Description
Creamy chicken spaghetti brings Southern comfort straight to dinner tables with its cheesy, hearty embrace. Melted cheese, tender chicken, and perfectly cooked pasta create a crowd-pleasing meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein Ingredients:
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded (rotisserie works great)
- ½ cup chicken broth (or water)
Pasta and Base Ingredients:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) spaghetti
- 1 (10.5 ounces) can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 (10.5 ounces) can cream of chicken soup
- 1 (10 ounces) can diced tomatoes with green chilies (like Rotel), undrained
Vegetables, Seasonings, and Cheese:
- ½ cup onion, diced
- ½ cup green bell pepper, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (divided)
- 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika (optional)
- Chopped parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the culinary workspace by heating the oven to a moderate temperature and coating a rectangular baking vessel with a light protective layer to prevent sticking.
- Immerse pasta strands in a generously salted boiling water bath, cooking until they reach a delicate tender state. Carefully extract and set aside, allowing residual moisture to dissipate.
- Select a spacious skillet and gently melt dairy fat over moderate warmth. Introduce finely chopped aromatic vegetables, allowing them to soften and release their essential flavors. Incorporate minced garlic for a brief moment to enhance the aromatic profile.
- Craft a velvety sauce by blending creamy condensed soup varieties, zesty diced tomatoes with piquant chilies, savory liquid essence, and a substantial portion of shredded dairy. Whisk methodically until achieving a harmonious, smooth consistency.
- Integrate tender shredded poultry and prepared pasta into the luscious sauce, ensuring each strand becomes thoroughly enrobed with the rich, creamy mixture.
- Transfer the complete amalgamation into the prepared cooking vessel. Crown the surface with remaining cheese fragments, creating an enticing golden topping.
- Position within the preheated oven, allowing the casserole to transform into a bubbling, bronzed delicacy. After emerging from thermal treatment, permit a brief resting period to stabilize internal temperatures.
- Embellish with freshly chopped verdant herbs and serve while maintaining optimal warmth, inviting diners to savor this comforting culinary creation.
Notes
- Customize the heat level by adjusting the type of diced tomatoes with chilies, from mild to spicy, allowing personalization for different taste preferences.
- Swap regular spaghetti with gluten-free or whole wheat pasta to accommodate dietary restrictions without compromising the dish’s rich flavor profile.
- Enhance protein content by using rotisserie chicken or adding extra shredded chicken for a heartier meal that keeps you satisfied longer.
- Prepare the casserole ahead of time by assembling everything except the final cheese topping, then refrigerate and bake when ready to serve, making meal planning easier.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg