There’s something incredibly comforting about a saucy, cheesy pasta that just warms you through — that’s exactly what this Creamy Chicken Spaghetti Recipe delivers. It’s a cozy hug on a plate, balancing tender chicken, melty cheese, and just the right herbs, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or when you want to impress without fuss.

A white bowl filled with creamy spaghetti pasta covered in a light orange sauce mixed with chunks of red tomatoes and green herbs scattered throughout. The pasta strands are tangled together with some lifting upward, held by a fork with a silver handle. The dish is sprinkled with finely chopped green parsley and grated white cheese. The bowl sits on a surface with a white marbled texture. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Creamy Chicken Spaghetti Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Creamy Chicken Spaghetti Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Creamy Chicken Spaghetti Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I honestly find myself making this Creamy Chicken Spaghetti Recipe whenever I crave that perfect balance of creamy richness without it feeling heavy or complicated. It’s one of those dishes that feels fancy but comes together quickly, so you get all the comfort with hardly any stress.

Super creamy sauce: The blend of cream, cheese, and fire-roasted tomatoes creates a sauce that coats every strand of spaghetti perfectly.
Utilizes rotisserie chicken: Using pre-cooked chicken keeps prep time short but still delivers plenty of protein and flavor.
Flexible and forgiving: You can easily swap cream for evaporated milk or adjust spices to suit your taste.
Comfort food upgrade: It captures that nostalgic homemade feel but with a few extra touches that elevate the dish.

The image shows a white pan full of cooked spaghetti with a creamy orange sauce, mixed with chunks of red tomatoes and small green herb leaves sprinkled on top. A woman's hand holds tongs lifting a large bundle of the spaghetti from the pan, showing the texture of the noodles twisted together and coated in the sauce. The background has a white marbled surface with two clear water glasses and a small wooden bowl. The scene is bright and fresh, with the focus on the pasta layers and the mix of colors from the sauce, tomatoes, and herbs. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

This recipe brings ingredients together that you likely have on hand but combines them in a way that’s both simple and spectacular. The creamy base, tangy tomatoes, and a punch of spices make a sauce that clings to every bite.

Flat lay of a small bundle of uncooked spaghetti noodles, a few peeled garlic cloves, a small white bowl of golden olive oil, a small white bowl with a pat of creamy butter, a small white bowl filled with fine all-purpose flour, a small white bowl of rich chicken broth, a small white bowl of thick heavy cream, a small white bowl of vibrant fire roasted diced tomatoes with juices, a small white bowl containing mixed dried herbs including parsley, basil, oregano, onion powder, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes, a small white bowl heaped with freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese, a small white bowl with freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and a neat pile of shredded rotisserie chicken, all arranged symmetrically on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Spaghetti: Classic and versatile, it’s the perfect pasta for holding the creamy sauce.
Olive oil and butter: Combining these gives a silky richness and nice flavor depth when cooking the roux.
Garlic cloves: Adds that essential aromatic kick that wakes up the whole dish.
All-purpose flour: This is what thickens the sauce gently without lumps.
Low sodium chicken broth: Adds savory depth without overpowering the creaminess.
Heavy cream (or evaporated milk + cornstarch): For that amazing creamy texture, you can lighten it up without losing richness.
Fire roasted tomatoes with juices: They bring a smoky, slightly acidic contrast that lifts the sauce beautifully.
Dried parsley, basil, oregano, onion powder, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes: A perfect blend of herbs and seasonings that add layers and a gentle warmth.
Chicken bouillon: Just a touch for extra umami boost.
Sharp cheddar cheese: Melts into the sauce, giving it that comforting cheesy flavor.
Parmesan cheese: For a nutty, salty finish that complements the cheddar.
Rotisserie chicken: Pre-cooked and shredded, it makes this meal quick and packed with protein.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

This Creamy Chicken Spaghetti Recipe is a great blank canvas for whatever you have in the kitchen or your taste preferences. I love tweaking it depending on mood and occasion — the key is to keep the creamy, cheesy heart intact.

Variation: One of my favorite tweaks is swapping sharp cheddar with pepper jack for a little spicy kick — it totally transforms the flavor!
Vegetarian Twist: If you want to skip the chicken, adding sautéed mushrooms or roasted veggies like bell peppers adds that savory depth without meat.
Gluten-Free Option: Use gluten-free pasta and a gluten-free flour blend to make the roux and you’re good to go.
Make it lighter: Using evaporated milk instead of heavy cream keeps things lighter but still creamy thanks to the cornstarch.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Creamy Chicken Spaghetti Recipe

Step 1: Cook the Pasta Just Right

I always cook the spaghetti just to al dente — a little firm but cooked through — because it will soak up some sauce later and keep from turning mushy. Don’t forget to save half a cup of that pasta water before draining; it’s pure gold for loosening the sauce if it gets too thick.

Step 2: Build the Base Flavor

Melt the butter in olive oil over medium-low heat, then whisk in the flour to make a roux. Stir constantly for about 2 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste — this step thickens your sauce later without lumps. Add garlic right at the end and sauté for 30 seconds to release all that fragrant aroma.

Step 3: Whisk in Liquids and Seasonings

Turn the heat to low and slowly whisk in your chicken broth and heavy cream, then add the fire-roasted tomatoes with juices and chicken bouillon. Bring the heat up to medium-high and gently simmer the sauce for 5–7 minutes until it thickens. Patience here pays off — stir often so the sauce doesn’t stick or scorch.

Step 4: Melt in the Cheeses

With the heat low again, add your sharp cheddar cheese first and stir until it melts smoothly into the sauce. Then fold in Parmesan cheese — this layering gives the sauce that rich, sharp cheesy bite that makes this dish irresistible.

Step 5: Combine Chicken and Pasta

Stir in your shredded rotisserie chicken and heat through. Then add the cooked spaghetti and toss to coat every strand. If the sauce feels too thick, pour a little of that reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time until it reaches your preferred consistency. Give it a final taste — sometimes a pinch more salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes is just right.

Top Tip

I learned early on that stirring constantly when adding the liquids prevents clumps and keeps the sauce silky. Also, don’t rush the thickening step — it really makes the difference between a watery sauce and one that beautifully clings to every noodle.

Whisk thoroughly: Adding chicken broth and cream slowly while whisking avoids lumps and keeps the sauce smooth.
Save pasta water: It’s a secret weapon for adjusting sauce consistency without watering down flavor.
Don’t skip the roux: Cooking flour and butter is key to thickening the sauce and giving it that velvety texture.
Cheese layering: Melt cheddar first, then Parmesan — it creates a more complex cheesy flavor and creaminess.

How to Serve Creamy Chicken Spaghetti Recipe

creamy chicken spaghetti - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I typically finish this dish with a sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan and a handful of chopped fresh parsley — it adds a pop of color and a fresh brightness that balances the creamy sauce. Sometimes I’ll add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes on top for a subtle heat that really wakes up the flavors.

Side Dishes

I like pairing this with a simple green salad with a light vinaigrette to cut through the richness of the dish. Roasted or steamed green beans or broccoli also work beautifully for some added crunch and nutrients.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I’ve baked this chicken spaghetti in a casserole dish topped with extra cheddar cheese until bubbly and golden. It’s always the star of potlucks or Sunday dinners. Serving it in shallow bowls with an extra cheese sprinkle and a sprig of fresh herbs makes it feel a little more special without extra effort.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover creamy chicken spaghetti in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days. To keep the pasta from clumping together during storage, make sure it’s mixed well with sauce and cools quickly. When reheating, adding a splash of milk or cream brings back the sauce’s silkiness beautifully.

Freezing

Freezing this dish works wonderfully if you prepare it just to the skillet stage before baking. Let it cool completely, wrap tightly with plastic wrap and foil, and freeze for up to three months. This way, you avoid overcooked, mushy pasta when reheating.

Reheating

When reheating leftovers, I prefer warming it slowly on the stove over low heat with a little extra cream or milk to loosen the sauce back up. If in a hurry, the microwave also works—just add a splash of liquid and stir halfway through. If frozen, thaw overnight in the fridge, then bake uncovered until warming through.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make this Creamy Chicken Spaghetti Recipe dairy-free?

Yes! For a dairy-free version, use a non-dairy milk like coconut or almond milk and swap out the cheddar and Parmesan cheeses for dairy-free alternatives. Just watch the thickness and adjust with a little extra flour or cornstarch as needed.

What’s the best way to make this recipe ahead for a crowd?

I find assembling the dish and chilling it in the baking dish with cheese on top works great. You can refrigerate it up to two days before baking. When ready, just pop it in the oven covered with foil to keep it moist and bake until bubbly and heated through.

How spicy is this recipe?

It’s mild by default, but the added red pepper flakes give a gentle warmth. You can easily customize the heat by adjusting how much red pepper flakes you add or leaving them out entirely for a kid-friendly version.

Can I use fresh herbs instead of dried?

Definitely! Fresh parsley, basil, and oregano can brighten the dish even more. I recommend adding fresh herbs at the end of cooking to preserve their vibrant flavor and color.

Final Thoughts

This Creamy Chicken Spaghetti Recipe feels like a little celebration every time I make it — cozy, rich, and full of flavor but still simple enough to whip up when time is tight. I hope you’ll enjoy making it as much as I do and find it to be one of your go-to comfort meals. It’s the kind of recipe I’m always happy to share with friends because it hits that perfect home-cooked spot every time.