Nashville Hot Chicken Bites & Cajun Mac

⚡ KevEats Recipe

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61g Protein Nashville Hot Goodles / Kaizen

Nashville Hot Chicken Bites + Cajun Mac

Crispy chicken bites tossed in a smoky-sweet Nashville rub with ultra-creamy Cajun mac.

Crispy, juicy chicken bites cooked in light butter and tossed in Nashville-style seasoning — paired with creamy Cajun mac made with higher-protein pasta. Big comfort-food energy, built with macros in mind.

545Calories

61gProtein

36gCarbs

22gFat

Servings − 5 servings +

Prep Time10 min

Cook Time25 min

Total Time35 min

PastaGoodles / Kaizen

Jump to Ingredients Jump to Instructions Macro Toggle Jump to Tips

Ingredients

Nashville Hot Chicken Bites

• 2.2 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs, cubed
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp baking powder
• 1.5 tsp black pepper
• 2.5 tsp smoked paprika
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 2 tsp onion powder
• 1.5 tsp chili powder
• 2 tbsp dark brown sugar
• 30 g light butter, plus extra to finish
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

Cajun Mac & Cheese

• 270 g uncooked protein pasta, Goodles or Kaizen
• 350 g 1% milk
• 200 g reduced-fat cream cheese
• 100 g low-fat sharp cheddar, shredded
• 1.5 tbsp mustard
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 0.5 tsp black pepper
• 0.5 tsp chili powder
• to taste kosher salt

Pasta note. 270g dry pasta split into 5 servings = about 54g dry pasta per serving. Cup measurements vary by brand and shape, so grams are best.

Macro Toggle

Per Serving Current Batch

Per Serving
545 calories • 61g protein • 36g carbs • 22g fat • 7g fiber

Kev Tip

Don’t overcrowd the pan. Cook chicken in batches so the bites sear and crisp instead of steaming.

Make It Fit Your Macros Leaner: use chicken breast or half breast / half thigh.
Higher protein: blend cottage cheese into the mac sauce.
Spicier: add cayenne or hot sauce for true Nashville heat.

Meal Prep Notes Store chicken and mac separately up to 4 days. Reheat mac gently with a splash of milk.

Instructions

1. 1Toss cubed chicken thighs with olive oil, baking powder, black pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, and brown sugar.
2. 2Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat and melt the light butter.
3. 3Add chicken in a single layer, working in batches if needed.
4. 4Cook 4–5 minutes per side until deeply golden and cooked through to 165°F.
5. 5Lower heat, add a small extra knob of butter if desired, then toss with extra smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and parsley.
6. 6Boil salted water and cook protein pasta until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
7. 7Warm milk over low heat, then whisk in reduced-fat cream cheese until smooth.
8. 8Add cheddar and whisk until melted. Stir in mustard, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, chili powder, and salt.
9. 9Fold pasta into the cheese sauce. Keep heat low to avoid graininess.
10. 10Plate Cajun mac with Nashville hot chicken bites on top or side-by-side. Finish with parsley.

Serving Notes

Macro note. Macros are estimates and vary by pasta, cheese, chicken cut, and butter used. The listed macros are for chicken + mac.

Goodles math. If using Goodles, about 54g dry pasta per serving is roughly 135 calories from pasta, depending on flavor/shape.

Optional finish. Add hot sauce, cayenne, extra parsley, black pepper, or smoked paprika.

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