BBQ Chicken with Mac and Cheese

Bite-sized chicken thighs seared and simmered in a homemade barbecue sauce, served alongside a creamy, oven-gratinated macaroni and cheese. An easy, comforting one-plate meal with a sweet-savory finish.

smart_display Published 2026-06-09 download Extracted 2026-06-10

15m Prep

35m Cook

50m Total

4 Servings

chicken mac-and-cheese bbq comfort-food american pasta cheese easy dinner

Ingredients

BBQ Chicken

4 units chicken thighs (skin removed, deboned, cut into bite-sized cubes)
to taste salt
to taste black pepper
to taste paprika
a drizzle vegetable oil

BBQ Sauce

3 tbsp ketchup
0.5 tbsp mustard
to taste garlic powder
to taste paprika
to taste black pepper
0.5 cup cola (Coca-Cola)
1 tbsp honey

Mac and Cheese

1 tbsp butter or margarine
1 tbsp all-purpose flour
to taste garlic powder
to taste onion powder
to taste black pepper
0.25 cup milk
0.25 cup heavy cream
to taste salt
1 leaf bay leaf
0.5 tbsp butter (added at the end for shine and creaminess)
350 g elbow macaroni (boiled in salted water 6 minutes)
as needed cornstarch (dissolved in a little water, to thicken sauce if needed) opcional
8 slices mozzarella cheese (grated (some reserved for topping))
as needed cheddar cheese
for topping parmesan cheese (sprinkled on top for gratinating)

Steps

BBQ Chicken

1

Take 4 chicken thighs and remove the skin. Debone them and cut the meat into small bite-sized cubes.

Tip: Thigh meat stays juicy and has a little fat that adds plenty of flavor; you can also use breast meat.

~8 min
2

Season the chicken with salt, pepper, paprika and a drizzle of oil. Mix until evenly coated.

~2 min
3

Heat a pan for 30-40 seconds, add a drizzle of vegetable oil, then add the chicken. Cook about 5-7 minutes, searing until well browned on both sides. Remove and set aside in a small container.

Tip: The goal is to sear the chicken well, not cook it through yet — it finishes in the sauce later.

~7 min
4

Return the seared chicken to the BBQ sauce and simmer about 2 minutes so it absorbs all the sauce flavor, then turn off the heat. The chicken should be very juicy.

~2 min
5

Serve the gratinated mac and cheese with the BBQ chicken on top. Best enjoyed with a spoon so you can scoop up the sauce. Enjoy the creamy pasta and the sweet-savory chicken together.

~2 min

BBQ Sauce

1

In the same pan, make the BBQ sauce: add about 3 tablespoons ketchup, half a tablespoon mustard, garlic powder, paprika and pepper. Add about half a cup of cola and a tablespoon of honey. Cook 7-8 minutes to concentrate all the flavors.

Tip: Cook the sauce separately rather than pouring everything over the chicken — the sauce concentrates much better this way.

~8 min

Mac and Cheese

1

Start the mac and cheese: melt 1 tablespoon butter or margarine and add an equal amount of flour to make a roux (the base for a bechamel sauce). Season with garlic powder, onion powder and pepper, and cook 30-40 seconds over low heat.

~2 min
2

Add about a quarter cup of milk and the same amount of heavy cream. Season with a touch of salt and add a bay leaf. Cook about 8 minutes until it thickens.

Tip: If the sauce isn't thick enough, dissolve a little cornstarch in water and add it gradually until you reach the desired texture.

~8 min
3

Meanwhile, bring a pot of water to a boil. Add about 350 g of elbow macaroni and a pinch of salt, and cook for 6 minutes. Drain.

~6 min
4

Just before turning off the sauce, add half a tablespoon of butter for shine, flavor and creaminess. Remove the bay leaf, then stir in the grated mozzarella (reserving some for topping) until fully melted.

~2 min
5

Add the drained pasta to the cheese sauce and mix until creamy and well coated. It can be eaten as is, or transferred to an oven dish for gratinating.

~3 min
6

Transfer to an oven dish, top with the reserved mozzarella and a sprinkle of parmesan. Gratinate in a preheated oven at 180-190°C on the top element for 8-10 minutes until golden on top.

Tip: Place the dish as high as possible in the oven with only the top broiler on for the best gratin.

~10 min

Nutrition (por porción)

720

Calorías

38g

Proteína

62g

Carbohidratos

36g

Grasa

Fibra

Cultural Context

Mac and cheese is a classic American comfort-food staple, while barbecue chicken draws on the United States' deep tradition of sweet-and-tangy BBQ sauces. This home-style version adapts both dishes to a quick stovetop-and-oven format, with the sauce given a Latin-American home-cook twist by sweetening it with cola and honey rather than relying on a bottled blend.