Description
Comfort meets culinary creativity in this irresistible cheesy chicken spaghetti recipe that promises a flavor-packed journey through creamy, cheesy goodness. Hearty ingredients and simple preparation make this dish a perfect weeknight meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins and Poultry:
- 2 cups (250g) cooked, shredded chicken (rotisserie chicken works great)
Pasta and Staples:
- 12 ounces (340g) spaghetti
- 1 can (10.5 ounces) cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) chicken broth
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 small green bell pepper, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 can (10 ounces) diced tomatoes with green chilies (e.g., Rotel), undrained
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 cups (200g) shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) sour cream
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
Instructions
- Prepare a large pot of salted water and cook spaghetti until tender but firm, ensuring pasta maintains a slight resistance when bitten. Carefully drain and set pasta aside.
- Heat a spacious skillet over medium temperature, allowing butter to melt and become fragrant. Introduce diced onions, chopped green bell peppers, and finely minced garlic, sautéing until vegetables become translucent and release their aromatic essence.
- Incorporate cream of chicken soup, fire-roasted diced tomatoes with green chilies, a generous portion of sharp cheddar cheese, rich chicken broth, tangy sour cream, and a blend of aromatic spices including garlic powder, onion powder, salt, cracked black pepper, and a whisper of cayenne for subtle heat. Stir continuously until cheese melts into a luxurious, smooth sauce.
- Fold tender, shredded chicken and prepared spaghetti into the creamy mixture, ensuring each strand is generously coated with the flavorful sauce.
- Transfer the decadent mixture into a well-greased rectangular baking dish, creating an even layer. Sprinkle remaining cheddar cheese across the top, creating a tempting golden blanket.
- Slide the baking dish into a preheated oven at 350°F, allowing the casserole to bake until cheese transforms into a bubbling, golden-brown crust and edges become slightly crispy.
- Remove from oven and allow the dish to rest for several minutes, permitting flavors to settle and sauce to slightly thicken before serving. Garnish with fresh herbs if desired.
Notes
- Test pasta doneness by tasting a strand to ensure it’s perfectly al dente before draining, preventing mushy texture in the final dish.
- Customize heat levels by adjusting cayenne pepper or choosing mild versus spicy diced tomatoes with green chilies.
- Reduce sodium by using low-sodium chicken broth and cream of chicken soup, maintaining flavor while being heart-healthy.
- Make the dish gluten-free by substituting regular spaghetti with gluten-free pasta and checking that soup and broth are gluten-free certified.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 470
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 830mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 43g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 85mg