Description
Spicy Southern Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti Casserole brings comfort straight from Grandma’s kitchen to your dinner table. Packed with zesty flavor and creamy goodness, this southern classic delivers a hearty meal your family will devour.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 3–4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ½ cup cooked, crumbled bacon
Carbohydrates:
- 12 oz spaghetti
Cheese and Vegetables:
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
- 1 cup chopped red or yellow bell peppers
- ½ cup chopped green onions
Seasonings and Sauce:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 10.5 oz can cream of chicken soup
Cooking Spray:
- Nonstick cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Coat a 9×13-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Season 3-4 chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Cook in a skillet over medium heat for 6-7 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Allow chicken to cool for 5 minutes. Shred meat using two forks into bite-sized pieces.
- Boil 12 oz spaghetti in salted water for 8-10 minutes until al dente. Drain pasta thoroughly.
- Grab a large mixing bowl and combine shredded chicken, cooked spaghetti, 1 can cream of chicken soup, 1 cup chopped bell peppers, 1 tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp paprika, and ¼ tsp cayenne pepper.
- Fold in 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese into the mixture. Stir until ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Transfer the entire mixture to the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle remaining 1 cup cheese on top.
- Optional: Scatter ½ cup crumbled bacon over the cheese layer.
- Bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes until cheese melts completely and edges turn golden brown.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with ½ cup chopped green onions before serving.
Notes
- Always use freshly shredded cheese for the best melting and flavor, as pre-shredded cheese has anti-caking agents that can affect texture.
- Cooking chicken breasts in a skillet helps lock in moisture and prevents drying out, giving you tender meat for the casserole.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular spaghetti with gluten-free pasta and use a gluten-free cream of chicken soup.
- To make this dish vegetarian, replace chicken with roasted cauliflower or plant-based chicken substitute and use vegetable soup instead of cream of chicken.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg