Rotel Chicken Spaghetti

This Rotel Chicken Spaghetti recipe is creamy and delicious. The homemade cheese sauce paired with rotisserie chicken and smoky bacon is the kind of family pleasing meal that will bring them to the table in a hurry every time.

Ingredients to Make Rotel Chicken Spaghetti  Recipe

So pasta remains a favorite for my family in pretty much any shape and form. Throw in a generous amount of chopped rotisserie chicken and bacon and it’s a bonafide comfort food feast. The rotel tomatoes add a spicy kick and the homemade cheese sauce is superior to making it with velveeta. You can fully prepare this baked spaghetti in advance, refrigerate it, and then bake it when you’re ready to serve dinner. Ingredients to make easy Rotel Spaghetti with chicken: (Scroll down for full printable recipe card.)

• Pasta – 8 ounces of dry spaghetti cooked to al dente.
• Chicken – Chopped cooked chicken.
• Bacon – 8 slices bacon
• Tomatoes – One can mild or spicy Rotel tomatoes.
• Onion and Garlic – Green onions for a mild onion flavor and garlic cloves.
• Sauce – All purpose flour, whole milk or half and half, low sodium chicken stock or chicken broth.
• Seasonings – Salt, black pepper, Ranch seasoning mix.
• Cream Cheese – Chive and onion cream cheese gives the sauce a creamy texture.
• Cheese – Shredded sharp cheddar cheese.

How to Make the Best Rotel Chicken Spaghetti

• Heat Oven and Prepare Baking Dish – Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray a 13×9-inch baking dish with cooking spray, set aside.
• Pasta – Cook spaghetti noodles in salted water per the package instructions until al dente. Drain well.
• Bacon – Cook bacon over medium-high heat until crisp. Remove to paper towels to drain and chop. Reserve 3 tablespoons drippings in pot.
• Make Roux – To the drippings add green onions and minced garlic. Cook over medium heat for 1-2 minutes then add flour, mixing until liquid is absorbed.
• Sauce – To the pot whisk in milk, chicken stock, salt and black pepper, Mix well, bring to a gentle boil then immediately lower the heat. Let simmer for 5 minutes until thickened.
• Mix-Ins – To the pot add Ranch dressing mix, one can of Rotel tomatoes and cream cheese. Mix until cream cheese melts into the sauce. Add cheddar cheese, mix stirring until melted.
• Combine – Add drained spaghetti, chopped chicken and cooked bacon to the pot. Stir with a large spoon until fully combined then pour into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with reserved shredded cheese.
• Oven – Bake per the recipe until bubbly around the edges and golden brown.
• Serve – Let stand then serve garnished with green onions and reserved bacon.

Tips for Making Rotel Chicken Spaghetti

• Kitchen Tools You’ll Need: A large Dutch oven or pot, a pasta cooker, sharp knife and cutting board, cheese grater, measuring cups and spoons, large spoon for stirring and 13×9-inch baking dish.
• Use a Large Pot: Using a large pot or Dutch oven to make the sauce, doubles as the mixing bowl. If the pot you choose is a Dutch oven it’s oven safe so there’s no need to transfer to a baking dish unless you prefer it.
• Use The Level of Spice You Enjoy: Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies can come in varying levels of heat. Choose hot or mild or diced tomatoes with habanero chilies, depending on how much spice or mild flavor that you like.
• Don’t Drain the Tomatoes: There’s no need to drain the Rotel tomatoes for this chicken spaghetti.
• Make-Ahead Tip: You can fully assemble this dish several hours in advance then cover and chill. Allow the spaghetti 15-20 minutes on the counter, then bake per the recipe adding a few minutes to the baking time or just monitor checking until it’s bubbly and heated through.
• How to Serve: Serve this spaghetti with a green salad and homestyle garlic bread for family weeknight dinners, entertaining, potluck gatherings and game day eats.

Recipe Variations

• Bacon Substitution: You could use turkey bacon in place of classic bacon.
• Oil: If you’d rather skip the bacon grease, use 3 tablespoons of olive oil for cooking the onions and garlic.
• Chicken: You can use any cooked chicken in this recipe whether it’s roasted chicken, poached chicken breasts or chicken tenders. You can also use chicken thighs cut into bite size pieces.
• Garlic Cloves: You can replace the fresh garlic with 1-2 teaspoons of granulated garlic or garlic powder.

Storage and Leftovers

• Leftovers: Store leftover Rotel Chicken Spaghetti in an airtight container or covered with aluminum foil chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
• Reheating: Reheat gently in the microwave in single serving portions or in a preheated 350°F oven.
• Freezer Storage: You can also freeze this Rotel Chicken Spaghetti prior to baking. Thaw in the refrigerator, bring to room temperature on the counter for 15-20 minutes then bake per the recipe.

More Easy Pasta Recipes to Make

Pasta is inexpensive and goes a long way in stretching ingredients for a hearty meal that won’t break the bank. More recipes featuring pasta you may also like to make:

• This easy Ravioli Casserole comes together in no time flat.
• This Easy Mediterranean Chicken Penne begins on the stovetop featuring spinach, sundried tomatoes and a creamy pesto sauce.
• Make this Cowboy Pasta Salad for game day and potluck parties.
• Lasagna Roll Ups takes everything you like about classic lasagna and rolls it up in an edible pasta swirl.
• Southwestern Chicken Cavatappi is a one dish meal.
• Vegetable Tomato Rotini Soup is a fabulous filling meal for a chilly day.
• See how to make Homemade Pasta from The Pioneer Woman.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• 13×9-inch Casserole Dish
• Pasta Pot
• Cheese Grater
• Kitchen Utensils