Hen Spaghetti – WellPlated.com

Whether or not you already know it as Hen Spaghetti or chickenetti, this consolation meals casserole is a creamy, tacky crowd-pleaser! Excellent for potlucks and household dinner (it serves 10!), my model skips the canned soup and layers in some Tex-Mex flavors to make it further delicious.

A traditional Midwestern casserole with some Effectively Plated twists.

Hen spaghetti is an Amish casserole made to feed a crowd on a funds.

And, because it goes with most Midwestern casserole recipes, the unique model is made with a lot of canned soup and cheese.

I’m not going to skip the cheese (concern not!), however I’m going to show you to swap in a do-it-yourself cream sauce that’s nonetheless straightforward, however not as excessive in sodium.

After which we get just a little bit sassy and switch it right into a real-deal meal…

• We are including veggies with onion and crimson bell pepper, together with a hefty 3 garlic cloves to infuse the rooster spaghetti casserole with extra taste (and a pop of shade too).
• Diced tomatoes with inexperienced chiles, pimentos, cumin, and paprika add unbelievable taste to the sauce and provides this old school casserole just a little Tex-Mex spin.
• Complete wheat spaghetti provides the casserole some further heartiness and a refined taste enhance.

Key Elements

This isn’t the total record of components! You’ll discover that within the printable recipe card on the backside of the web page. However right here you’ll discover a fast abstract of the important thing gamers and a few notes to bear in mind.

• Spaghetti. As talked about above, I like to make use of complete wheat spaghetti, however common spaghetti is simply wonderful too.
• Greens. I take advantage of yellow onion and crimson bell pepper, together with garlic. You should use a yellow or orange bell pepper as an alternative of crimson for the same candy taste, or strive inexperienced bell pepper for just a little extra chew.
• Low-Sodium Hen Broth. The bottom of our cream sauce. I like to make use of low-sodium as a result of it provides me extra management over the salt degree.
• Complete Milk. I like to recommend sticking with complete milk and never swapping in a decrease fats selection. This helps make the sauce wealthy and creamy.
• Cream Cheese. You should use full-fat or reduced-fat. Let it come to room temperature so it melts extra shortly into the sauce.
• Diced Tomatoes With Inexperienced Chiles. HELLO FLAVOR! This easy addition provides so many layers of taste, beginning with the brilliant acidity of the tomatoes, which may be very welcome in such a wealthy casserole.
• Pimentos. Tender, tangy, and candy. Not a fan? Chopped roasted crimson peppers would work too.
• Cheese. I take advantage of a mixture of cheddar (for taste) and mozzarella (for a superior soften).
• Spices. Floor paprika and cumin; I take advantage of common (candy) paprika, however you should utilize smoked paprika for just a little smoky oomph.
• Hen. Hold it straightforward and choose up a rotisserie rooster for this recipe, or use cooked rooster. It may be cooked and cubed (strive my Baked Hen Breast or Air Fryer Hen Breast), or use Crockpot Shredded Hen.

My Ideas for the Finest Hen Spaghetti

• Cook dinner the Pasta to Al Dente. That is vital! For those who don’t need your pasta bloated and ugh, it’s good to undercook it barely. It would end cooking within the oven.
• Shred Your Personal Cheese for the Finest Soften. The traditional model of rooster spaghetti makes use of Velveeta and regardless of your ideas on this controversial topic, Velveeta melts BEAUTIFULLY. Retailer-bought shreds? Not a lot—it’s coated with an anti-caking agent that impacts its capability to soften easily. So if you would like that ultra-smooth, velvety soften, shred the cheese from a block.
• Work It Into Your Meal Plan. Once I’m making a rooster casserole like rooster spaghetti, I wish to make rooster for dinner the evening earlier than and plan for leftovers. I put aside what I want for the casserole the subsequent day and we eat the remainder for dinner. 

Recipe Variations

There are MANY methods to make rooster spaghetti. Right here’s some inspo.

• Make It Italian Fashion. Use diced tomatoes with Italian herbs and swap the pimento with sun-dried tomatoes. Use 1 1/2 cups of shredded mozzarella and 1/2 cup Parmesan. As an alternative of paprika and cumin, use Italian seasoning.
• Add Mushrooms. Swap out the crimson bell pepper for Sautéed Mushrooms.
• Wilt in Some Spinach. Stir a bundle of child spinach into the sauce for some further veggie goodness.
• Add Some Crispy-Crunch. Mix panko breadcrumbs with melted butter, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle this combination over the rooster spaghetti earlier than baking.