Description
Creamy chicken spaghetti brings southern comfort to dinner tables with its cheesy, hearty goodness. Melted cheese, tender chicken, and pasta blend into a soul-satisfying meal that welcomes hungry diners home.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups cooked chicken (shredded or diced)
- 3 cups dry spaghetti, broken into 2-inch pieces
- 3 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese (2 cups mixed in, 1 cup for topping)
Dairy and Soup Base:
- 2 cans (10.5 ounces / 298 grams each) cream of mushroom soup
- 2 cups reserved chicken broth (from cooking the chicken)
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 1/4 cup finely diced green bell pepper
- 1/4 cup finely diced onion
- 1 jar (4 ounces / 113 grams) diced pimentos, drained
- 1 teaspoon Lawry’s Seasoned Salt
- 1/8 teaspoon to 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (to taste)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Poach the whole chicken in water, creating a flavorful broth, then carefully extract and shred the tender meat into bite-sized pieces.
- Utilize the reserved chicken broth to cook spaghetti strands until perfectly tender, ensuring they maintain a slight firmness. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
- In a spacious mixing vessel, incorporate the cooked spaghetti, succulent shredded chicken, creamy mushroom soup, sharp cheddar cheese, finely diced green pepper, chopped onion, vibrant pimentos, and a medley of seasonings including salt, cayenne, and pepper.
- Gently transfer the harmonized mixture into a generously sized casserole dish, creating an even layer of delectable ingredients.
- Lavishly sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese across the surface, creating a tempting golden blanket.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F, positioning the rack in the center. Bake the casserole for approximately 45 minutes, watching for a bubbling surface and perfectly melted cheese.
- If the cheese begins to darken too quickly, loosely tent the dish with aluminum foil to prevent excessive browning.
- Remove from the oven and allow the casserole to rest for 10-15 minutes, letting the flavors meld and the dish settle before serving.
- For future enjoyment, the assembled casserole can be refrigerated for two days or frozen for up to six months, providing flexible meal preparation options.
Notes
- Master the chicken cooking by simmering it gently to ensure tender, moist meat that shreds easily and maximizes flavor extraction.
- Prevent soggy spaghetti by cooking precisely al dente and draining immediately to maintain perfect pasta texture in the casserole.
- Enhance flavor complexity by sautéing green peppers and onions before mixing to release their natural sweetness and develop deeper taste profiles.
- Adapt for dietary needs by substituting cream of mushroom soup with homemade white sauce or using gluten-free alternatives to create a more personalized dish.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 575
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 820 mg
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg