This Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti recipe made with leftover chicken, tender pasta, diced tomatoes and cheese in a creamy sauce is a family favorite dinner. Your whole family will love this cheesy pasta bake. It's the ultimate comfort food!
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Chicken spaghetti is one of our favorite comfort foods. If you're looking for an easy chicken recipe for dinner, you'll love this chicken spaghetti casserole!
I changed up one of my mom's old chicken recipes and made it even easier by using leftover rotisserie chicken.
Then, I made this baked spaghetti recipe even better by adding lots of cheese and bacon. Yes, bacon!
Ingredients
You only need a few simple ingredients for cheesy chicken spaghetti. You can find them in your grocery store if you don't have these pantry staples on hand.
- Cooked chicken
- Spaghetti
- Cream of chicken soup -- low sodium if possible
- Sour cream
- Can diced tomatoes
- Olive oil
- Sea salt
- Ground black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Italian seasoning
- Diced onions or dried minced onions
- Bacon -- optional
- Shredded cheddar blend cheese
How to Make Chicken Spaghetti
What makes this recipe so easy is that you start off with cooked leftover chicken. You can use baked chicken breasts, leftover Instant Pot Whole Chicken, Roast Chicken or rotisserie chicken from the store.
First, cook the spaghetti according to package directions. Or, be a rebel like me and cook pasta in your Instant Pot!
While the pasta is cooking, cut up your chicken. You'll want about 3 cups for this recipe.
After the pasta is done, you can mix the remaining ingredients in a greased casserole dish or in the same pot you cooked the spaghetti in.
If you used the stove, you'll have to drain the water out from the cooked spaghetti first. If you use your pressure cooker for pasta, no need to drain the water. You can also make Chicken Spaghetti in the Instant Pot!
Cooking Time
Mix all of your ingredients together and add some cheese. Then, cover the dish loosely with foil, and place in a 350 f oven. Bake for about 30 minutes or until it's hot and bubbly.
Uncover the dish during the last 5 minutes or so, and add even more cheese. When the cheese is all melty and gooey, you're done!
From start to finish, this creamy chicken spaghetti recipe takes about an hour. I made it for the kids' lunchtime today, and I actually timed it, so yeah.
Perfect even if you're kind of rushed!
Variations and Substitutions
There are a couple ways to vary this easy chicken spaghetti recipe to suit your tastes.
For a little spicy kick, use Rotel tomatoes with or instead of diced tomatoes. You can also add red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, or taco seasoning.
Green chilies, green pepper, bell peppers, and green onions are also great additions.
Instead of cream of chicken soup, use cream of mushroom soup.
For a thicker cream sauce, use cream cheese instead of sour cream.
Classic spaghetti is my favorite pasta for this casserole meal, but you can use a different spaghetti noodle, such as thin spaghetti or whole wheat spaghetti. Or, use your favorite type of pasta.
For an extra cheesy chicken spaghetti bake, add extra kinds of cheese to the top of the casserole. Sharp cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, and even Velveeta cheese work great!
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where it'll last for 3 to 4 days. Heat leftovers individually in the microwave or in the oven if you are reheating in the casserole dish.
This easy recipe makes a lot of chicken spaghetti. I love that we can use leftovers, but if it's too much, you can freeze leftover spaghetti for later. Or, bake half of the spaghetti, and freeze the other half.
If you want a make ahead freezer meal, mix the ingredients together and save in a freezer bag or foil baking pan. Bake when you're ready to eat.
Recipe
Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked chicken cut up
- 16 ounces spaghetti
- 1 10-ounce can cream of chicken soup low sodium
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes undrained
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon dried minced onions or diced onions
- 4 cups shredded cheddar blend cheese or cheddar cheese
- 3 strips cooked bacon, chopped optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and cook spaghetti according to package directions or cook in the Instant Pot
- Mix cooked chicken with spaghetti, cream soup, sour cream, diced tomatoes, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion and Italian seasoning, bacon, if using, and 2 cups of cheese, and transfer to 9 x 13 greased casserole dish
- Bake covered for 30 minutes or until dish is hot and bubbling. Remove cover, add remaining cups of cheese, or more, and bake until cheese is melted
Notes
Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.
Nutrition
This creamy chicken spaghetti recipe is super easy and a great recipe the entire family will love!
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If you enjoy it, please leave a star rating and comment.
Published in 2020 and updated in 2022
Patrick says
Wow, this was supper easy. Looks like I worked hard to get it perfect! My new favorite!
Douglas P says
Made this recipe with cream cheese instead of sour cream liek the Variations say. I like this better because I think pasta bakes are better when they’re heartier and thicker.
James says
Have made this twice now. The newest kid favorite around here.
Dee says
That's great, James. So glad you guys like it!
Suzy says
One of our favorite meals to eat! The kids love it!
Dee says
Thanks so much, Suzy. My kids love it, too!
Kevin says
Now this looks like a great dinner option! I have to make it soon!
Beth says
This looks so delicious and tasty! Here at the house this would be gone in a matter of seconds! Can't wait to make this!
Erin says
This Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti looks absolutely delicious! Yummy!
Sara Welch says
Tried this for dinner last night and it was a hit all around the table! Easy and delicious; was perfect for a busy weeknight!
Dee says
Thank you so much, Sara. I'm glad you liked it!
Allyson Zea says
This is such a comforting recipe! We make it all the time for dinner!
Dee says
It really is, and I'm all about comfort food now.