Creating Sweet and Spicy Honey Pepper Chicken with Creamy Mac and Cheese is simple if you follow these steps:

For the Chicken:

1. Marinate the Chicken: In a bowl, combine honey, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, sriracha, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Add the chicken thighs, making sure they are well coated. Let them marinate for at least 10 minutes.

2. Cook the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the marinated chicken thighs and cook for about 6-7 minutes on each side or until they are golden brown and cooked through.

3. Glaze the Chicken: Once cooked, pour the remaining marinade over the chicken in the skillet. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken and coat the chicken.

For the Mac and Cheese:

4. Cook the Pasta: In a pot, bring water to a boil. Add the elbow macaroni and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

5. Make the Cheese Sauce: In the same pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour, cooking for about 1 minute. Gradually whisk in the milk, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens.

6. Add Cheese: Remove the pot from heat and stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until melted and smooth. Season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste.

7. Combine: Add the cooked pasta to the cheese sauce, stirring until well combined. If desired, transfer to a baking dish and sprinkle breadcrumbs on top for added crunch.

8. Serve: You can serve the chicken alongside the mac and cheese directly from the skillet or plated separately for a beautiful presentation.