Chicken with Spaghetti

Chicken with Spaghetti is a classic Italian-inspired pasta dish that everyone should try at least once in their life. This dish is a favorite staple from childhood, mainly because there’re just very few pantry ingredients used.

If you’re looking for a quick dinner for your family, this cheap and easy chicken with spaghetti recipe is a great option for you. You can make it in just about 35 minutes by following these simple steps below.

A flavorful chicken with a spaghetti dish like this starts with tomato sauce and leftover roasted chicken breasts, but you can use boiled chicken; also chicken thighs work well too.

Just cut out the chicken flesh from the bones into bite-size pieces and season with salt and pepper, saute for a couple of minutes in a skillet or until the chicken has cooked through then you can proceed to cook the rest of the ingredients that this recipe calls for. After removing the flesh from the bones of the chicken you can save your bones and skin to make a delicious chicken stock that you can later use in other recipes.

There are many spaghetti recipes with chicken out there, but instead of stressing out too much over what to fix for dinner, just get some leftover chicken from the fridge and make a quick spaghetti meal with just a little effort. It’s the perfect midweek meal for everyone and it can be made ahead of time and frozen.

This recipe covers the process of making a delicious-tasting, creamy spaghetti with chicken and gives tips on how to store the leftover. If you’re looking for a hearty and satisfying chicken dish, look no further than this spaghetti with-chicken recipe. This dish is perfect for those who want something that’ll fill them up and leave them satisfied over a longer time.

Related: Chicken Skewers Recipe

Ingredients for chicken spaghetti

Ingredients for chicken with spaghetti recipe
Ingredients for chicken with spaghetti recipe
  • 2 large chicken breasts, or 2 and 1/2 cups of shredded chicken
  • 300 grams spaghetti
  • 400 g diced tomatoes, or canned tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup of diced onions
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 crushed chicken stock cube, add more if necessary
  • 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 black pepper
  • 2 tbsp freshly chopped parsley
  • 1 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp salt.

What goes in the chicken spaghetti dish

Chicken

Many different types of chicken can be used for this chicken with spaghetti recipe. Rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken are great options. My best part is chicken breast because it has lots of flesh and flavor. Other variations may include spaghetti with chicken livers, thighs, wings, or drumsticks.

Spaghetti

Any kind of spaghetti will do, you can use the thin or the thick variety or you can always use any kind of pasta as a substitute but have it in mind if you are using something different, it won,t longer be called chicken spaghetti, you have something like chicken pasta.

Tomatoes

Tomato is a great addition to this simple chicken spaghetti recipe, they add some redness to the dish, therefore, making it more appetizing to the eye. I used freshly diced tomatoes since I had them in excess, you can make use of crushed canned tomatoes from the store. Another option for you is to use marinara sauce or pasta sauce if you have a bottle of it already lying in the pantry.

Heavy cream

The cream is also a great addition to the chicken spaghetti recipe because it makes the sauce smooth, and gives it an extra richness and creamy consistency even without using cheese in the dish. You can use half and half, whipping cream, or any regular cooking and if you don’t have any cooking cream on hand, you can substitute chicken broth or water. Cream cheese is another option too.

Chicken stock

For chicken stock, I used chicken bouillon and a little bit of spaghetti water for extra richness and taste, chicken bouillon doesn’t harm at all if used sparingly, it gives your spaghetti dish a richer taste and sweetness, however, you can use liquid chicken broth/stock, or vegetable stock if you have that instead.

Onion and garlic

Both serve as flavoring ingredients, they add flavor and depth to the dish. I love cooking with onions and garlic a lot, they always start as a base for all my stir fries and many pasta dishes like this one. Additionally, they provide a lot of backbone to the sauce while adding sweetness and aroma.

Butter and olive oil

Butter and olive oil are also the two most important ingredients in this simple chicken spaghetti recipe, butter adds flavor and helps thicken the sauce while olive oil keeps the spaghetti glossy and prevents it from becoming too dry.

Seasoning and spices

Chili, black pepper, thyme, oregano, cumin, cayenne, salt, and parsley. they are generally needed in a simple pasta recipe. they are loaded with rich flavor, aroma, spiciness, color, and fragrance. Make sure to use them in your chicken and spaghetti recipe to complement the other ingredients.

Easy steps to make chicken with spaghetti

So, I will like to start with some roasted chicken breasts, use forks to shred the chicken breast until you have individual pieces separated from the breast bone. Set aside when done.

Making spaghetti with shredded chicken
Shredded chicken breast for spaghetti

Place a large pot of water on heat and bring it to a boil, add salt and the spaghetti to the water, and make sure it is fully immersed in the liquid. The oil prevents the spaghetti from sticking together.

Boiling the pasta for making chicken spaghetti recipe
Boiling spaghetti in salted water with oil to prevent it from sticking

Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions. Once it’s cooked, drain it and set it aside.

Cooked spaghetti for chicken with pasta recipe
Draining the pasta to remove excess liquid

Over medium-high heat, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a large pan, once it is hot, add chopped onions and saute for 3 minutes, or until translucent.

Cooking finely chopped onions for chicken spaghetti
Cooking finely chopped onions for chicken spaghetti

Add minced garlic and saute for 1 minute until it is fragrant, then go in with finely diced tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes until wilted. you can use canned tomatoes for this recipe.

Making tomato sauce for chicken with spaghetti recipe
Making tomato sauce for chicken with spaghetti recipe

Season the tomato sauce with black pepper, crushed chicken stock, and dried thyme, dried oregano, smoked paprika, cumin, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and salt. Stir, cover, and cook for 2 minutes until most of the liquid has evaporated.

Well seasoned tomato sauce for chicken spaghetti
Well-seasoned tomato sauce for chicken spaghetti
Well seasoned tomato sauce for chicken with spaghetti
Cook the tomato sauce until most of the liquid dries up

Add the shredded chicken breast to the sauce and stir to combine, you want all the chicken pieces to absorb the delicious sauce and become juicy.

Making chicken spaghetti with shredded chicken breasts
Making chicken spaghetti with shredded chicken breasts

Add 1/2 cup of cooking cream and stir for everything to combine nicely.

Creamy chicken with spaghetti recipe
Creamy chicken with spaghetti recipe

Bring in the drained pasta and stir to combine too. If the content appears to dry, add about 3 tablespoons of the pasta liquid and mix. Let it heat up again for 3 minutes.

Mix the drained spaghetti with the sauce until well combined
Mix the drained spaghetti with the sauce until well combined

Garnish the spaghetti with 2 tablespoons of chopped parsley and mix again. remove the pan heat and serve warm.

Adding chopped parsley in chicken with spaghetti recipe
Adding some fresh parsley for a pop of green and aroma

What’s special about the chicken with spaghetti recipe?

It is easy to make, rich and delicious: There are a lot of great things about chicken spaghetti. One, it’s a really easy meal to make. You just need some leftover chicken breasts, spaghetti, and tomato sauce. Even if you’re in a hurry, you can prepare it in about 30 minutes. Additionally. it tastes really good and is perfect for using up any leftovers from the fridge plus, it’s packed with tons of flavor and deliciousness. 

Filling: Even though this chicken spaghetti is a comfort food, it s a meal that is packed with lots of benefits, it keeps you full for a longer time and helps you stay energized plus you have the rich sauce which was made with quality vegetables.`

Cheap and Convenience: All the ingredients used are affordable, and some are what you already have in the pantry. Also, it’s a meal that can be made on the go and doesn’t require much time or preparation especially when you are short on time or don’t want to spend too much time in the kitchen.

Easy to customize: Even as it is, simple to make, it is also easy to customize to your liking. Whether you want extra cream, you can add it or you can omit it if you don’t need it. You can even add some cheese such as cream cheese, cheddar, or parmesan cheese to create a creamy chicken spaghetti recipe.

What to serve with chicken spaghetti

There are many options when it comes to serving chicken spaghetti, one popular option is to serve it with this primavera recipe, roasted asparagus, vegetable salad, or ratatouille, and you can also add a layer of sautéed mushrooms on top and enjoy it with a bottle of chilled drink.

How do I thicken chicken spaghetti?

Creamy chicken with spaghetti recipe

The easiest way to thicken your chicken spaghetti is by cooking out most of the juices from the tomatoes, and instead of using diced tomatoes, you can replace those with tomato sauce since it has a thicker consistency. Another way is by stirring in heavy cream, but have in mind the thicker the cream the richer the meal will turn out to be.

Another popular option is to use flour or cornstarch; you can make a slurry with cornstarch or a simple roux with flour to thicken your chicken spaghetti.
Other options include adding cream cheese, parmesan, or cheddar cheese, these are all great for this spaghetti dish and give the dish a thick creamy texture and add a cheesy flavor to it as well.

Can you freeze chicken spaghetti?

You can freeze chicken spaghetti for 3 days, you’ll want to leave it to cool down completely, then dish the leftovers into a freezer-safe container. You can use separate containers if you have a larger quantity to freeze. Freezing chicken spaghetti is a great way to save food and make it last longer. This can stay up to 2 months without any issue.

Can I put chicken stock in spaghetti?

Adding chicken stock will give your spaghetti a more intense flavor and make it more delicious. I have used stock cubes (bouillon) and liquid stock before and they worked great. When adding powdered chicken stock like bouillon, make sure to adjust the proportions and the amount of salt accordingly; you don’t want to end up with a salty meal

Chicken with spaghetti

Chicken with spaghetti is an easy but delicious recipe that can be used to make a quick and easy dinner within a short time. The main ingredients in this recipe include chicken breasts, spaghetti noodles, tomato sauce, and a variety of spices. This easy meal was made with leftover chicken breasts that were shredded into long strips, it is a great way to make use of leftover baked chicken, roasted chicken, shredded chicken, or any other type of chicken that you have in the freezer.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Chicken spaghetti, Chicken with spaghetti
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 300kcal
Cost: 15

Equipment

  • 1 Colander
  • 1 Spatula

Ingredients

  • 2 large chicken breasts about 1.5 lb, shredded
  • 300 g spaghetti
  • 400 g diced tomatoes, or canned tomatoes
  • ½ cup heavy cream you canuse half and half if desire
  • 1 cup diced onions
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 chicken stock cube, crushed you can use use vegetables stock if you want
  • ½ tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 2 tsp smoked paprika
  • ½ tsp cayenne pepper or add to taste
  • ½ tsp ground cumin
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 1 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ tsp salt

Instructions

  • Use forks to shred the chicken breasts until you have individual pieces separated from the breast bone. Set aside when done. If you are cooking your chicken from scratch check the notes on how to.
    Making spaghetti with shredded chicken
  • Place a large pot of water on heat and bring it to a boil. Add salt and the spaghetti to the water, and make sure it is fully immersed in the liquid. The oil prevents the spaghetti from sticking together.
    Boiling the pasta for making chicken spaghetti recipe
  • Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions. Once it's cooked, drain it and set it aside.
    Cooked spaghetti for chicken with pasta recipe
  • Over medium-high heat, heat up 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a large pan, once the oil is heated, add chopped onions and saute for 3 minutes, or until translucent.
    Cooking finely chopped onions for chicken spaghetti
  • Add minced garlic and saute for 1 minute until it is fragrant, then go in with finely diced tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes until wilted. You can use canned tomatoes or tomato sauce for this recipe.
    Making tomato sauce for chicken with spaghetti recipe
  • Season with black pepper, crushed chicken stock, dried thyme, cumin, dried oregano, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and salt. Stir, cover, and cook for 2 minutes until most of the liquid has evaporated.
    Tomato sauce for chicken spaghetti
  • Add the shredded chicken to the sauce and cook, you want all the chicken pieces to absorb the delicious sauce and turn out juicy.
    Making chicken spaghetti with shredded chicken breast
  • Add 1/2 cup of heavy cream and stir for everything to combine nicely.
    Creamy chicken with spaghetti recipe
  • Bring in the drained pasta and stir to combine too. If the content appears too dry, add about 3 tablespoons of the pasta liquid and mix. If you are using cheese, you can add it at this point and stir. Let it heat up again for 3 minutes.
    Creamy chicken spaghetti recipe1
  • Garnish the spaghetti with 2 tablespoons of chopped parsley and mix again. Remove the pan heat and serve warm.
    Adding chopped parsley in chicken with spaghetti recipe

Video

Notes

What do you serve with chicken spaghetti?

This simple chicken spaghetti recipe is great not just by itself, but also as a base for other dishes. Here are a few ideas to get you started- garlic bread, dinner rolls, oven-roasted vegetables, fruit salad, and vegetable salad. Each of these will add a unique flavor and distinctive taste that will make your spaghetti night special.

Healthy Tips

Use chicken instead of beef

Making spaghetti with chicken instead of beef makes it healthier, especially when using chicken breast (white meat) is a great option for a low-fat but high-protein diet.
You can use fresh chicken breasts and cook them from scratch if you don’t have leftover or rotisserie chicken for the chicken spaghetti recipe. Simply cut the chicken into smaller pieces to help cook faster and evenly. If you want to see how to cook chicken breasts from scratch for this recipe, scroll down to read the simple step below.

Chicken spaghetti with vegetables

If you’re looking for a healthy chicken with a spaghetti dish, try adding more veggies like zucchini, carrots, mushrooms, or even broccoli for a vegetarian version. You can omit the cream and chicken and make it a simple meal but loaded with veggies.
Other colorful vegetables that can be added include red and green bell peppers or even green peas.
You can saute the vegetables in a separate pan and add them to the pasta dish once it is cooked, or stir-fry them together with the onions and garlic. Either way, you’ll have a delicious and nutritious meal that will please your taste buds and keep you feeling full throughout the day. Experiment with different vegetables to see which one you like the most.

Variations

While there are endless variations of chicken with spaghetti based on some of the added ingredients, some of the most popular ones include:
  • Chicken spaghetti with tomato sauce,
  • Chicken spaghetti with white sauce
  • Chicken spaghetti with rotel 
  • Cheesy chicken spaghetti
  • Velveeta chicken spaghetti
  • Crockpot chicken spaghetti
  • Baked chicken spaghetti
  • Chicken spaghetti squash
There are different types of spaghetti that you can use for this recipe, I used regular thin spaghetti, but you can also make use of whole grain spaghetti, angel hair, fettuccini, linguine spaghetti, or any other one that you are familiar with. Whatever your preference is, chicken spaghetti is a meal that will quickly become a favorite in your household.

Substitutes

Instead of cream, you can use cream cheese, and if you like a lighter version replace the cream with milk, half and half, or just make it really simple without adding cream or milk to it all.
Also, I used homemade diced tomatoes, you can make use of canned tomatoes, tomato paste, or tomato sauce. If you find the tomato sauce too acidic, try adding 1 teaspoon of sugar to the sauce to help balance the taste 

How to freeze cooked chicken spaghetti

Cooked chicken with spaghetti can be safely stored in the fridge for up to 3 days; it should be cooled completely and then transferred to a safe bowl with a fitting lid before refrigerating. It can be frozen for up to 2 months, and when ready to serve, thaw on the counter overnight or for hours before heating. To reheat chicken spaghetti, add a few splashes of chicken broth, cream, or water to it and reheat on the stovetop.

How to cook chicken breast for spaghetti

  • Start by cubing chicken breast with a sharp knife, alternatively you can slice the chicken into thin strips, it all depends on how you want it. 
  • Bring into a bowl and season with onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, and toss to coat. You can season the chicken with taco seasoning if you have that available. If you have more time let the chicken sit for 10 minutes otherwise proceed to the next step.
  • Add some oil to the pan over medium heat and saute the chicken pieces for 5 minutes until it is no longer pink. Take them out and proceed with step 5. (You can cook the chicken breast whole without cutting it into smaller pieces). If you are going with this method, make sure to cook it a bit longer so that it will cook through and you won’t end up with raw meat. You can slice the cooked chicken breast horizontally like steak and serve it over your spaghetti once it is ready.

This chicken with spaghetti is a dish that is both delicious and convenient, it is easy to make and can be cooked in just a few minutes making it an excellent choice for those looking for a quick and easy meal. This dish is made with chicken, spaghetti, a little cream, Italian seasonings, and no cheese. You can substitute any type of spaghetti pasta.

So if you are looking for a delicious and healthy dish that doesn’t include cheese, give this spaghetti with shredded chicken a try. Shredding the chicken into thin strands blends well with the spaghetti noodles and makes it easy for me to enjoy.

You can leave a comment down below once you have made this or intend to make it, we love to hear from you.

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