Table of Contents
- 🎥 Watch and cook: step-by-step video tutorial
- 🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite
- 🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need
- 🔪 Step-by-step guide: how to make Rotel chicken spaghetti
- 🥫 Storing, freezing, & reheating chicken spaghetti
- Marye's Tips
- 👩🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
- 📖 Recipe
- 📚 Related recipes
- 🍽️ Perfect pairings: what to serve with chicken spaghetti
- 🍲 Southern casserole culture
- 💬 Comments
🎥 Watch and cook: step-by-step video tutorial
🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite
This cheesy chicken spaghetti with Rotel is a family favorite, loaded with gooey cheese, tender chicken, and Rotel tomatoes for a kick of flavor. It comes together in just 30 minutes so it's perfect for busy weeknights or back-to-school chaos. It even freezes like a dream—just check the storage section for tips.
🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need
Cooked, boneless chicken thighs work as well as boneless chicken breasts if you prefer them, or you can shred the meat from a rotisserie chicken. I've even used leftover turkey in place of the chicken during the holidays.
If you don't have cream of chicken soup you can use cream of mushroom soup, cream of celery soup, or cream of asparagus soup - they all work well. Or, make a homemade white sauce.
🔪 Step-by-step guide: how to make Rotel chicken spaghetti
- Break the uncooked spaghetti noodles into 2 inch pieces.
- Bring salted water to a boil in a large pot and cook the pasta.
- Meanwhile mix the cream of chicken, the RoTel, and cream cheese in a microwave-safe large bowl. Microwave, stirring often, until it's all melted together.
- Stir in the cheese to make a smooth sauce.
- Shred the cooked chicken and set aside.
- Add enough cream to the sauce to make it spoonable but not too thin.
- Stir in the chicken.
- Pour over the cooked spaghetti and stir well.
- Spoon into an oiled casserole dish and top with Cheddar cheese. Bake.
🥫 Storing, freezing, & reheating chicken spaghetti
You can assemble chicken spaghetti up to 2 days ahead of time, cover it with plastic wrap, refrigerate it, and then slip into the oven when you're ready to eat. (Take the plastic wrap off before baking.)
Let leftovers come to room temperature then store in an airtight container or covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator. To reheat just pop into a 350F oven for about 15 -20 minutes, or microwave until warmed through.
How to freeze
This easy chicken spaghetti freezes like a charm baked or unbaked!! Cover it with plastic wrap then aluminum foil or put it in a freezer container and freeze for up to 3 months.
To bake if unbaked:
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator then bake as directed. See the chart above for baking from frozen.
To warm up leftovers:
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator then heat in the microwave or bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes.
Marye's Tips
Cook your chicken by simmering it in chicken stock to cover. When it's cooked through (165F) remove it and bring the stock back to a boil. Add the spaghetti to the chicken stock with enough water to cover. This gives your casserole even more flavor!
For best results cook pasta just past done - don't stop at al dente. It will cook more (and soak up more flavor) as it bakes. Also, be sure to grate the cheese from a block rather than buying it pre-shredded.
👩🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
Have other questions? Ask me in the comments!
You really only need a salad but these easy drop biscuits are nice, too. If you'd like a hot vegetable then I'd go with green beans. Find more great ideas in 50 Sides for Chicken Spaghetti.
As far as I know every southern lady that I've ever met that makes this dish breaks up the spaghetti in thirds before adding it to the boiling water. You don't have to - I think it's tradition. It does make it easier to eat, though.
No you don't need to cover the casserole during baking unless you notice the top browning too fast.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Love this recipe? Please give it a 5 star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Southern Chicken Spaghetti with RoTel
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 1.5 pounds chicken breast, or more if desired - boneless, cooked and shredded
- 16 ounces spaghetti, broken in 2-inch pieces
- 21.5 ounces cream of chicken soup, 2 10.75-ounce cans condensed soup
- 10 ounces diced tomatoes & green chilies
- 6 ounces cream cheese
- 3 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded - divided use (12 ounces)
- ¼ cup heavy cream, you can use milk if you prefer
- 1 cup frozen peppers and onions mixed, or use diced fresh
Instructions
- Cook the chicken breast, dice or shred it, and set aside.
- If using fresh onions and peppers saute them until soft in a skillet with a little olive oil or butter.
- Break the spaghetti into 2-inch pieces and cook until tender in boiling, salted water.
- Drain and set aside.
- Mix the soup, RoTel, and cream cheese in a microwave safe dish.
- Heat, stirring every minute, until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Stir in 2 cups of the shredded cheese.
- Stir until smooth. You may need to add some milk or cream to thin it down if it seems too thick.
- Stir the chicken into the cheese mixture.
- Stir the pasta, onions, and peppers into the chicken and cheese mixture. Make sure all the ingredients are covered with the cheesy sauce.
- Spoon into a greased 13x9-inch casserole dish.
- Top with remaining 1 cup shredded cheese.
- You may stop here, cover with plastic wrap then aluminum foil, and freeze for up to 3 months or refrigerate for 2 days before baking.
- Bake at 350F 20 minutes or until heated through and the cheese has melted.
- Let stand for 5 minutes or so before serving.
Notes
- Put plastic wrap, parchment, or waxed paper over the top before sealing with aluminum foil or the acids from the tomatoes will react with the aluminum and it will taste awful.
- You can skip the baking and just mix it all up in a skillet if you like.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
📚 Related recipes
- Taco Spaghetti is creamy good and all done in one pot.
- Million Dollar Spaghetti is something like lasagna only so much easier!
- Crack Chicken Spaghetti is an over the top version of this old favorite!
- Green Bean and Ground Beef Casserole
- Chile Chicken Bubble Up Bake
- Amish Breakfast Casserole
- Broccoli Stuffing Casserole
🍽️ Perfect pairings: what to serve with chicken spaghetti
Keep it easy by choosing a few of these great side dishes for chicken spaghetti and some classic southern fried pies for dessert.
Dinner plans solved!
🍲 Southern casserole culture
Homemade chicken spaghetti casserole is one of my favorites. It's creamy, rich, gooey, and cheesy - everything the ultimate comfort food should be.
This wasn't one of those things that my mom made, though.
This is a recipe that came from one of my neighbors when my kids were growing up -- I guess she took pity on me and my nightly dinners for 10 people or more.
A large family requires lots of food!
She brought a foil covered pan of this comforting casserole to my door one afternoon when I was SO exhausted, SO ready to quit, and SO full of "woe is me" that I was ready to bust.
It changed my entire day.
It's that simple. One dish of comfort food, one knock at the door at the right time, and someone suddenly has the energy to go on with life. Someone feels cared about.
Isn't that what makes life worth living?
First published August 4, 2020. Last updated September 17, 2023, for editorial improvements and the temperature chart.
Stacie Hall says
Excellent! I was able to cut tge recipe in half. It was the perfect amount!
Marye says
I am so glad you liked it Stacie - it's one of our favorites.
Kate D says
Delicious! I added crushed red pepper and used the Hot Rotel 🙂
Claire deLun says
Literally a comfort food!! All the measurements are just about right but I added some jalapeno peppers as both my boys loves spicy. They chowed down like it is the end of the world and wiped out the entire casserole container. Added more cheese on top as broiling and toasting it is such a treat. Thank you for sharing
Hannah says
I made this for supper tonight and it was delicious! Tastes just like the ones I had at church potlucks growing up in southern Arkansas… it reminded me of my childhood in the best way. Ultimate comfort food!
Sarah Spiegelhauer says
It's a fantastic day to make this in Texas - it's been storming all day - what a perfect time for some comfort food. 🙂 I think we will have your chicken spaghetti and some Honey Buttermilk rolls 🙂 My kids beg me to make rolls with your Honey Buttermilk recipe - having them with this chicken spaghetti will make them think they are in heaven 😆 And what a great idea to add crushed chips to the top! I'm thinking Doritos will be the perfect addition! Thank you Marye for all of your recipes - every single one of them is a hit with my family. ❤
Kate Baird says
I love your creative, innovative recipes and ideas.
Can't wait to try this one. And love Angel Biscuits!
I can't wait to read your emails and to peruse the recipes.
Needless to say, you've caused my electronic recipe book
to expand by a thousand-fold!
Gayle Long says
This is one of my favorite go-to meals when I need to cook a meal my family loves but I don't have a lot of time to prepare. With the prep time, and cook time you can have a meal on the table in less than a hour. That is my kind of meal!
Tommie Ford says
I am looking forward to making this Chicken Spaghetti! The cream cheese is an interesting change. And thank you for adding the "how to freeze" information!
I also will make the Angel Biscuits per your suggestion. We have a restaurant that used to serve Angel Biscuits to every guest; sadly, this was changed after Covid. They were delicious.
I made your Crockpot Swiss Steak yesterday....it was so tasty that this is now my Swiss Steak recipe to use from now on! Thank you!
Nancy says
I love this recipe! It has become a favorite of my husband's, although it didn't start that way....I told him on the phone that I was making a new recipe, and he asked what. I said chicken spaghetti, and he went quiet. Ok, says my pickiest eater. Hmmm. So I made it up and he walked in the door while it was in the oven, with a frozen dinner. He says, chicken doesn't belong in spaghetti. Now I am mad, and saying Good, more for me! Then I take it out of the oven and he comes closer, that kinda smells good. He ate half that night. LOL
Carolyn says
Yum!
Family loved the recipe!
Jane Huber says
This is such a great meal! 😋
Jack says
This looks/sounds so good. I generally look at recipes as general ideas/suggestions only meant to head the cook off in a similar direction. I like your recipes and the suggestions that you make. You are not afraid to give alternate possibilities to those that choose to try. One can use good old math with recipes. (add, subtract, multiply and divide at will)
Judy Burrell says
Can I just use rotisserie chicken do instead of having to cook the chicken?
Marye says
Yes, absolutely!
Theresa Andresen says
Thanks for including the Time and Temp options. That always comes in handy (like if I want to make biscuits to go with the casserole).
Nancy Price says
I have a similar recipe without the Rotel, but think this will definitely be tastier.
Nancy Price says
I am looking forward to making this recipe. I have a similar recipe without the Rotel, but think this will definitely be tastier.