Healthy Copycat Applebee’s 4 Cheese Mac + Cheese With Honey Pepper Chicken Tenders
At a whopping 1,500 calories, this incredibly delicious meal is a heart stopper. By making just a couple of swaps, you can have a meal that tastes almost identical to it in a much healthier way AND it can be done in the comfort of your own kitchen! I’m all for being a glutton but this is a great alternative for those days you’re trying to be a little bit more mindful and not feel totally sluggish for a couple of days.
Some of the main swaps that I used to create this recipe were swapping normal noodles for low-carb noodles, swapping chicken tenders for Caulipower cauliflower chicken tenders, and swapping every sugar for a sugar-free version of that sugar. All of those items are linked in Mick’s List section of my website if you’re unfamiliar with them! I can typically find them at my local grocery store. Eating this doesn’t weigh me down and it still satisfies me completely. You’ll be taken aback by the similarity between the two dishes and even more excited you don’t have to go out and spend $25 on the real thing (or let’s be real, $40 DoorDashing it.) I hope you try it and love it as much as I do.
Healthy Copycat Applebee’s 4 Cheese Mac + Cheese With Honey Pepper Chicken Tenders
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.
