Quick and Easy Creamy Spaghetti Chicken Recipe (2024)

This spaghetti chicken recipe is a hearty dish featuring al dente cooked pasta and tender chicken seared in herbs, covered in a smooth and creamy sauce, and topped with melted cheese. It’s the ultimate comfort food that will easily become a family favorite.

Looking for more hearty pasta dishes the whole family will love? Next time try white lasagna soup,Boursin cheese pasta, orchicken alfredo gnocchi bake.

One of the things that makes this recipe so great is its versatility. Don’t have a cast iron at home? Bake it in a casserole dish. Pressed for time? Skip cooking the chicken and instead use pieces of rotisserie chicken.

Scroll further for more tips on recipe variations, suggestions for different types of pasta to use, and inspiration for additional veggies to throw in while the shallots cook!

Another great thing about this dish is how quick it is to put together. It’s the perfect meal for busy weeknights when getting dinner on the table seems daunting. Everything comes together in two pots and will be ready in under an hour!

For more easy and delicious30-minute mealsthat serve a large family, trysouthwest ground turkey enchiladasorgarlic parmesan chicken pasta.

How to Make Spaghetti Chicken

The full printable recipe card is below, but let’s walk through the steps with some photos and a video so you have a clear idea of what to expect. This easy chicken spaghetti recipe is really easy and these step-by-step instructions will make sure it turns out every time.

Make the Pasta and Chicken

Cook pasta:Cook spaghetti or angel hair pastaaccording to the package instructions, drain the pasta (don’t rinse it), and reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water for later.

Season and cook the chicken: Toss the chicken with 1 Tablespoon olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Drizzle the remaining olive in the bottom of a large, oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Pan fry the chicken for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through. Transfer the chicken to a clean cutting board to rest.

Success Tip: When cooking chicken breasts, a lot of times they are very large and thick. If they’re larger than 5 ounces each, slice them in half lengthwise to create chicken cutlets. Thinner chicken breasts that are an even size will cook more evenly. This also ensures you have enough time to cook the inside of the chicken before the outside is overdone.

Make the Creamy Sauce

Cook shallot and garlic to make roux:Melt 1 Tablespoon of butter in the same skillet over medium heat. Add the shallot and cook for 2-3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes. Add the remaining 3 Tablespoons of butter and stir to melt. Sprinkle the flour on top and stir to coat, creating a thick paste.

Add creamy sauce ingredients:At medium-high heat, whisk in the chicken broth, milk, cream cheese, and can of Rotel tomatoes. Once mixture starts to bubble and thicken, reduce heat to low and simmer for 6-8 minutes.

Add chicken, pasta and cheese:Dice the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces. Add the cooked spaghetti and diced chicken to the cream, and toss to coat. If it’s too thick, add up to 1 cup of reserved pasta water to your desired consistency.Sprinkle the top with mozzarella and parmesan cheese.

Bake and serve:Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbling around the edges, and starting to turn golden brown in a few places on the top. Add more salt as needed and serve warm with red pepper flakes and chopped parsley.

Other Types of Pasta to Use

If you don’t have spaghetti on hand or would like to use a different kind of pasta for this recipe, here are a few ideas:

• Fettucine:If you’re looking for a wider and flatter pasta option, fettuccine is an excellent choice. The broad ribbons of fettuccine provide a larger surface area for the sauce to cling to, creating a rich and satisfying bite.
• Penne:Penne’s short, tube-like shape pairs well with chunkier pieces of chicken.
• Rotini:This spiral-shaped pasta not only looks great but also great at trapping the sauce.
• Farfalle (Bowtie Pasta):The nooks and crannies of each bowtie capture the sauce.
• Gemelli:Has a hearty and chewy texture, making it an excellent choice for spaghetti chicken.

As always, if you need a gluten-free pasta alternative, find a version you prefer and cook it according to package instructions. We’ve tested Jovial gluten-free penne pasta in other pasta recipes before and it was delicious!

Recipe Variations and Time Savers

Want to switch up the ingredients or save time? All of these swaps would still make a delicious homemade chicken spaghetti!

• Swap cheeses:Try using provolone in place of shredded mozzarella or pecorino romano in place of parmesan. Or use dairy-free cheese if needed.
• Make a chicken spaghetti casserole:Don’t have a cast iron skillet at home?Bake the dish in a 9×13 casserole dish instead. Just transfer the ingredients from the skillet before sprinkling on the cheese.
• Use rotisserie chicken:Pressed for time? Grab a rotisserie chicken. Nothing beats zero-effort juicy chicken! Skip the step where you’d cook the raw chicken breasts.
• Go for the can:Another way to save time is to use canned cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup instead of making the creamy cheese sauce.
• Add more veggies:Add more vegetables like mushrooms, green pepper or red peppers, or fresh tomatoes. Just add them in with the shallots.

What to Serve with Spaghetti Chicken

Need a side dish to serve this family-friendly dinner with? We have a few great recipes for easy side dishes the whole family can get on board with.

• French green beans
• Fresh garlic bread
• Garlic roasted bell pepper
• Roasted broccoli and carrots

Freezing and Storing Tips

To store:If you have leftover chicken spaghetti, allow it to come to room temperature, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

To reheat:Place back in the skillet, and cook on the stovetop until warmed all the way through. This also reheats well in the microwave.

To freeze:Place cooled chicken and sauce in an air-tight container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw overnight in the fridge then follow the instructions above to reheat.

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More Pasta and Chicken Recipes

Next time you need an easy one pot home-cooked meal, try any of these hearty chicken and pasta recipes all done in 25-30 minutes:one pot buffalo chicken pasta,one pot lemon chicken asparagus pasta, orone pot creamy cajun chicken pasta.

Looking for more spaghetti recipes? Trycreamy mushroom pasta with garlic kaleor go withchicken parmesan spaghetti squash casserolefor a healthy twist on traditional spaghetti.