Description
Spicy chicken spaghetti casserole brings zesty comfort straight to your dinner table, melding creamy cheese, tender chicken, and a kick of heat that’ll make your taste buds dance. Weeknight meals never looked so delicious and satisfying.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 12 ounces spaghetti noodles
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Sauce and Liquid Ingredients:
- 1 can (10.5 ounces) cream of chicken soup
- 1 can (10 ounces) diced tomatoes with green chiles
- ½ cup sour cream
Seasonings and Spices:
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Chopped parsley (optional)
- Sliced green onions (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare your oven at 350°F and coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Boil 12 oz spaghetti in salted water for 8-10 minutes until al dente, then thoroughly drain in a colander.
- Combine 2 cups shredded chicken, 1 can cream of chicken soup, 1 can diced tomatoes with green chiles, ½ cup sour cream, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, and ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper in a large mixing bowl.
- Fold the cooked spaghetti into the mixture, ensuring every strand gets coated with the creamy sauce.
- Sprinkle ½ cup cheddar cheese into the mixture and stir gently to distribute evenly.
- Transfer the entire mixture to your prepared baking dish, spreading it out in an even layer.
- Top the casserole with remaining ½ cup cheddar and ½ cup mozzarella cheese, creating a complete cheese coverage.
- Bake uncovered for 25 minutes at 350°F until the cheese melts and turns golden brown with crispy edges.
- Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes after removing from the oven to help it set.
- Garnish with chopped parsley or sliced green onions before serving hot and fresh.
Notes
- Pick chicken that’s super tender and shreds easily, like rotisserie chicken from the grocery store for maximum flavor and convenience.
- Adjust the cayenne pepper carefully to control the heat level, starting with less and adding more to match your spice tolerance.
- Drain tomatoes well to prevent the casserole from becoming watery and losing its creamy texture.
- Use freshly shredded cheese instead of pre-shredded for better melting and a smoother, more integrated cheese layer.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 356 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 630 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 68 mg