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Home » Recipes » Pasta Recipes

Southern Chicken Spaghetti with RoTel

Published: Sep 17, 2023 · Updated: May 1, 2025 by Marye

Classic chicken spaghetti features tender chicken, pasta, cheese, & Rotel tomatoes. Quick prep & done in 30 minutes. Make-ahead & freezable.
Total time for the recipe to be finished.Total Time 30 minutes minutes
Jump to Recipe
Serving of chicken spaghetti being placed on a plate.
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

First published August 4, 2020. Last updated April 24, 2025 for editorial improvements.

Table of Contents
  • 🎥 Video: How to make chicken spaghetti
  • 🧾 Ingredients notes
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 🍽️ Perfect pairings: what to serve with chicken spaghetti
  • 📚 Related recipes
  • 🍲 Southern casserole culture
  • 💬 Comments
Rotel chicken spaghetti being served onto a white plate.

🎥 Video: How to make chicken spaghetti

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.

5 star rating
5 star rating
5 star rating
5 star rating
5 star rating
Reader Review
I've been making Chicken Spaghetti for years but this really took it up a notch. Will be using this recipe from now on!
Lynn

🧾 Ingredients notes

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.

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

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.

📖 Recipe

Serving of chicken spaghetti being placed on a plate.

Southern Chicken Spaghetti with RoTel

4.69 from 496 votes
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Classic chicken spaghetti features tender chicken, pasta, cheese, & Rotel tomatoes. Quick prep & done in 30 minutes. Make-ahead & freezable.
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

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 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

Storage
Leftovers should be brought to room temperature, then stored in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap in the fridge (3-4 days) or the freezer (3 months). 
Tips
  • 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.
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.

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.

🍽️ 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!

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

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  • 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!
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🍲 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?

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

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About Marye

Meet Marye Audet, a wizard in the kitchen and a storyteller at heart. Marye is like your eccentric but fun aunt who knows all the secret recipes and isn't afraid to spill them.

Comments

    4.69 from 496 votes (420 ratings without comment)

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  1. Jane says

    November 30, 2022 at 11:46 am

    I would serve this wit sauteed zucchini slices.

    Reply
  2. Susan says

    November 30, 2022 at 11:44 am

    5 stars
    I would serve this with some warm crescent rolls and a tomato, cucumber and red onion salad in a red wine and olive oil dressing seasoned with just salt and black pepper.

    Reply
  3. Tiffany ONeal says

    November 30, 2022 at 11:33 am

    That’s looks so yummy 🤤! I would serve a salad 🥗 or garlic green beans an garlic 🧄 toast. For dessert would be some warm chocolate chip cookies an vanilla ice cream either on top or side!

    Reply
  4. Theresa Teague says

    November 30, 2022 at 11:32 am

    I would serve this with soft buttery breadsticks.

    Reply
  5. Toni Pope Sprouse says

    November 30, 2022 at 11:30 am

    5 stars
    I would serve this yummy dish with a side of sauteed mushrooms!

    Reply
  6. Richard A Swain says

    November 30, 2022 at 11:12 am

    I would serve this with a side salad

    Reply
  7. Lisa says

    November 30, 2022 at 11:05 am

    5 stars
    This was surprisingly very good. I wasn't sure we'd like the Rotel but it gave it a kick we enjoyed. We serve this with noodles, a tossed salad and french bread.

    Reply
  8. Virginia McKenzie says

    November 30, 2022 at 11:05 am

    With your recipe of Chicken Spaghetti I would serve a tossed salad with Italian dressing. The crunch of the salad would be very pleasing to the palate with the Chicken Spaghetti.

    Reply
  9. Jimmy Dooley says

    November 30, 2022 at 10:59 am

    5 stars
    I serve this with a platter full of Garlic bread, only way to go! I love this stuff, fantastic!

    Reply
  10. M C Boles says

    November 30, 2022 at 10:51 am

    5 stars
    I serve with a Broccoli salad or whatever I have in veggie drawer!

    Reply
  11. Terrie Salisbury says

    November 30, 2022 at 10:50 am

    I would serve this with nice flaky crescent rolls with toss salad loaded with different veggies and give people’s choice of dressing.

    Reply
  12. MrsSW says

    November 30, 2022 at 10:29 am

    I would have never thought to put Rotel in chicken spaghetti but it certainly would give the dish some zip. Fruit served in some fashion would cool the spiciness.
    Thanks for sponsoring this giveaway.
    Sheila

    Reply
  13. Patricia Morrow says

    November 30, 2022 at 10:29 am

    For the Southern Chicken Spaghetti with RoTel dish, I would choose a Kale salad, sourdough rolls, and apple pie for dessert.

    Reply
  14. Charly LEMONS says

    November 30, 2022 at 10:28 am

    I would serve this with an herbed garlic bread and a cucumber salad

    Reply
  15. Jackie Duncan says

    November 30, 2022 at 10:27 am

    4 stars
    I would serve garlic French toast and a simple green salad. Yum

    Reply
  16. Deb says

    November 30, 2022 at 10:26 am

    5 stars
    I would serve this with a Caesar salad and garlic bread! Delicious!

    Reply
  17. Judi W says

    November 30, 2022 at 10:14 am

    I would serve this with a salad and some garlic bread.

    Reply
  18. Melissa says

    November 30, 2022 at 10:13 am

    I'd serve this with a salad and maybe try out your drop biscuit recipe.

    Reply
  19. Linda V Youngs says

    November 30, 2022 at 10:08 am

    5 stars
    I love this recipe!! I serve it with a large veggie salad and breadsticks!!

    Reply
  20. Sherri Rochester says

    November 30, 2022 at 9:57 am

    5 stars
    #ohmyyum The hubby loves this. I think next time I will add pinto beans to the mix!
    I'd serve cornbread muffins with this.

    Taking it to Church this Sunday for monthly potluck! LOVE your recipes!

    Reply
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Marye Audet-White, founder of Restless Chipotle Media

Hey Y'all, I'm Marye

Welcome to my kitchen! ☕

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

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