Jul 13 2026
Restaurants›Applebee's Grill + Bar›Four-cheese Mac & Cheese With Honey Pepper Chicken Tenders Recipe

Four-cheese Mac & Cheese With Honey Pepper Chicken Tenders Recipe

Inspired by Applebee's Grill + Bar
Time1h
Serves4

Mac & cheese with four cheeses and honey pepper chicken.

Jump to Recipe

Was this page helpful?

Help improve this recipe for others.

Send this recipe to your inbox.

We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.

Ingredients

Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Four-Cheese Mac & Cheese

Honey Pepper Chicken Tenders

Method

Four-Cheese Mac & Cheese

  1. 1

    Cook the Pasta

    Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the elbow macaroni and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

  2. 2

    Make the Cheese Sauce

    In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted, whisk in the flour and cook for about 1 minute to create a roux. Gradually whisk in the milk, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens and is smooth.

  3. 3

    Add the Cheeses

    Reduce heat to low and add the cheddar, monterey jack, cream cheese, and parmesan to the sauce. Stir until all the cheeses are melted and the sauce is creamy. Season with salt, black pepper, and paprika.

  4. 4

    Combine Pasta and Sauce

    Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce and stir until well coated. Transfer to a greased baking dish.

  5. 5

    Prepare for Baking

    Sprinkle the top with bread crumbs for a crunchy topping.

  6. 6

    Bake

    Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes or until the top is golden and bubbly.

Honey Pepper Chicken Tenders

  1. 7

    Prepare the Marinade

    In a bowl, mix together the honey, black pepper, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder until well combined.

  2. 8

    Marinate the Chicken

    Place the chicken tenders in a resealable bag or shallow dish and pour the marinade over them. Seal the bag or cover the dish and let marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

  3. 9

    Dredge the Chicken

    Remove the chicken from the marinade and allow excess to drip off. Dredge each tender in flour to coat evenly.

  4. 10

    Cook the Chicken

    In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken tenders and cook for about 5-7 minutes on each side or until golden brown and cooked through.

  5. 11

    Serve

    Serve the honey pepper chicken tenders alongside or on top of the baked four-cheese mac & cheese.

More from Applebee's Grill + Bar