Hen Spaghetti – WellPlated.com

Whether or not you realize it as Hen Spaghetti or chickenetti, this consolation meals casserole is a creamy, tacky crowd-pleaser! Good 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 Properly Plated twists.

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

And, because it goes with most Midwestern casserole recipes, the unique model is made with a number 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 selfmade cream sauce that’s nonetheless straightforward, however not as excessive in sodium.

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

• We are including veggies with onion and purple bell pepper, together with a hefty 3 garlic cloves to infuse the hen spaghetti casserole with extra taste (and a pop of colour too).
• Diced tomatoes with inexperienced chiles, pimentos, cumin, and paprika add unbelievable taste to the sauce and provides this old style casserole a bit of Tex-Mex spin.
• Entire wheat spaghetti provides the casserole some further heartiness and a delicate taste increase.

Key Elements

This isn’t the total record of elements! 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 remember.

• Spaghetti. As talked about above, I like to make use of entire wheat spaghetti, however common spaghetti is simply high-quality too.
• Greens. I take advantage of yellow onion and purple bell pepper, together with garlic. You should use a yellow or orange bell pepper as a substitute of purple for the same candy taste, or attempt inexperienced bell pepper for a bit of extra chunk.
• 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 stage.
• Entire Milk. I like to recommend sticking with entire 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 straightforward 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.
• Peppers. Tender, tangy, and candy. Not a fan? Chopped roasted purple 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 need to use smoked paprika for a bit of smoky oomph.
• Hen. Hold it straightforward and decide up a rotisserie hen for this recipe, or use cooked hen. It may be cooked and cubed (attempt my Baked Hen Breast or Air Fryer Hen Breast), or use Crockpot Shredded Hen.

My Suggestions for the Finest Hen Spaghetti

• Prepare dinner the Pasta to Al Dente. That is vital! Should you don’t need your pasta bloated and ughit’s essential to undercook it barely. It’ll end cooking within the oven.
• Shred Your Personal Cheese for the Finest Soften. The traditional model of hen spaghetti makes use of Velveeta and irrespective 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 in order for you that ultra-smooth, velvety soften, shred the cheese from a block.
• Work It Into Your Meal Plan. Once I’m making a hen casserole like hen spaghetti, I wish to make hen for dinner the night time 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 hen spaghetti. Right here’s some inspo.

• Make It Italian Model. 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 purple bell pepper for Sautéed Mushrooms.
• Wilt in Some Spinach. Stir a package deal 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 hen spaghetti earlier than baking.