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Chicken Spaghetti

★★★★★ 5 /5 Updated: 6/16/22
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Chicken Spaghetti is an easy, cheesy, make-it-again-soon-please casserole that your whole family will love. We teach you how to make it fresh AND how to prep it ahead to be a freezer meal.

Freezer friendly chicken spaghetti

Why Chicken Spaghetti Is a Family Favorite

When I made this chicken spaghetti recipe for the first time last week, my husband ate it for about 5 meals in a row and proceeded to ask me to make it again the next week.

My kids eagerly scarfed it down as well. Tonight’s batch ended up on about every area of exposed skin on my 18 month old, but I take that as a sign he liked it. Needless to say, this recipe is a keeper! It’s a great meal for groups of people too!

Chicken spaghetti on a white plate with a side salad

While this chicken casserole recipe is baked in a 9×13 dish, I oftentimes split it into two, 8×8 dishes and freeze one for later. More on that soon though!

Ingredients for Chicken Spaghetti

Here’s what you’ll need to make this dish:

  • Spaghetti or thin spaghetti noodles – I prefer to use whole wheat.
  • Cream of mushroom soup – Use organic soup, if possible, to avoid additives and preservatives.
  • Cooked chicken – Use store-bought rotisserie chicken to save time.
  • Chicken broth or stock – Here is how to make your own.
  • Chopped veggies – Chop them finely by hand or in a food processor, if they will throw picky eaters off.
  • Cheese – Here’s why you should shred your own cheese.
  • Seasonings – You probably have all of these in your pantry.
Ingredients on the counter for a casserole recipe

Ingredients ready? Let’s do this.

How to Make Chicken Spaghetti

Now that you know what ingredients you’ll need, watch this short video tutorial that illustrates how easily this chicken casserole comes together…

Step-by-Step Overview of the Recipe

This is a great beginner recipe or weeknight dinner when you don’t have much time. Here’s how to make it step-by-step.

Cook the Pasta

Cook the pasta according to the package instructions, until al dente (slightly undercooked). Undercooking it keeps it from getting mushy while baking. This is especially important to do if you are going to make this a freezer meal.

While it cooks, preheat the oven and grease the casserole dish(es) with cooking spray.

Chop and Saute the Veggies

While that pasta is cooking, this is also a great time to chop and saute those veggies. Multitasking is your friend for this recipe.

Combine the Ingredients

In a large mixing bowl, gently stir together the cooked pasta, cream of mushroom soup, chicken broth, chopped/shredded chicken, veggies, seasoning, and only 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheese.

Now please take note of this: Add in only 1 1/2 cups of the cheese. I always get moving too fast and add it ALL in at this point. You need some to sprinkle over the top so restrain yourself!

Chicken spaghetti being prepared in a mixing bowl

Here it is all mixed up. Yum. Or yuck. Not sure.

Place in Casserole Dish

Either divide the mixture between two 8×8 dishes or put it all in one 9×13 dish. Top with remaining cheese. Assuming you listened to my warning above about not mixing in all of the cheese, that is.

Chicken casserole prepped for the oven
Bake the Casserole

Bake in a 350°F oven for 40-45 minutes, until the edges are bubbly. If the top begins to get too brown, cover with foil. Remove and let cool slightly. Serve warm.

Freezer friendly chicken spaghetti in a white baking dish

Can You Freeze Chicken Spaghetti?

In our 15+ years of freezing cooking experience and recipe testing for our cookbooks, we’ve learned that casseroles like chicken spaghetti work very well to freeze. However, make sure to use our pro tips to ensure it comes out tasting just like a fresh meal.

Tip #1: Freeze Before Baking

While you can freeze a casserole after baking, we highly recommend the opposite. Prep the casserole up until the point of baking and then freeze it, if you want the dish to taste fresh after being in the freezer.

Tip #2: Reduce Air Exposure

We always teach that air is the enemy of good freezer meals. So be sure to wrap your casserole very tightly in a few layers of plastic wrap and/or foil. If using an air-tight lid on your casserole dish, we recommend placing a layer of foil over the surface of the casserole, as well. Packaging a freezer meal well will result in a great dinner on the other end of it’s stay in the freezer.

Tip #3: Thaw the Right Way

Lastly, thawing the meal fully in the refrigerator will yield the best results. Give your casserole at least 24-48 hours to thaw completely. Then, when you’re ready to bake it, set it on the counter for about 30 minutes before placing in the oven to help it come up to room temp.

If you want the quick version of how to make it a freezer meal kit, use the following instructions.

How to Freeze as a Meal Kit

u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph {u0022imagePinMetau0022:{}} u002du002du003ernrnYou can either split this large recipe in half or double what you’re already making and freeze one for later. Here’s how:rnrnu003cstrongu003eFreeze for Later: u003c/strongu003eOnce the casserole has cooled completely, wrap it tightly in a few layers of plastic wrap and/or foil or place an air-tight lid (if you have one) on your baking dish. Squeeze out any excess air and freeze. (These are our u003ca href=u0022https://thrivinghomeblog.com/shop/oxo-freezer-to-oven-dishes/u0022 rel=u0022u0022u003erecommended freezer meal dishesu003c/au003e.)rnrnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph {u0022imagePinMetau0022:{}} u002du002du003ernrnu003cstrongu003ePrepare From Frozen: u003c/strongu003ePlace frozen casserole into the fridge and let thaw for 24+ hours. Bake using the instructions in the recipe below (step 6).rnrnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e

What to Serve with Chicken Spaghetti Casserole

u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph {u0022imagePinMetau0022:{}} u002du002du003ernrnHere are some delicious ideas that would go well with this recipe:rnrnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:list {u0022imagePinMetau0022:{}} u002du002du003ernu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eSimple Side Salad with u003ca href=u0022https://thrivinghomeblog.com/honey-balsamic-vinaigrette/u0022u003eHoney Balsamic Dressingu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://thrivinghomeblog.com/texas-toast-garlic-bread/u0022u003eTexas Toastu003c/au003e (aka Garlic Bread)u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://thrivinghomeblog.com/oven-roasted-broccoli/u0022u003eOven Roasted Broccoliu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003ernu003c!u002du002d /wp:list u002du002du003e

Be sure to throw Chicken Spaghetti on your menu plan soon and remember to double it so you can have one in the freezer for later. Done and done!

Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!

★★★★★ 5 from 6 reviews

Chicken Spaghetti

This freezer-friendly Chicken Spaghetti recipe will keep your family coming back for more deliciousness. 

Yield: 8 servings 1x
Prep: 20 minsCook: 30 minsTotal: 50 mins
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Ingredients

  • 1 pound whole wheat spaghetti
  • 2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of mushroom soup (preferably organic)
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 2–3 chicken breasts, fully cooked and chopped/shredded (roughly 3 cups)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
  • 1/2 cup finely diced green bell pepper
  • 1/2 cup finely diced red bell pepper
  • 1 small or medium onion, finely diced
  • 1 teaspoon seasoned salt, such as Lawry’s Seasoned Salt or use this DIY recipe
  • 1/8 – 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 2 1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar, divided

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions

Make It Now:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 inch casserole dish or two 8×8 dishes with cooking spray.
  2. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions, until al dente (slightly undercooked). When the pasta is done, drain it in a colander over the sink.
  3. While pasta is cooking, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is shimmery, add the bell peppers & onions and saute until they begin to soften, about 4-5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, gently stir together the cooked pasta with the cream of mushroom soup, chicken broth, chopped chicken, sauteed veggies, seasoned salt, cayenne, and 1 1/2 cups of the cheese. 
  5. Place the mixture in the dish (or dishes) and top with the remaining 1 cup of cheese. (Freezing instructions begin here.)
  6. Bake until bubbly around the edges, about 40-45 minutes. (If the cheese on top starts to get too dark, cover with foil.) Let cool slightly and serve warm.

Freeze For Later: Follow steps 1-5 (do not bake). Cover the casserole dishes with a few layers of plastic wrap and foil. Squeeze out any excess air and freeze.

Prepare From Frozen: Thaw. (Here are three safe ways to thaw freezer meals.) Follow step 6. If it’s still slightly frozen in the middle, you’ll just have to cook it longer than the recipe calls for or defrost a bit in the microwave before baking. Cover it with foil if the top gets too brown in the oven.

Equipment

9×12 Glass Baking Dish with Lid (Freezer Container)

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Chefs Knife

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Mixing Bowl

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Notes/Tips

Where We Get Our Chicken: We get our meat from ButcherBox. The chicken is organic and curated from small, trusted farms. We highly recommend this service to source healthy meat–like uncured bacon, wild salmon, and grass-fed beef–and have used it for years ourselves. 

© Author: Thriving Home
Cuisine: American Method: Casserole

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Polly Conner

Polly Conner

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Polly’s passionate about helping busy parents get dinner on the table. With a house full of kids, dogs, and (usually) a DIY project in the works, she knows firsthand how every minute (and every dollar) counts. As a business owner, she enjoys wearing multiple hats and serves best as a project manager for Thriving Home.

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  1. AvatarSteph says

    Posted on 2/10/22 at 10:40 pm

    A family hit! Easy, inexpensive and quick (made even quicker by cooking the pasta in the Instant Pot). My 5 year old declared I should make this every night 🙂

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Rachel TiemeyerRachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 2/12/22 at 7:37 pm

      Whoop whoop! We love hearing about recipes that work for the whole family. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review, Steph.

      Reply
  2. AvatarMustafa Albustani says

    Posted on 6/1/21 at 10:37 am

    the recipe is amazing, but one question remains unanswered; can I use normal mushroom cream soup (which is clearly more fluid) instead of canned mushroom cream, because I can’t seem to find such product in Germany (my country of residence)?

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Rachel TiemeyerRachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 6/2/21 at 2:35 pm

      Hi Mustafa. Thanks for the question and review. You’re right, fresh cream of mushroom soup won’t be as thick as the canned version. Do you have corn starch? If so, you could add a corn starch slurry to the soup (1 tablespoon water mixed with 1 tablespoon corn starch) to thicken it.

      Reply
  3. AvatarTracey Davis says

    Posted on 10/30/20 at 10:49 am

    Can I use uncooked chicken in this chicken spaghetti recipe and increase cooking time?

    Reply
    • Rachel TiemeyerRachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 11/10/20 at 9:36 am

      Yes, absolutely. It will cook long enough for it to get done.

      Reply
  4. AvatarTracey Davis says

    Posted on 10/30/20 at 7:32 am

    Can I use 3 cups of uncooked chicken for this recipe and just extend the cookinbg time?

    Reply
    • Rachel TiemeyerRachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 11/10/20 at 9:36 am

      Yes, just used diced chicken breasts or thighs.

      Reply
  5. AvatarCheryl says

    Posted on 10/22/20 at 9:20 am

    I added Philadelphia cream cheese & sour cream. Calories went way up, but YUM! Oh, also a small can of green chilies, drained.

    Reply
    • Rachel TiemeyerRachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 10/26/20 at 11:00 am

      Sounds delicious! Thanks for the idea.

      Reply
  6. AvatarCathy H. says

    Posted on 3/1/20 at 11:26 am

    Thanks for sharing this recipe! My husband and I both had the flu and I finally felt good enough to cook – and this hit the spot for both of us! Froze half to enjoy again later. Will add to my list of meals to take anyone in need. 🙂

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Rachel TiemeyerRachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 3/4/20 at 12:08 pm

      I’m sorry to hear you were sick, but thankful you enjoyed this meal and are healed up! Yes, it’d be a great one to take to those in need. Love your heart for serving others. That’s one of our biggest goals with Thriving Home…that our recipes will be a blessing to others.

      Reply
  7. AvatarChristine says

    Posted on 10/30/19 at 2:26 pm

    Do you have any recommendations for replacing the cream of mushroom soup? I’m allergic to mushrooms and I’m not supposed to use cream soups for my daughter. Thanks!

    Reply
    • RachelRachel says

      Posted on 10/30/19 at 3:20 pm

      You can use cream of chicken soup to avoid the mushrooms. But if your daughter can’t have dairy, I’m not sure of a great replacement. You might check the health food store for a dairy-free canned option. I bet there’s something on the market now.

      Reply
  8. AvatarWendy says

    Posted on 10/2/19 at 9:34 am

    I made this and we LOVED it!. I added mushrooms and frozen peas. A full meal all in one.

    Reply
    • RachelRachel says

      Posted on 10/6/19 at 8:51 pm

      That’s fantastic. Thanks for sharing, Wendy!

      Reply
  9. Avatarrachel says

    Posted on 4/9/19 at 1:40 pm

    Hi, please disregard my question. I understand now that you cook the spaghetti in the chicken broth that was created from cooking the chicken. Thanks!

    Reply
  10. Avatarrachel says

    Posted on 4/9/19 at 1:36 pm

    Hi! Sounds tasty! The recipe states it calls for 2 cups of chicken broth. Then it states to cook the spaghetti in the cooking broth. I don’t understand how you cook 1 pound of spaghetti in 1 or even 2 cups of chicken broth. When I boil spaghetti, I need to use at least 3 cups of water? Are you saying to cook the spaghetti first, and then cook it for a while in 1 cup of chicken broth? Or do you mean, take the raw spaghetti and add 1 cup of cooking broth. And cook it until the water evaporates? Sorry, I don’t understand what amount of broth you should use to cook 1 pound of spaghetti. Thanks

    Reply
    • PollyPolly says

      Posted on 4/9/19 at 1:48 pm

      Sorry for the confusion. I just removed the step to cook it in chicken broth. Just use water!

      Reply
      • AvatarRachel says

        Posted on 4/10/19 at 2:35 pm

        Thank you for the clarification, Polly. I look forward to trying the recipe out!

        Reply
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