Ingredients:
16 oz spiral noodles
25 oz bag breaded chicken strips
5 slices bacon
Salt
Black pepper
Fresh basil
¾ cup honey
¼ cup light brown sugar
3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
¼ cup pineapple juice
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 stick butter
2 cups heavy cream
½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1 cup freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
¾ cup freshly shredded Colby Jack cheese
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
Instructions:
- Let’s get this party started! Cook your chicken strips according to the package directions – golden brown and crispy is the name of the game. While they’re doing their thing, fry up that bacon until it’s nice and crisp. Crumble it up – we’ll need it later.
- Noodle time! Cook those spirals al dente, just like the package says. Nobody likes a soggy noodle. Drain ‘em and set ‘em aside.
- Now for the star of the show – the Honey-Kissed Firecracker Sauce! In a saucepan, whisk together your honey, brown sugar, soy sauce, pineapple juice, lemon juice, vinegar, black pepper, and cayenne. Bring it to a boil, then let it simmer for about 15 minutes. It should thicken up a bit – that’s what we want.
- While the sauce simmers, let’s get cheesy! Melt your butter in a large pan over medium heat. Pour in that heavy cream and bring it to a simmer. Now, slowly sprinkle in your cheeses – Parmesan first, then mozzarella, then Colby Jack. Stir it all up until it’s smooth and melty. Add your minced garlic and season it with salt and pepper to taste.
- Time to combine! Pour those perfectly cooked noodles into your cheesy heaven and mix it all up. Now, sprinkle in most of that glorious bacon. We’ll save some for garnish.
- Remember those crispy chicken strips? Dip ‘em in that Honey-Kissed Firecracker Sauce – make sure they’re coated real good.
- And for the grand finale… Spoon that cheesy, bacon-y noodle goodness onto a plate. Top it with your saucy chicken, sprinkle over the rest of that bacon, and garnish with some fresh basil. Prep Time: 20 mins | Total Time: 40 mins | Servings: 8