Chicken Spaghetti

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
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This easy Chicken Spaghetti recipe is a dish you’ll come back to again and again. We bake tender pieces of chicken, pasta, and bacon in a creamy cheese sauce until it’s golden and bubbly. Comfort food in a bowl and perfect for feeding a crowd!

Why You’ll Love This Chicken Spaghetti Recipe

Baked chicken spaghetti with bacon… Yep, you read that right and we promise it’s even more amazing than it sounds! We’ve been making this recipe for years and it’s been a longtime family favorite. Here’s why you’ll love it too.

  • All That Flavor: This dish really has it all – creamy, salty, cheesy, and carby. Does it get any better? The flavors of the bacon, cheese, and creamy soup meld together beautifully to make a very memorable bite. No boring pasta for dinner tonight!
  • Enough For a Crowd: One batch of this cheesy chicken spaghetti makes enough for 3 or more dinners for a small family. It makes so much that we usually freeze portions for easy dinners later. But if you have a large family or are feeding a crowd for a potluck or party, this dish will fit the bill!
  • Total Comfort Food: If your grandma or nana used to make you baked spaghetti, this will bring back all those comforting memories! This easy chicken spaghetti recipe is just like the one I used to eat when I was a kid, except for the bacon… The addition of the bacon makes it so amazing and pairs perfectly with the cheesy creaminess of the dish.
  • Make Ahead: This is a great dish to make ahead if you’re planning to host a large party or get together. The recipe makes a TON of food and prepping everything early will free you up to do other things. Make the entire recipe up to the point where you put the dish in the oven. Instead, let it cool to room temperature, cover with foil, and place in the fridge. Let it sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before you want to cook and then bake as directed.

If you are looking for a meal the whole family will love, I promise this is it. But if you’re looking for some other family-friendly casserole options that will feed a crowd, be sure to try our spicy taco mac and cheese, Southern chicken and biscuits, and our creamy baked mac and cheese!

The Best Chicken Bacon Spaghetti - creamy chicken spaghetti with bacon and cheese!

What You’ll Need

This easy chicken spaghetti recipe has it all! And you only need a few simple ingredients that you can probably find in your pantry or fridge to make it. Scroll down to the recipe card for exact amounts.

  • Chicken: You can use any combination of chicken breasts or thighs.
  • Spaghetti
  • Veggies: We’ll be using sweet yellow onion, red bell pepper, and green bell pepper.
  • Soups: The creaminess in cheesy chicken spaghetti comes from cream of mushroom and cream of chicken soup!
  • Bacon: We’ll cook and crumble this, so it’s a great use of any leftover bacon you may have from breakfast.
  • Cheese: We really like the flavor of sharp cheddar cheese in this dish. Grab a block of this and shred it yourself for the best texture.
  • Seasoning: We are partial to ‘slap ya mama’ or ‘Tony’s chachere’s’ seasoning in this chicken spaghetti. We’ll also use salt and pepper to taste.
The Best Chicken Bacon Spaghetti - creamy chicken spaghetti with bacon and cheese!

How to Make Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti

Baked pastas always have a few more steps than the traditional stovetop version, but this recipe moves really fast! Check out the recipe card for detailed directions.

  • Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F and spray a 9×13 casserole with non-stick spray.
  • Boil: We’re going to use a stock pot to boil our chicken and our pasta! Cook the chicken for about 15-20 minutes and then shred it while you boil the pasta (you may need to add some more water at this point). When you drain the pasta, keep a cup of that cooking liquid for later!
  • Combine: In a large bowl, stir together the pasta, shredded chicken, cooking liquid, veggies, soups, bacon, and about a cup and a half of the cheese. Use some tongs to stir it all together. Season to taste and then add it to your casserole dish.
  • Bake: Top the chicken spaghetti bake with the remaining cheese, cover with foil, and bake for 25 minutes. Take the foil off and cook for another 10 minutes until that cheese is a nice golden color! Serve and enjoy!
The Best Chicken Bacon Spaghetti - creamy chicken spaghetti with bacon and cheese!

Tips and Variations

Who doesn’t love a creamy, cheesy chicken spaghetti casserole? This recipe is so easy to whip up with whatever chicken you have on hand, and it’s always a hit with the whole family. But you know what’s even better? You can make it your own by adding some fun twists and variations.

  • Don’t Overcook the Noodles: You’ll want your noodles to be just al dente otherwise they’ll be overcooked and a little mushy after you bake the casserole. This goes double for any kind of gluten free pasta!
  • Add Some More Veggies: Want to sneak in some greens (or yellows, or oranges) into your casserole? No problem! Just toss in some frozen peas, corn, carrots, or broccoli. They’ll add some color, texture, and great flavor to your dish.
  • Spice It Up: If you’re feeling adventurous, you can spice up your casserole with some heat. Add some diced jalapeños, red pepper flakes, or cayenne pepper to the mix. Or, use a spicy cheese, like pepper jack or habanero cheddar, for some extra kick. Trust us, your taste buds will thank you!
  • Use Different Noodles: Spaghetti noodles are great, but you can also use any other pasta you like for this easy chicken spaghetti recipe. Penne, rigatoni, bow tie, you name it. You can also use whole wheat, gluten-free, or veggie pasta if you’d like. Just make sure to cook them al dente, so they don’t get mushy in the oven.

What to Serve With Chicken Spaghetti

This cheesy chicken spaghetti is a full meal all on its own – trust us! But we often love adding a slice – or two! – of crusty ciabatta bread to sop up any creamy sauce that’s leftover. And when we’re feeling particularly good, we’ll add a salad to help round out all that cheesy goodness. We think our spinach strawberry salad has great tang to balance out the richness of the pasta and our loaded pea salad has great crunch and sweetness!

The Best Chicken Bacon Spaghetti - creamy chicken spaghetti with bacon and cheese!

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

As we’ve mentioned, this dish makes a lot of food. The good news is that the leftovers are amazing and hold up really well. Here’s how to handle them safely.

  • Refrigerate: Place your leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  • Reheat: For individual portions, the microwave is a great option for reheating. Just be sure to give everything a good stir halfway through to ensure even heating. If you’re reheating multiple services, we recommend using the oven even though it takes a little bit longer.
  • Freeze: If you want to freeze a portion for later, I use a foil pan and then top it tightly with a piece of foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. When you are ready to bake, put the pan directly from the freezer to the oven and let it cook for 50 minutes. Then remove the foil and let it cook another 10 minutes. Voila – dinner is done!

More Easy Chicken Pasta Recipes

The Best Chicken Bacon Spaghetti - creamy chicken spaghetti with bacon and cheese!
4.6 from 8 votes
Print Pin Recipe
Yield: 6 servings

Chicken Bacon Spaghetti

Loaded with bacon and lots of cheese, this Chicken Spaghetti is a quick and easy recipe the entire family will love.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1.5 lbs chicken, any combo
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 lb thin spaghetti, broken into thirds
  • 1 large sweet yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 1 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
  • ½ cup finely chopped green bell pepper
  • 1 10.5 oz can cream of chicken
  • 1 10.5 oz can of cream of mushroom soup
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
  • 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • black pepper, to taste
  • slap ya mama seasoning, or tony’s chachere’s seasoning

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13 casserole with non-stick spray. Set aside.
  • In a stock pot, add chicken and salt. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Boil until chicken is cooked through, about 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Remove chicken from pot (do not throw out the water it was cooked it) and shred. Set aside.
  • Add additional water to the pot (enough to boil the spaghetti in) and bring to a boil. Add spaghetti and cook until al dente, about 7 minutes.
  • Drain spaghetti, but retain 1 cup of the liquid the spaghetti was cooked in.
  • In a large bowl, stir together the cooked spaghetti, the 1 cup of liquid the noodles were cooked in, the cooked and shredded chicken, onion, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, 1.5 cups of the cheddar cheese and bacon. Stir well to combine. (I find it easiest to use big tongs to do this!)
  • Add seasoning to taste, then pour it into prepared 9×13. Top with remaining cheddar cheese.
  • Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes, remove the foil and let cook an additional 10 minutes. Serve hot!

Nutrition

Serving: 1, Calories: 654kcal, Carbohydrates: 34g, Protein: 46g, Fat: 36g, Saturated Fat: 14g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 19g, Cholesterol: 157mg, Sodium: 1789mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 3g

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Welcome!

Jessica
I'm a trial & error, self taught, sugar addict who thankfully learned how to survive in the kitchen! I am also a wife, mama of 3.