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Last night I had a dream that I was being chased by a moose. I’m being totally serious.
Me—>being chased—>via moose.
Typically, people don’t discuss what to do in such a situation. Pretty sure I was NEVER taught this in school….All I could think of was ‘play dead’….because that’s what you do with bears {and bears are basically moose}. So guess what I did in my dream….YUP. Played dead. And then he bit my back. I repeat: THE MOOSE BIT MY BACK. Technically it was more of my right love handle area, but my back nonetheless.
This morning I woke up with a bad back ache.
Intriguing, yes?
So now I’m left in a lurch with a sore back wondering “did a moose really bite me?” “am I really that unstable to have such a weird dream?” “does my husband kick and/or bite me sporadically during the night?” and “perhaps my sub conscience really likes moose…?” But, this whole story has everything to do with me being {quite literally} crazy and nothing to do with food. So let me bring this full circle for ya….
I think I have fallen in love with this mexican/albino version of spaghetti. Like completely head over heels.
I tweeted/instagramed/facebooked a picture of these leftovers a few days ago and got a huge response. You all love your spaghetti {…and you didn’t even know what kind it was! Impressive!} One of the many reasons I love ya! This version is the result of thinking about queso blanco too much and then having a wicked pasta craving. Somewhere along the way things got hazy and they became the same dish. —>Best idea ever. Creamy and cheesy pasta with a little mexican kick. Totally rad! And super simple to make too.
Here’s how you do it:
Start out by cooking some spaghetti….to al dente please! Set this aside.
In the hot pot you just made the spaghetti in, add in a hunk of butter and saute some onions until they’re tender–5 minutes or so.
Add in some flour….
and cook it for a few more minutes. Raw flour taste = not good eats.
Now you can whisk in some chicken stock and let it thicken up a bunch. You might want to increase the heat a little more if you’re impatient like me.
Whisk in some milk and keep it cooking until it’s creamy and has thickened .
Now we can sprinkle in the sharp white cheddar…
and turn this into a great pasta sauce! Sprinkle in some cumin, salt, pepper,
shredded chicken,
cooked pasta,
chopped pickled jalapenos + a little juice from the jar
and cilantro.
Toss everything together to coat it all in that magnificent sauce and serve.
We added a little extra cilantro to ours, but feel free to add what you like! Enjoy friends 🙂 Hope you get around to making this for dinner tonight!
White Chicken Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 3/4 lb thin spaghetti
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 lb grated sharp white cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon chopped pickled jalapenos + 1/2 tablespoon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- salt & pepper to taste
- 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
- 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Bring large pot of water to boil.
- Melt butter and saute onions until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in flour and cook 2 minutes.
- Slowly whisk in chicken broth and milk to prevent lumps. Increase heat to thicken sauce.
- Sprinkle in grated cheese and stir continuously to melt into sauce evenly. Stir in cumin, salt, pepper, jalapenos, jalapeno juice, chicken, cooked spaghetti and cilantro.
- Toss to coat everything evenly in sauce. Taste and adjust seasonings. Serve warm with more cilantro.
[…] Recipe and Photo credit to laurenslatest.com […]
This is delicious. We used just a touch less onion. Left out the jalapenos, but squeezed in some key lime juice. Easy and tasty!
I made this tonight and the kids loved it! I left out the jalapeno peppers, onions (hubby doesn’t like them) and used mozzarella cheese. Definitely a keeper!
[…] they are–which isn’t saying much. Especially since I’ve been having those moose dreams. I’m not exactly the poster child for […]
[…] chips & salsa, burritos and anything with the tex mex vibe going for it is like our crack. {Good example here}. Pretty sure we were Mexican in another life. A different story for a different […]
I made this earlier this week, and it was so delicious. We all loved it. I did add half a can of diced green chilies. Thanks for the great recipe. Just discovered your blog and will definitely be back.
So glad you liked it! That darn tex mex spaghetti is one of our favorite meals for sure!
So, I have made this several times, and it is amazing every time. Thanks for the recipe! I wanted to note that I made it with shredded beef this time, because it was what I had on hand. It is great that way too. Thanks again!
This recipe was very good. It has an unexpected mexican kick to it. I used whole grain pasta, as always, and I didn’t have the jarred jalepenos so I used fresh. Served with garlic bread and my guys gobbled it up! Thanks Lauren!
I made this and it was delicious! I used quinoa pasta and had to sub 1/2 cup greek yogurt for the milk because I didn’t have any milk, but it turned out great!
[…] 6/7 ~ I have been dreaming of this Tex-Mex Chicken and White Cheddar Spaghetti ever since Lauren posted it. Making this week for […]
YUM!!!! this sounds so yummy!! and as for the dream. I always have a craziest dreams, good to know I’m not alone 😉
Yum
What a funny story (dream). I love anything to do with cheddar or the words Tex-Mex. lol
…I don’t know how to respond to this moose dream. Particularly to the fact that you woke up with a wicked back ache. I have often dreamed of being a sardine in a can, only to wake up and find myself wedged between another human and a cat with my arms pinned to my sides. I guess that isn’t too far off, huh?
This spaghetti looks great! It kind of reminds me of my mom’s white chicken chili recipe, only turned into pasta! (What a great idea!)
[…] here: Tex-Mex Chicken & White Cheddar Spaghetti ← Gluten Free Italian Meatball Sliders | Gluten Free Recipes | Diet […]
This Texas girl is ALL over this!!
Made this for dinner tonight and it was phenomenal! Thanks for the recipe!
Just found your site and I am in love. So many fun recipes. We tried the butterfinger nutter butter cheesecake bars and absolutely love them!!
This looked so simple and unassuming from the photo, but I love all the flavors you packed in there! Great idea for spaghetti!
This looks like the ultimate comfort in a bowl I’ve been craving lately! Looks lovely, Lauren! Great weeknight recipe.
That looks delicious! And so funny about the moose dream. I hope your back feels better quickly! *giggle*
This is right up my alley, Lauren! Looks fantastic!
This sounds perfect! Easy and delicious!!
Even though I might do without some of the additions here (i.e. jalepenos), this is my kind of chicken because I really don’t do tomato sauces.
Yep, we do love our pasta! Cheesy, chicken, Tex Mex, what’s not to love?
You are just. so. smart. You can be as crazy as you want, I will still love you for your food 🙂
I can tell just by the ingredient list that this would be incredibly good!
I needed a smile today and that chased by a moose visual totally made it happen! Love this post, and this spaghetti! So creative 🙂
I am definitely digging this idea. Wonder if I can get the husband to eat it, given the additional Tex-Mex flavors. He’s usually anti-cheese sauce, but this sounds so good to me I might just force feed him.
I’m not a spaghetti fan, but this I’ve got to try. The ingredients are on my shopping list.
what a gorgeous pasta! great flavors too! and your dream? thank you for the biggest laugh of the day. of course, i’m glad you ended up being ok and that it was only a dream 🙂
That’s looks absolutely fantastic and really easy to make! I could use a nice big plate of that right now! Thanks for the recipe.
You have the most bonkers dreams ever and I love it!
That looks phenomenal. i cannot wait to try it! Mexican/Tex-Mex is my favorite kind of food.
This is too funny! Crazy dreams are always funny when they are someone else’s.
This pasta looks incredible! Hubby would LOVE it!
I want this for dinner! This looks so good!
Thanks for blogging this! It looked so good the other day on Fb! I’ll have to make some modifications to suit my pregnant needs- right now, Cilantro and I are just not jiving, but I can’t wait to make this!
Seriously, my mouth was watering as I read through the ingredients. This is so my kind of meal. Looks delicious.
I need this in my life right now…minus the moose 😉
This is so perfectly simple. Love it!
Oh this is my kinda meal for sure! Love the creaminess 🙂
This looks delish! And, I laughed out loud…multiple times during this post. Thanks for the humor and the recipe! Hope your back feels better!
Sounds like perfection to me! I once had a dream I was being chased by a grizzly and woke up right as it’s paw was coming at my face…. scary business… but this pasta would easily make me forget all my bad dreams!
Oh haaaaaaayell yes.
Queso blanco and spaghetti are two of my favs! This looks delicious.
Looks awesome! I like how you used some of pickling juice from the jalapeno’s. I love that kind of zip.
Making this soon! So easy and delicious!
Its like queso covered pasta. I’m in. I love it.
Awesome flavors in this dish. And that moose dream is hilarious. I mean, not the part where your back actually started to ache in real life but the fact that you played dead in your dream.
Bahaha! Thank you for that 9am laugh. Much needed today 🙂