & Store: Enjoy warm or divide into four airtight containers for meal prep. (Watch Video Below!)

Nutrition

Calories: 1311kcalCarbohydrates: 78gProtein: 58gFat: 86gSaturated Fat: 43gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 30gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 298mgSodium: 2835mgPotassium: 1082mgFiber: 4gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 3544IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 304mgIron: 3mg

Notes

How to Store:

Fridge: keep it in airtight containers for up to 4 days, this is what makes it such a good meal prep. Reheat with a splash of milk to bring the creaminess back.

Freezer: freeze the chicken and mac separately for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat on the stove or in the microwave. A couple of readers have frozen it and said it held up great, one tip they shared is to stir a little extra cheese into the mac when reheating.

Marinate the chicken. Even 10 minutes makes a difference, but if you've got 30 or more, the flavor gets even better.

Don't overcook the macaroni. Pull it while it's still al dente, it keeps soaking up the sauce, so slightly firm now means perfect later.

Grate your own cheese. It melts so much smoother than the pre-shredded bags and gives you that silky sauce instead of a grainy one.

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!

Two glass containers of high protein chicken mac and cheese meal prep with honey garlic chicken

Frequently Asked Questions for High Protein Honey Garlic Butter Mac & Cheese

Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?
For sure! Thighs are a little juicier and honestly hard to overcook, so they're great here. Just cook them a couple minutes longer since they take a bit more time to cook through.

Why did my mac and cheese turn out grainy?
Two things usually cause it: pre-shredded cheese (the anti-caking stuff doesn't melt as smoothly) and too much heat. Grate your own cheese and melt it low and slow, and you'll get that smooth, creamy sauce.

Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes, this one's basically made for meal prep! Divide it into containers and keep it in the fridge. It reheats really well with a splash of milk, and honestly the flavor's even better the next day.

Looking for other high protein recipes like this? Try these: