Description
A creamy, cheesy, and comforting one-skillet spaghetti dish with tender chicken, tomatoes with chiles, and a melty topping, perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 350 g (12 oz) spaghetti
- 500 g (1.1 lb) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion (140 g), finely diced
- 1 red bell pepper (150 g), diced
- 3 cloves garlic (9 g), minced
- 240 ml (1 cup) chicken broth
- 240 ml (1 cup) milk
- 113 g (4 oz) cream cheese, softened
- 150 g (1 1/2 cups) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 can (283 g / 10 oz) diced tomatoes with green chiles
- 1 tbsp (8 g) chili powder
- 1 tsp (2 g) smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp (1 g) ground cumin
- 1 tsp (5 g) salt
- 1/2 tsp (1 g) black pepper
- Fresh cilantro and lime wedges, for garnish
Instructions
- Prep ingredients and start the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil and add spaghetti. Cook 1 minute less than the package directions for al dente (about 7–8 minutes). Reserve 120 ml (1/2 cup) pasta cooking water, then drain.
- Brown the chicken: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat, add chicken pieces seasoned with black pepper and salt, and cook for 6–8 minutes until browned. Transfer to a plate.
- Sauté the aromatics: In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and add onion and bell pepper. Sauté for 4–5 minutes, then add garlic and cook for 30 seconds more.
- Build the sauce: Stir in chili powder, smoked paprika, and ground cumin, let toast for 30 seconds. Add chicken broth and milk, bring to a simmer for 2 minutes, then stir in cream cheese until smooth.
- Combine pasta, tomatoes, and cheese: Add the drained pasta, diced tomatoes, and reserved pasta water to the skillet. Simmer gently for 2 minutes, then return the chicken and fold in shredded cheddar until melted.
- Finish and serve: Broil for 2–3 minutes for a golden top if desired. Garnish with cilantro and lime wedges before serving.
Notes
Don’t overcook the pasta; finish cooking in the sauce for the best texture. This dish saves well and can be made ahead of time.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/4 cups
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 640mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 85mg