This Creamy and Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti Bake is a comfort food at its best. Really easy and quick to make, it is guaranteed to put a big smile on your face after a hard day at work!
After a few weeks of mild weather, winter hits back with a bang. I love this time of the year but not when it’s zero snow and cold as hell! It’s so freezing here that I don’t even want to think about sticking my nose outside. And you know what? I don’t have to! I’m still sitting at home with my 1-year old baby boy while my hubby is the only one who supports our family. Poor him. I try to help as much as I can doing all the chores and surprising him with a comforting dinner when Adam (our kid) lets me prepare it, ha!
When winter is showing her fierceness, all I can think about in terms of food is something warm, hearty, and comforting. Like this Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti Bake I made today!
The trick is to pretend that you are making it for your poor, tired hubby and that otherwise, you would treat yourself with a healthy low-calorie kale salad. Yes, yes… Let your man think that while putting a big slice of this goodness into your plate!
Parmesan and mozzarella are my best friends for beating the winter blues. Seriously. Melt them on whatever you are eating and the mood goes up like a rocket! I guess it works for my hubby too. He looked way happier after devouring a big bowl of this cheesy chicken spaghetti than he was when I greeted him at the door after a long day at work. Cheese = happy people!
The best thing about this spaghetti bake is that it’s super easy and quick to make. Even if your kids are, citing Drake, on their worst behavior, you should still be able to pull it off and make your beloved one (and yourself, of course!) happy. I got hungry again just writing this post! Ok, guys, I am off to the kitchen to polish one more plate of this yumminess. Make this one!
Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti Bake
Ingredients
- 12 oz. (340g) . spaghetti
- 1 lb (450g) boneless skinless chicken breast , diced
- 1 teaspoon herbs de Provence (optional)
- salt and black pepper , to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese , divided
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese , divided
- ground nutmeg , to taste
- chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley , for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C). Lightly coat a large baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
- Cook the spaghetti in a pot of boiling salted water according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, season the chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and herbs de Provence, or any other herbs you have. In a skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and cook the chicken until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour until smooth. Add the milk and chicken broth, gradually, whisking constantly until smooth. Stir over medium-high heat until the sauce has thickened a little bit. Reduce the heat and add 1 cup mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg, to taste. Remove from the heat.
- Toss together the cooked chicken, pasta, and the sauce. Transfer to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese. Bake for about 15-20 minutes until the cheese melts and begins to brown. Let stand for 10 minutes. Garnish with the parsley and serve. Enjoy!
15 Comments
jane @ littlesugarsnaps
February 16, 2017 at 8:31 amI like your style – there’s no way a salad cuts it for me in winter either. This bake, on the other hands, looks wonderfully satisfying.
Kavey at Kavey Eats
February 16, 2017 at 8:39 amWhy have I never thought of using spaghetti in a pasta bake? I always use the short shapes but actually love this idea!
Kate | Veggie Desserts
February 16, 2017 at 11:21 amThis sounds like the most glorious comfort food! Yum.
Sarah
February 16, 2017 at 11:57 amI agree! Cheese absolutely makes winter life better! And I love that pinch of nutmeg!! This sounds amazing!
Tara
February 16, 2017 at 12:32 pmYum! This looks like quite the comfort food! I love how quick and easy it is. So perfect for the family.
Julia @ HappyFoods Tube
February 16, 2017 at 12:50 pmHaha, I agree with you about the cheese! I like quick and easy recipes and this one includes loads of cheese as well! It can’t get any better! 🙂
Bintu - Recipes From A Pantry
February 16, 2017 at 4:45 pmmmm that white sauce looks amazing, so cheesy. I love a bit of comfort food.
Aish Das-Padihari
February 16, 2017 at 4:55 pmMy kids love Italian food and this is something they would LOVE to eat. Every Friday is our Italian dinner night and I should try this one of the Fridays.
Tiffany
February 16, 2017 at 5:17 pmThis is my definition of comfort food! Loving that creamy sauce and all of those yummy herbs! Can’t wait to make this. I need some #CARBS to get me through the rest of the winter – haha 🙂
debi at Life Currents
February 17, 2017 at 12:51 amThis looks so good, and I’m trying to figure out what’s for dinner. I’ll have to see if I have all of these ingredients!
Agness of Run Agness Run
February 19, 2017 at 4:20 pmThis is so good spaghetti recipe! I love the combination of flavours, must try this soon!
Debi
March 12, 2017 at 2:23 pmDo you have to use mozzarella cheese or can you use any kind of cheese that I have on hand which is a Colby-Jack mixture with some other kind of cheese I have left?
Jovita
March 13, 2017 at 8:26 pmDebi, you can use any cheese you have on hand 😉
kelley
December 3, 2017 at 9:11 pmwhat size baking dish like a 9×13 ?
Jovita
December 27, 2017 at 5:01 pmMine is a little bit smaller but 9×13 should also work 🙂