Description
Monterey Chicken Spaghetti is a flavorful and comforting casserole dish combining tender chicken breasts, perfectly cooked spaghetti, tangy barbecue sauce, and melted Monterey Jack cheese. This easy-to-make recipe is perfect for weeknight dinners and offers a delicious twist on traditional spaghetti with a smoky, cheesy finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Spaghetti
- 8 ounces spaghetti
Chicken
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 pound)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Sauce and Cheese
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Garnish (optional)
- Fresh parsley
Instructions
- Cook Spaghetti: Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions in a large pot of salted boiling water. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
- Season Chicken: While the spaghetti cooks, season the chicken breasts evenly with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to taste.
- Cook Chicken: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken breasts for 6-7 minutes on each side until fully cooked through and no longer pink in the center. Remove from heat and allow the chicken to rest for a few minutes.
- Slice Chicken: Slice the rested chicken breasts into thin strips for layering.
- Combine Spaghetti and Sauce: In a large mixing bowl, toss the cooked spaghetti with half of the barbecue sauce until it is evenly coated.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking.
- Assemble Dish: In a baking dish, spread the sauced spaghetti mixture evenly. Layer the sliced chicken breasts on top. Drizzle the remaining barbecue sauce over the chicken and sprinkle the shredded Monterey Jack cheese over the entire dish.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is fully melted, bubbly, and slightly golden on top.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and let cool slightly. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Serve hot and enjoy your Monterey Chicken Spaghetti!
Notes
- Use any barbecue sauce variety you prefer – sweet, smoky, or spicy – to customize the flavor.
- For extra creaminess, add a splash of cream or a dollop of sour cream to the spaghetti before baking.
- Make sure not to overcook the chicken to keep it juicy and tender.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven.
- Fresh parsley is optional but adds a nice color and fresh flavor to the finished dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Boiling, Sautéing, Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
Keywords: Monterey Chicken Spaghetti, chicken spaghetti casserole, barbecue chicken pasta, baked spaghetti recipe, easy dinner recipe
