Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti Recipe

This Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti Recipe is quick and tasty! Only one pot and a handful of ingredients are needed for this delicious dinner.

Time for another simple chicken dinner recipe, this time a speedier, one-pot version of my very popular Crockpot Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti. If you don’t have time to make my Crockpot version of Chicken Spaghetti then this stovetop version will blow you away! It’s faster, uses a lot of the same ingredients and turns out just as creamy and delicious!

What is Chicken Spaghetti?

For those of you who aren’t familiar with this dish, it is traditionally a creamy and cheese baked pasta casserole filled with spaghetti, chicken, cream of mushroom soup, bell peppers, green chiles and a whole lot of cheddar cheese. Casseroles are great and typically taste amazing the longer they cook, but for this specific recipe, I almost prefer it right out of the pot because it’s at its peak of creamy and cheesy perfection. Plus, you don’t have to cook the entire recipe in the pot and then dirty a 9×13 dish just to bake it a little more with some extra cheese on top (though, there’s nothing wrong with doing it that way…I’m just impatient).

Chicken Spaghetti Recipe

This is a super easy Chicken Spaghetti Recipe that only requires a few, easy to find, ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Chicken and Spaghetti – The two main ingredients! Protein and carbs, the perfect combo.
• Onion, Bell Peppers, and Green Chiles – Add some color and flavor to this dish!
• Cheese – Have I mentioned that I love cheese? It’s one of my favorite food groups.
• Garlic Powder, and Cumin – Don’t forget the spices! They are essential to boost this recipe to the next level.

If you’re not in the mood for a slightly spicy ride, try these other pasta recipes: Baked Rigatoni Pasta Recipe, Browned Butter Alfredo Pasta, Gluten Free Pasta with Spaghetti Meat Sauce or Broccoli Pesto Pasta.

How to Make Chicken Spaghetti

1. Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add salt and cook spaghetti according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set pasta aside. Replace hot pot to medium heat.
2. Add in oil and swirl to spread across the bottom. Sprinkle chicken cutlets with salt and pepper and brown in oil until fully cooked. Remove from pot and set aside to rest.
3. Saute onion and peppers until mostly tender. Stir in green chiles, alfredo sauce, and spices. Pour chicken broth into empty alfredo jar, replace the lid and shake. Pour contents into the pot.
4. Cut browned chicken into bite-size pieces and add to the pot.
5. Taste sauce and adjust seasonings as needed. Toss in the spaghetti and grated cheddar cheese until pasta is fully coated in sauce. (As it sits, it will have a tendency to thicken, so as needed, add in little splashes of chicken broth or milk and stir to keep it at the consistency you want before serving.)
6. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve.

Can I Freeze Chicken Spaghetti?

Go for it! Make a ton and freeze it in portions in airtight containers. This should last up to three months in the freezer.

To reheat, thaw it completely, and then reheat the dish in the oven covered in foil. Covering with foil in the oven keeps the pasta moist. I know, moist… ew, but trust me… because pasta leftovers tend to dry out you could also try adding a couple of tablespoons of milk or chicken stock when reheating.

Leftovers

For leftovers, make sure to cover in an airtight container and refrigerate. Chicken Spaghetti should last for 3-5 days but I think it tastes best within the first two!

Side Dishes

Like any pasta dish, this Chicken Spaghetti Recipe is great with breadsticks (like these: Craigo’s Breadsticks or Cheesy Garlic Breadsticks), or with a side salad (like these: Caprese Salad with Garlic Balsamic Dressing or Cucumber Salad Recipe).

The salads bring a nice fresh flavor and crunch to the creamy meal while the breadsticks are simply amazing carbs that compliment the Chicken Spaghetti.

More Spaghetti Recipes to Try!

• Spaghetti and Meatballs
• Garlic Chicken & Kale Spaghetti
• Lemon Basil Spaghetti
• Tex-Mex Chicken & White Cheddar Spaghetti
• Spaghetti with Bacon, Brussels Sprouts and Artichokes

This recipe is a really filling and simple meal that every family member seems to love. Eddie snarfed his two helpings down just fine. Once we told our two older kids to get over the fact that they were just going to have to try bell peppers again ‘for us to really know that they didn’t like them’ they kind of forgot that they were in there and kept shoveling it in.

Overall, this is a recipe that we keep coming back to because of its versatility, ease, and ingredients list.

As per usual, below is the printable recipe.

Enjoy, friends! xo

5 from 9 votes

Print

Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti Recipe

This Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti Recipe is quick and tasty! Only one pot and a handful of ingredients are needed for this delicious dinner.

Course Dinner

Cuisine Italian, Mexican

Keyword Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti, Chicken Spaghetti, Chicken Spaghetti Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 6 servings

Calories 728 kcal

Author Lauren Brennan

Ingredients

• 1 lb. spaghetti
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• salt & pepper to taste
• 1 lb. chicken cutlets*
• 1 cup yellow onion diced
• 1/2 red bell pepper diced
• 1/2 green bell pepper diced
• 1 small can mild diced green chiles
• 16.9 oz alfredo sauce Trader Joe's brand preferred (1 jar)
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder or granulated garlic
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 8 oz. sharp cheddar cheese grated
• a few splashes chicken broth or milk as needed
• chopped cilantro optional

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add salt and cook spaghetti according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set pasta aside. Replace hot pot to medium heat.
2. Add in oil and swirl to spread across the bottom. Sprinkle chicken cutlets with salt and pepper and brown 2-3 minutes per side in oil until fully cooked. Remove from pot and set aside to rest.
3. Saute onion and peppers 4-5 minutes or until mostly tender. Stir in green chiles, alfredo sauce, and spices. Pour chicken broth into empty alfredo jar, replace the lid and shake. Pour contents into the pot.
4. Cut browned chicken into bite-size pieces and add to the pot.
5. Taste sauce and adjust seasonings as needed. Toss in the spaghetti and grated cheddar cheese until pasta is fully coated in sauce. (As it sits, it will have a tendency to thicken, so as needed, add in little splashes of chicken broth or milk and stir to keep it at the consistency you want before serving.)
6. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve.

Recipe Notes

*Chicken cutlets are chicken breasts sliced very thin. You are welcome to take regular chicken breasts and slice them in half lengthwise to get the same effect. OR you can cut your raw chicken into bite size pieces before browning. I just find it easier to cut after they are fully cooked. Feel free to use pre-cooked or rotisserie chicken and forgo the whole browning process.

Nutrition Facts

Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 728 Calories from Fat 297

% Daily Value*

Fat 33g51%

Saturated Fat 15g94%

Cholesterol 140mg47%

Sodium 1087mg47%

Potassium 621mg18%

Carbohydrates 64g21%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 5g6%

Protein 38g76%

Vitamin A 820IU16%

Vitamin C 32.7mg40%

Calcium 311mg31%

Iron 2.2mg12%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.