Description
This Cheesy Spaghetti Chicken Casserole is a comforting and hearty baked pasta dish combining tender cooked spaghetti with shredded chicken, creamy mushroom soup, savory seasonings, and a generous layer of melted cheddar cheese. Perfect for a family dinner, it blends creamy, cheesy, and savory flavors into an easy-to-prepare casserole.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8-12 ounces spaghetti, uncooked
Main Mixture
- 3 cups cooked, shredded chicken
- 2 (10.5 oz) cans cream of mushroom soup
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 red or green bell pepper, finely diced
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Topping
- 1-2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Baking Dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9×13 casserole pan with nonstick cooking spray and set it aside for later use.
- Cook Pasta: Boil a large pot of lightly salted water. Add the uncooked spaghetti noodles and cook according to package directions until al dente or your preferred softness. Drain the pasta in a colander but do not rinse it to preserve starches that help bind the casserole.
- Mix Main Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded chicken, cream of mushroom soup, chicken broth, sour cream, parmesan cheese, finely diced bell pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, and black pepper. Stir well to ensure everything is evenly blended.
- Add Pasta to Mixture: Gently fold the cooked spaghetti noodles into the chicken mixture until the noodles are evenly coated and distributed throughout the mixture.
- Assemble Casserole: Transfer the combined mixture into the prepared 9×13 baking dish, spreading it out evenly. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the casserole.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the casserole is bubbly and the cheese on top is melted and golden brown.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving to allow flavors to settle and make it easier to portion.
Notes
- Do not rinse the pasta after cooking; this helps the sauce cling better.
- Adjust the amount of shredded cheddar cheese based on your preference for cheesiness.
- You can substitute cream of mushroom soup with cream of chicken soup for a slightly different flavor.
- Adding diced bell peppers adds a nice crunchy texture and color, but they can be omitted or substituted with other vegetables like mushrooms or onions.
- For a lower fat version, use reduced-fat sour cream and cheese.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
