It’s no secret that pasta is a popular go-to when time before dinner is tight. But what if you butter-up those buttery noodles and add some flavor and protein, instead?! Easy Chicken Spaghetti Casserole livens things up a bit and everyone, including your tastebuds, will be glad it did. Your beloved old-faithful, spaghetti noodles, are tossed in a tangy, creamy tomato sauce loaded with nourishing veggies, juicy chicken, and savory flavor! Then, it’s baked to complete perfection, meaning the two kinds of cheese on top become ooey-gooey, and who doesn’t like that?! Switching things up has never been so tasty! Easy Chicken Spaghetti Casserole will surely become your new favorite way of making pasta for dinner!
Ingredients
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 cups marinara sauce, store-bought or homemade
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- 2 cups chicken, cooked and shredded
- 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
- 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped
Directions
Step 1 –Set the oven rack to the middle position.
Step 2 –Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Step 3 –In a large pot of generously salted water, cook the spaghetti until al dente according to the package directions.
Step 4 –Drain the noodles and rinse them with cool water for about 30 seconds to stop the cooking.
Step 5 –In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-low heat.
Step 6 –Add the onion, the garlic, and the Italian seasoning to the skillet and sauté until the onions are translucent, about 3 minutes.
Step 7 –Stir the marinara sauce into the veggie mixture and cook until the sauce is hot, about 2-3 minutes.
Step 8 –Turn off the heat and stir the heavy cream into the sauce mixture.
Step 9 –Season the sauce with the salt and the pepper.
Step 10 –Add the cooked spaghetti to the sauce and stir to combine.
Step 11 –Add the chicken to the pasta mixture and stir to combine.
Step 12 –Transfer the pasta mixture to a 13×9-inch baking dish.
Step 13 –Sprinkle the pasta with the mozzarella cheese and the parmesan cheese.
Step 14 –Cover the dish with foil and bake until the cheese melts and the pasta is hot, about 15-20 minutes.
Step 15 –Garnish with the parsley and serve immediately.
