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 additional delicious.

A basic Midwestern casserole with some Properly 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 numerous canned soup and cheese.

I’m not going to skip the cheese (worry not!), however I’m going to show you to swap in a do-it-yourself cream sauce that’s nonetheless simple, 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 coloration too).
• Diced tomatoes with inexperienced chiles, pimentos, cumin, and paprika add unimaginable taste to the sauce and provides this old style casserole a bit of Tex-Mex spin.
• Entire wheat spaghetti offers the casserole some additional heartiness and a delicate taste increase.

Key Elements

This isn’t the complete listing 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 fantastic too.
• Greens. I take advantage of yellow onion and purple bell pepper, together with garlic. You should utilize a yellow or orange bell pepper as a substitute of purple for the same candy taste, or strive inexperienced bell pepper for a bit of 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 offers me extra management over the salt degree.
• Entire 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 utilize 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 could be very welcome in such a wealthy casserole.
• Pimentos. 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 should utilize smoked paprika for a bit of smoky oomph.
• Hen. Maintain it simple and decide up a rotisserie hen for this recipe, or use cooked hen. It may be cooked and cubed (strive my Baked Hen Breast or Air Fryer Hen Breast), or use Crockpot Shredded Hen.

My Suggestions for the Greatest Hen Spaghetti

• Prepare dinner the Pasta to Al Dente. That is essential! For those who don’t need your pasta bloated and ugh, it is advisable undercook it barely. It’ll end cooking within the oven.
• Shred Your Personal Cheese for the Greatest Soften. The basic 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 potential to soften easily. So if you need 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 evening earlier than and plan for leftovers. I put aside what I would like for the casserole the following 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 additional 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.