• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Restless Chipotle

  • About
  • Recipes
  • Meal Plan
    • Meal Plan Help
  • Newsletter
  • Video
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Meal Plan
    • Meal Plan Help
  • Newsletter
  • Video
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Meal Plan
    • Meal Plan Help
  • Newsletter
  • Video
×
Home » Recipes » Chicken Spaghetti

Southern Chicken Spaghetti with RoTel

Published: Sep 17, 2023 Last Updated: Sep 17, 2023 by Marye 2324 words. | About 12 minutes to read this article.

30 minutes mins
Creamy chicken spaghetti casserole with Rotel is classic Southern comfort food. Great recipe for busy weeknights, family dinners, & potlucks!
Jump to Recipe
Serving of chicken spaghetti being removed from a casserole dish.
A serving of the recipe being removed from a casserole dish. Text overlay for Pinterest.
Chicken spaghetti in a casserole dish. Text overlay for Pinterest

This classic southern casserole has been a favorite for decades - mostly because it's easy to make and full of cheesy goodness!

A serving of chicken spaghetti on a serving spoon showing texture and ingredients.

Next time try this other easy family favorite, King Ranch Chicken Casserole! Serve either of these weeknight dinner casseroles with a batch of homemade garlic breadsticks!

Jump to:
  • 5 stars across the board
  • 🗝️ Key takeaways
  • 🧾 Ingredients
  • 📖 Variations
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • 🎥 Video
  • Casserole times and temps
  • 🥫 Storage
  • 💭 Things to know
  • 👩🏻‍🍳 FAQs
  • 📚 Related recipes
  • 🍽️ Serve with...
  • 📞 The last word
  • 📖 Recipe
  • ✍🏻 A note from Marye...
  • 💬 Comments

5 stars across the board

5 star rating
5 star rating
5 star rating
5 star rating
5 star rating
Followed step by step. My only problem was getting it to heat through in the oven after refrigerating it overnight (a fault of my own due to being a novice cook.) As for flavor and assembly, 5 stars across the board. Next time I will try to add the Rotel with more heat. Thank you for this recipe!
Wendy

🗝️ Key takeaways

  • Takes just 30 minutes but you can also assemble ahead of time.
  • We love this for busy weeknights and back to school.
  • Leftovers are easy to warm up and it freezes like a charm - be sure to read through the freezing instructions in the storage section.

Gooey cheesy pasta, with tender chicken and plenty of Ro-Tel tomatoes with chiles for flavor- it's a great recipe the whole family will love.

Hearty cowboy spaghetti is another one of our favorites!

This simple casserole recipe uses cream of chicken soup and a frozen onion and green peppers mix to save time. The diced tomatoes and chiles give it a spicy kick!

My cheesy chicken spaghetti is one of the family's favorite recipes - I hope you love it as much as we do!

🧾 Ingredients

Labeled ingredients for chicken spaghetti.
In the image above it should say CREAM CHEESE not sour cream

📖 Variations

Chicken spaghetti with RoTel in it is my favorite but this is a versatile dish with lots of potential variations!

  • Switch to penne, macaroni, or your favorite pasta and have a delicious spicy chicken pasta bake!
  • Turkey, ham, and cooked ground beef are ALL good in this versatile dinner recipe. In fact, it's a great way to use up leftover turkey after Thanksgiving!
  • Stir in pimento.
  • Saute some bell peppers with the onions.
  • Next time try topping with breadcrumbs, crushed tortilla chips, or potato chips for a little added texture and crunch.
  • If you like it spicy hot use the hot Rotel version instead of the mild Rotel.
  • Boneless chicken thighs work as well as boneless chicken breasts if you prefer them.
  • 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.
  • You can use fresh onions and peppers instead of frozen ones - just use about ½ cup each and dice them. Be sure to saute before adding to the casserole dish.

Next time try this 15 minute cream cheese pasta recipe!

🔪 Instructions

Try it once and my easy chicken spaghetti recipe will be on your dinner rotation a lot!

Step by step images for chicken spaghetti.
  1. Break the uncooked spaghetti noodles into 2 inch pieces.
  2. Bring salted water to a boil in a large pot and cook the pasta.
  3. 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.
  4. Stir in the cheese to make a smooth sauce.
  5. Shred the cooked chicken and set aside.
  6. Add enough cream to the sauce to make it spoonable but not too thin.
  7. Stir in the chicken.
  8. Pour over the cooked spaghetti and stir well.
  9. Spoon into an oiled casserole dish and top with Cheddar cheese. Bake.

🎥 Video

More tips for making this easy chicken spaghetti recipe with Rotel!

Lynn says: "I've been making Chicken Spaghetti for years but this really took it up a notch. Will be using this recipe from now on!"

Casserole times and temps

Need to bake your chicken spaghetti casserole at a different temperature than called for in the recipe? No problem!

These times are only an estimate. Be sure to check your casserole often. It's done when an instant-read thermometer registers 165F when stuck in the middle of the casserole.

TemperatureTimeTime From Frozen
300F40 -45 minutes1 hour 20 minutes (cover with foil)
325F30-35 minutes1 hour (cover with foil)
350F20-25 minutes40 - 45 minutes
375F15-20 minutes35 minutes
400F15 minutes40 minutes (cover with foil)

🥫 Storage

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 it. (Take the plastic wrap off before baking.)

Store leftovers 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

Chicken spaghetti freezes like a charm baked or unbaked!!

Cool to room temperature. Cover it with plastic wrap then aluminum foil or put it in a freezer container and freeze for up to 3 months.

To bake:

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.

💭 Things to know

Expert Tip: 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!

Restless Chipotle chicken spaghetti casserole is a little different from the bland recipes you often see.

The tomatoes and chiles add a sharp, mildly spicy flavor that cuts the richness of the cheese and creamy sauce and balances it out nicely.

  • You can assemble this up to 3 days ahead of time and keep it covered in the fridge until you're ready to bake it.
  • Chicken spaghetti with Rotel is freezer-friendly. It freezes well for up to 3 months.
  • Put plastic wrap, parchment paper, 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.
  • I've made this low carb and keto by using zucchini noodles instead of pasta. Still yummy!
  • This is a great way to use leftover chicken!
  • Break the spaghetti up in 2 to 3 inch pieces before cooking - it's traditional!
  • 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.
  • You can use sour cream instead of cream cheese for a lighter, yet still creamy, sauce.
  • Some people like to use half or all Velveeta cheese in the sauce instead of the shredded Cheddar.
  • Shred the cheese from a block - don't buy pre-shredded. It is dusted with cellulose and doesn't melt as creamy as block cheese.
  • Save time by using leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken from the store. You've gotta love planned leftovers - it's almost like a free meal!
  • You can skip the baking and just mix it all up in a skillet if you like.
  • Use one of the Rotel tomatoes variations like fire roasted or extra hot and spicy!
  • Try this cream cheese chicken spaghetti if you want a super rich and creamy casserole - but it's going to cost you extra time on the treadmill.

👩🏻‍🍳 FAQs

Here are the questions I am most frequently asked about this creamy chicken recipe.

Can you freeze it?

Yes! You can put it all together in your casserole dish then 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).
Freeze it for up to 3 months. The night before you want to serve it you'll put it in the refrigerator to thaw, then bake as directed in the recipe.

What goes with chicken spaghetti?

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.

Can you make this Rotel chicken spaghetti recipe ahead of time?

Yes! Assemble this casserole ahead of time and bake when ready or bake it ahead of time and simply warm it up. It's just so easy to get along with!

Why do you break up the pasta?

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.

Do you need to cover the casserole when baking?

No you don't need to cover the casserole during baking unless you notice the top browning too fast.

What’s new? Check out my Restless Chipotle & Co. Store on Amazon where you'll find all kinds of nostalgic goodness!  Thanks so much for being a part of Restless Chipotle!

A baking dish with finished chicken spaghetti in itshowing the top of the casserole - one serving is removed.

📚 Related recipes

This angel chicken mac and cheese or Chicken Frito Pie casserole are also great recipes for bringing to someone or to take to a potluck.

  • Taco Spaghetti is creamy good and all done in one pot.
  • Copycat Panera Chicken Tortellini Alfredo is another one pot meal.
  • Million Dollar Spaghetti is something like lasagna only so much easier!
  • Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Bake is just so deliciously family friendly!
  • Crack Chicken Spaghetti is an over the top version of this old favorite!
  • This Tuna Casserole recipe has a crunchy, salty potato chip topping.

Here are more great chicken recipes.

  • Overhead view of pulled pork casserole with serving removed for feature image.
    Pulled Pork Casserole
  • Closeup of a serving of this recipe being removed from the dish.
    Baked Eggplant Parmesan
  • Overhead view of iron skillet filled with chicken pot pie.
    Chicken Pot Pie Skillet
  • Chicken piccata casserole with a serving spoon resting on top.
    Creamy Chicken Piccata Casserole
See more Casserole Recipes →

🍽️ Serve with...

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!

📞 The last word

Mmmm.... this easy chicken spaghetti recipe is my go to when I need comfort food! Next time try this crock pot chicken spaghetti. It's even easier.

Get recipes to your inbox! Join the FREE membership group and get kitchen organizer packet ($9.99 value) as our gift.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at anytime.

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.

If you love this recipe please give it a 5 star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 Recipe

Serving of chicken spaghetti being placed on a plate.
4.67 from 433 votes

Southern Chicken Spaghetti with RoTel

Print Pin Recipe Save Saved!
Prevent your screen from going dark
Creamy chicken spaghetti casserole with Rotel is classic Southern comfort food. Great recipe for busy weeknights, family dinners, & potlucks!
Course Casserole,Main Course
Cuisine American - Southern
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
Servings:8
Calories:688
Author:Marye Audet-White
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Equipment Needed

  • 13x9-inch pan

Ingredients

  • 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
  • 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 peppers and onions mixed

I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.

Instructions

  • Cook the chicken breast, dice or shred it, and set aside.
  • If using fresh onions and peppers saute them until soft.
  • 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 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.
  • Spoon into a greased casserole dish.
  • Top with remaining 1 cup 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

Try serving this with some Angel Biscuits.
Tips
Chicken spaghetti with RoTel is super easy to make - and a little different from the bland recipes you often see. The tomatoes and chiles add a sharp, mildly spicy flavor that cuts the richness of the cheese and creamy sauce and balances it out nicely.
  • You can assemble this up to 3 days ahead of time and keep it covered in the fridge until you're ready to bake it.
  • This casserole freezes well for up to 3 months.
  • Put plastic wrap, parchment, or waxes 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.
  • Break the spaghetti up in 2 to 3 inch pieces before cooking - it's traditional!
  • Cook the pasta just until done. It will cook more (and soak up more flavor) as it baked.
  • You can skip the baking and just mix it all up in a skillet if you like.
Variations
Chicken spaghetti with the RoTel in it is my favorite but this is a versatile dish with lots of potential variations!
  • Turkey, ham, and cooked ground beef are ALL good in this versatile dinner recipe.
  • Stir in pimento.
  • Saute some Bell peppers with the onions.
  • Top with breadcrumbs, crushed tortilla chips, or potato chips.
You'll find more helpful tips and variations in the body of the post.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 688kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 141mg | Sodium: 1205mg | Potassium: 701mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1108IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 378mg | Iron: 3mg

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.

Sign up for the emails and never miss another recipe!!

    We'll never share your email or send you spam. Pinkie swear.

    ✍🏻 A note from Marye...

    I know y'all don't always like the stories bloggers tell so when I have one I try to put it at the very bottom so you can read or skip as you like.

    🍲 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?

    I think so!

    First published August 4, 2020. Last updated September 17, 2023, for editorial improvements and the temperature chart.

    A serving of chicken spaghetti on a plate.

    More Chicken Spaghetti

    • Tongs holding serving of pasta over slow cooker.
      Cheesy Crock Pot Chicken Spaghetti
    • Closeup of the casserole dish with a serving removed.
      Cream Cheese Chicken Spaghetti Bake
    • Close up of crack chicken spaghetti for feature image.
      Crack Chicken Spaghetti

    Love it? Share it!

    41.3K shares
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    About Marye

    With a 40 year focus on the importance of family and a passion for southern comfort food, Marye Audet-White is an expert in melding the two together effortlessly. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Love it? Give it 5 stars!




    1. Cindy

      August 26, 2023 at 3:29 pm

      5 stars
      My first time making chicken spaghetti and it was so good! I never would have thought to use RoTel but it's perfect!

      Reply
    2. Rita Joy

      August 25, 2023 at 12:33 pm

      Oh, goodness, this recipe is just what I need! My kids are coming to visit in a week, and this chicken spaghetti recipe with rotel will be perfect to make ahead and have it ready to pop in the oven quick for dinner one night. I can't WAIT to try it. Sounds so yummy!

      Reply
    3. Julie Evink

      August 23, 2023 at 11:59 am

      5 stars
      I made this chicken spaghetti recipe with my freezer meals and froze it trying to prep for the school year. It's so easy to make and is delicious. Love having it in my freezer!

      Reply
    4. Alyssa

      August 22, 2023 at 8:23 am

      This chicken spaghetti recipe looks amazing. I am always looking for quick and easy meals during the week. This one is perfect and I will have plenty of leftovers!

      Reply
    5. One Crazy House

      August 18, 2023 at 3:58 am

      5 stars
      Chicken spaghetti with Rotel is one of my guilty pleasure dishes! I love how creamy it is, and simple to make!

      Reply
    6. Holly

      August 16, 2023 at 10:53 am

      5 stars
      Your chicken spaghetti recipe is delicious. My kids love it so much and it is really easy to make. I like it because it has rotel.

      Reply
    7. Melanie C

      August 13, 2023 at 5:08 pm

      5 stars
      I made your recipe for chicken spaghetti with rotel last night and had to come back here today to let you know that our whole family LOVED it. We often make a regular chicken spaghetti recipe, but when I saw yours included rotel I just had to try it! Genius!!

      Reply
    8. Sharyl

      August 12, 2023 at 9:37 pm

      5 stars
      This is the BEST chicken spaghetti casserole, and is now my husband's favorite! This is so creamy,cheesy, and what a comfort meal! This dish will be my potluck go-to from now on. Love all of your recipes. Thank you so much, for opening a whole new world of flavor for me.

      Reply
    9. Camden Rusincovitch

      August 12, 2023 at 4:31 pm

      The chicken spaghetti with Rotel is an absolute favorite in my apartment-- my boyfriend and I both like to pack it for lunch the next day if we have any leftovers!

      Reply
    10. Becky Mansfield

      August 10, 2023 at 9:59 am

      5 stars
      I love finding a recipe that I can make ahead of time. I made this chicken spaghetti recipe & froze it for the following week when I knew we'd be busy with sports. It was great to have it ready to go (just thaw & cook) & and it tasted great. Everyone had seconds (even our picky one!)

      Reply
      • Marye

        August 10, 2023 at 11:16 am

        SO glad you liked it!

        Reply
    11. sharon garofalow

      August 08, 2023 at 12:51 pm

      5 stars
      I love to make this chicken spaghetti recipe when I've got plans to go out so my kids have a delicious dinner that they just have to bake!

      Reply
    12. Kristen Yard

      August 08, 2023 at 12:35 am

      I always have a can of Rotel in my pantry, as well as spaghetti! Do you think that this chicken spaghetti recipe would work, minus the chicken, for a vegetarian?

      Reply
      • Marye

        August 09, 2023 at 6:03 pm

        Yes. I used to add tofu to it as well.

        Reply
    13. Cynthia

      August 06, 2023 at 3:47 pm

      5 stars
      Chicken spaghetti with Rotel was on the menu last week. It was tasty! My kids put it on the "eat again" list. If you knew how short that list was, you'd know why I am so thankful. Haha!

      Reply
      • Marye

        August 07, 2023 at 9:43 am

        I'm so glad you liked it!

        Reply
    14. Brittany

      August 06, 2023 at 2:32 pm

      5 stars
      Thanks for including the freezing information for the chicken spaghetti recipe. I'm always hesitant about what can be frozen, when, and how!

      Reply
      • Marye

        August 07, 2023 at 9:43 am

        You're welcome!

        Reply
    15. Brandi

      August 06, 2023 at 1:42 pm

      I don't know why I've never tried a spaghetti bake before but I'll definitely be adding this chicken spaghetti recipe to this week's meal plan! I'll be serving it with a side of Caesar salad!

      Reply
    « Older Comments

    Primary Sidebar

    Marye Audet-White, founder of Restless Chipotle Media

    Hey Y'all, I'm Marye.

    NY Times bestselling author. 10 cookbooks. Mom of 8 kids. Homeschooling mom for 22 years. Addicted to Hallmark Christmas Movies.

    More about me →

    🎃 Pumpkin Spice

    • A stack of pumpkin bars on a plate showing the layers of spice cake and pumpkin.
      Pumpkin Gooey Bars
    • A close up of a square of the bread pudding showing the texture.
      Caramel Pecan Pumpkin Bread Pudding
    • Baked pumpkin scones glazed with icing.
      Classic Pumpkin Scones
    • A serving of pumpkin cake with a bite taken out of it.
      Pumpkin Spice Cake
    • Closeup view of the whole top of the pie for the feature image.
      Old Fashioned Pumpkin Pie
    • Slice of pumpkin cheesecake covered with caramel sauce and sprinkled with pecans.
      Pumpkin Cheesecake

    Get 14 Days FREE

    Clickable image of the meal planning app.

    👑 Reader Favorites

    • Square overhead of chicken for feature image.
      Crockpot Angel Chicken
    • Close up of the sauce showing the creamy texture.
      Copycat Red Robin Campfire Sauce Recipe
    • Wooden spatula removing fried potatoes out of iron skillet.
      How to Make Crispy Fried Potatoes
    • Blue cocktail with a red and white straw.
      Sex in the Driveway: Bright Blue Cocktail
    • A sliced loaf of english muffin bread.
      English Muffin Bread Recipe
    • Two finished loaves of Amish white bread cooling on a table.
      No-Fail Amish White Bread

    🥣 Best Soups for Fall

    12 Best Fall Soup Recipes

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • About Marye Audet-White
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Policy
    • Become a Sponsor
    • Contact
    MaryeAudet Whiteandherchildren Dec

    Featured In:

    Places Restless Chipotle has been featured

    Copyright ©2006 - 2023 Restless Chipotle Media, LLC