Description
A comforting twist on a classic dish, combining chicken and spaghetti with a rich, velvety cheese sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 ounces spaghetti noodles, cooked al dente
- ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk, warmed
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground mustard
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 2 ounces cream cheese
- 4 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded and divided
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 3 cups rotisserie chicken, shredded and chopped
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, drained
- Parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter. Add the all-purpose flour, whisking constantly for 1-2 minutes until thickened and golden.
- Remove from heat and gradually stir in the warmed whole milk. Return to medium heat and whisk for about 3-5 minutes until thickened and bubbling.
- Add kosher salt, garlic powder, ground mustard, and cayenne pepper. Stir in cream cheese, sharp cheddar, and mozzarella until melted and creamy.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked spaghetti noodles, cheese sauce, shredded chicken, diced tomatoes, remaining kosher salt, and black pepper. Toss until coated.
- Pour mixture into the prepared baking dish, top with remaining cheddar cheese, and bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until hot and golden brown.
- Garnish with parsley and serve hot.
Notes
For a lighter variation, substitute half of the cheese with reduced-fat options. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 100mg