Healthy Copycat Applebee's 4 Cheese Mac + Cheese With Honey Pepper Chicken Tenders
A copycat version of the infamous 4 cheese mac + cheese with honey pepper chicken tenders at Applebee's. The healthy swaps in this recipe make it easy and mindful to eat.
Ingredients
Honey Pepper Chicken Tenders
- 1 bag Caulipower cauliflower chicken tenders
- ¾ cup sugar-free, imitation honey
- 3 T soy sauce
- ¼ cup sugar-free brown sugar
- ¼ cup pineapple juice
- 3 T lemon juice
- 1 t pepper
- ¼ t garlic powder
- ¼ t paprika
- ¼ t cayenne pepper
Mac + Cheese
- 1 lb. low-carb pasta noodles Or any other healthier pasta noodles you prefer! Whole wheat noodles, brown rice noodles, cauliflower noodles, etc. are all good alternatives.
- 6 slices bacon
- 1 stick butter
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 ¼ cup mozzarella cheese Try to buy a block and grate it yourself. Pre-shredded cheese doesn't melt that well.
- 1 cup colby jack cheese Try to buy a block and grate it yourself. Pre-shredded cheese doesn't melt that well.
- 1 t parsley flakes
- ¼ t white pepper
- ¼ t salt
- ¼ t garlic powder
Instructions
Honey Pepper Chicken Tenders
- Cook your chicken tenders according to the package.
- Mix together all of the honey pepper chicken tender ingredients aside from the chicken tenders.
- Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for an additional 10 minutes.
- Set the cooked chicken tenders and sauce to the side.
Mac + Cheese
- Boil your noodles according to the package.
- Cook the bacon according to the package.
- Melt the butter in a large pan.
- Add the heavy cream and combine.
- Add the cheese in about ¼ cup at a time, making sure that the cheese is completely melted and combined with the sauce before adding any more.
- Add the parsley, salt, white pepper, and garlic powder. Combine
- Add the noodles to the cheese sauce.
- Add the mac + cheese to a bowl and add 2-3 chicken tenders on top. Spoon the honey pepper sauce over the chicken tenders.