Made with a creamy, rich sauce, Smooth Baked Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti is the ultimate comfort food, perfect for your taste buds. Soft pasta, melty cheese sauce, and browned mozzarella together make this dish taste as rich as it sounds. Best served to family or bring to a potluck as a satisfying crowd pleaser!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Million Dollar Chicken Spaghetti advocates richness, creaminess, comfort, and might be one of your favorite casseroles for entertaining family. Tender spaghetti, shredded chicken, and a luscious cheesy sauce marry for the perfect weeknight shining star or party superstar. The mozzarella will glisten golden-brown and make the meal even more gooey and satisfying. It comes off as such a rich and luxurious dish but incorporating it into your home food routine is quite easy. And the name says it all; it does “taste like a million bucks!”
Key Ingredients
Spaghetti Noodles: The backbone of this dish, they must be cooked al dente to stand up to all the creamy layers.
Cream Cheese: Has velvety texture and tang in the cheese sauce.
Mozzarella Cheese: Mozzarella in and out makes this casserole extremely gooey and stretchy cheesy.
Parmesan Cheese: This gives a lovely nutty-savory flavor to the sauce.
Half and Half: Not so heavy that it burdens creaminess with richness.
Shredded Chicken: This predominantly protein star of the dish needs rotisserie chicken when a really convenient item is leftover cooked chicken.
Seasonings: Garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt, and pepper provide a balanced, full flavor in the sauce.
Parsley: This is optional, but fresh parsley adds freshness and color in the final product.
Complete list of ingredients with quantities and instructions is located in the recipe card below
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Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Preheat Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Lightly oil a baking dish to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
2. Cook Spaghetti
Boil water and cook spaghetti noodles according to package instructions until al dente.
Drain and set aside to cool slightly.
3. Prepare Cheesy Mixture
In a medium bowl, combine:
Softened cream cheese
2 cups of mozzarella cheese
Grated Parmesan cheese
Shredded chicken
Half and half
Oregano
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Salt and pepper
Mix until creamy and fully incorporated.
4. Assemble the Dish
Spread half of the cooked spaghetti evenly into the greased baking dish.
Top with half of the cheesy sauce mixture to create the first layer.
5. Layer Again
Add another layer of spaghetti noodles on top of the first layer.
Spread the remaining cheesy sauce mixture evenly over the second layer of spaghetti.
6. Add Cheese Topping
Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of grated mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.
7. Bake
Cover the baking dish with foil.
Bake for 30 minutes or until heated through and bubbling.
8. Broil for Golden Brown Top
Remove the foil and switch the oven to broil.
Broil for 2–4 minutes until the cheese topping is golden brown and bubbly. Watch closely to avoid burning.
9. Garnish and Serve
Remove the dish from the oven and let it cool slightly.
Garnish with fresh parsley for added flavor and color, if desired.
Serve warm and enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
Million Dollar Chicken Spaghetti makes a great meal on its own. Serve it with these sides to make your dining table shine.
Simple Green Salad: A crispy garden salad with light vinaigrette to balance the richness of the casserole.
Garlic Bread: The best bread to mop up that cheesy sauce.
Roasted Vegetables: Throw in some roasted broccoli, zucchini, or Brussels sprouts for more nutrition and texture.
Beverage: You can have this with Chardonnay or some sparkling water with a lemon squeeze to make it refreshing.
Storage Tips
Refrigerate: Place leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Reheat: Heat in a 350°F (175°C) oven until warm or reheat individual portion at a time in the microwave.
Freeze: Prepare the casserole in a freezer-safe dish but do not bake. Wrap the dish very well with foil before freezing, up to 3 months. Allow it to thaw in the fridge overnight before baking.
Variations
Spicy Twist: Add red pepper flakes or diced jalapeños to the meat for a spicy reincarnation.
Veggie-Loaded: Add mushrooms, sauteed bell peppers, or spinach for extra veggies.
Gluten-Free Option: Just switch up regular spaghetti noodles with some gluten-free spaghetti for celiacs.
Protein Swap: Consider raw turkey or cooked ham in place of chicken to give it a different touch.
Low-Fat Variation: Choose less fatty options, like less fat cream cheese and half & half, as well as skinned mozzarella, in order to lighten it up.
Conclusion
The recipe for the Million-Dollar Chicken Spaghetti is simply ideal, with that delicious creaminess and reassuring flavors that make spending any dollar on such a dish well worth it! A beautiful casserole that fits great family meals, a perfect potluck and even one of the best make-ahead freezer meals, it’s definitely optimally luxurious and can be enjoyed over and over. With such minimal effort, it’s sure to become repeat-request in your home. Be ready to bake superb and amazing dishes-preheat your oven!
Million Dollar Chicken Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 16 oz spaghetti noodles
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 3 cups grated mozzarella cheese divided
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1.5 cups half and half
- 2.5 cups shredded chicken
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp pepper
- fresh parsley optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly oil a baking dish to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti noodles and cook until al dente, following package instructions. Drain and set aside to cool slightly.
- In a medium bowl, combine softened cream cheese, 2 cups of mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, shredded chicken, half and half, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until creamy and fully incorporated.
- Spread half of the cooked spaghetti evenly into the greased baking dish. Top with half of the cheesy sauce mixture to create the first layer.
- Add another layer of spaghetti noodles on top of the first layer. Spread the remaining cheesy sauce mixture evenly over the second layer of spaghetti.
- Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of grated mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.
- Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes, or until heated through and bubbling.
- Remove the foil and switch the oven to broil. Broil for 2–4 minutes until the cheese topping is golden brown and bubbly. Watch closely to avoid burning.
- Remove the dish from the oven and let it cool slightly. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired. Serve warm and enjoy!
