Creamy Chicken Spaghetti Recipe

If you're looking for a hearty pasta dish that screams comfort food, we have the perfect recipe for you! This creamy chicken spaghetti comes complete with a big pile of spaghetti, a creamy sauce filled with different cheeses, tomatoes, and of course, chicken as your source of protein. If you're a vegetarian, you can always omit the chicken from this dish and add more fresh veggies instead. From start to finish, this recipe will only set you back 30 minutes — not too bad for a restaurant-quality meal. This pasta would be great for a sit-down family dinner, or if you have some special guests coming into town, it would be a hit at a dinner party.

Recipe developer Ting Dalton of Cook Simply came up with this top-notch recipe that's a must-try. "This is such a wonderfully rich and creamy pasta that is perfect for the whole family. I love the cheesy sauce and the sweetness of the baby tomatoes," Dalton raves. She also shares a little insight on what inspired her to make this dish. "My kids love spaghetti, and instead of a tomato based sauce, they wanted something cheesy and creamy instead — and this is a really tasty meal that's combines their favorite ingredients." We love that! 

For this recipe, you'll need chicken breasts, olive oil, yellow onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, pepper, all-purpose flour, butter, chicken broth, milk, baby tomatoes, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, spaghetti, and chopped fresh parsley.

Grab a large skillet and place it on your stove. Add the olive oil and turn the heat up to medium. Once the skillet gets nice and hot, toss in the chicken and sauté for about 3 to 4 minutes, allowing the chicken to cook. Once the chicken is no longer pink, transfer it to a dish and set it to the side.

Using the same skillet that you cooked the chicken in, toss in the butter. Lower the heat and let the butter melt. Then, scrape off any chicken bits from the bottom of the pan. At this point, you can add the onions and sauté for another 1 to 2 minutes. Then, add the garlic, Italian seasoning, and pepper. Continue stirring the mixture for about a minute to combine. 

The next ingredient that you will need to add is flour. Once you toss it in, stir to combine. Then, gradually whisk in the chicken stock so that the mixture forms into a sauce. Continue whisking until the sauce thickens and becomes smooth. "The method of making a roux is a special method here, by adding the flour to the onion and then adding the stock to make a veloute — a stock-based sauce, is a great base for this pasta sauce," Dalton shares.

Then, add the milk. If you think the sauce may be a little too runny, don't worry, it will thicken with the cheese. Speaking of cheese, it's time to toss that in — add both the cream cheese and shredded cheddar to the pan, stirring to ensure that they melt in.

Toss in the tomatoes and the chicken and stir to combine. "If you want to add other vegetables, including spinach or mushrooms, throw them in too," Dalton notes.

Keep the sauce on a low simmer for the time being, which will allow the flavors to really meld together. "Creamy, rich and flavorful from the broth, garlic and onions," Dalton describes the sauce.

While the sauce simmers, add the spaghetti to salted, boiling water and cook for about 8 minutes, until al dente. Drain the pasta into a colander and add then add it to the spaghetti sauce. Carefully combine and make sure to coat all of the spaghetti with sauce.

Once you add the pasta to a bowl of your choice, sprinkle with a little freshly chopped parsley, and serve. "If you would like you can sprinkle some Parmesan on top before serving," Dalton notes. She also says that this would be "great with garlic bread," or with a green salad.

If you have anything left, be sure to keep it. "This pasta will keep in a suitable container for up to three days, or you can freeze it for up to three months," Dalton shares.