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One Pot Chicken Spaghetti is a simple, quick and easy dinner idea that will satisfy even the pickiest critics. Creamy, cheesy pasta, tomato sauce and spaghetti all cooked in one pan for easy clean up!

I love to serve this Spaghetti with Chicken recipe with a simple side salad and some Garlic Bread or Homemade Garlic Breadsticks.

An overhead shot of One Pot Chicken Spaghetti topped with Parmesan cheese
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Why I Love This Recipe

One Pot Meals are often a go-to for busy weeknight because they are super easy and uncomplicated. My family loves spaghetti – it’s one of our favorite comfort foods – but sometimes I want to change it up from the same old spaghetti sauce and meatballs. This One Pot Chicken Spaghetti recipe is perfectly simple and just a little different.

The creamy, cheesy sauce makes this Chicken Spaghetti taste a little like a grown-up version of the classic Spaghettios you can still find on grocery store shelves, but with much better flavor and no icky preservatives. This recipe is a family favorite – kids love it, and grown ups love how easy it is because it cooks up quickly on the stovetop, no need to bake.

Ingredients For Chicken Spaghetti

  • Chicken – I use about 1 pound (2 large breasts) of boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Cut them up into 1-2 inch chunks.
  • Garlic and onions – Sauteed with the chicken for added flavor.
  • Chicken broth – You can also use water, but the broth will give the dish a flavor boost. I always select low sodium.
  • Spaghetti noodles – Uncooked (about half of a regular box.
  • Spices and seasonings – Italian seasoning, Bay leaves.
  • Spaghetti sauce – One regular sized jar of your favorite sauce. You can also use 24 ounces (3 cups) or a homemade marinara or other tomato sauce.
  • Parmesan cheese – Fresh grated or shredded, off the block for the best taste and texture.
  • Garnish – Fresh minced parsley or basil.
A pan of One Pot Chicken Spaghetti, with a portion lifted to be served.

How To Make One Pot Chicken Spaghetti

This is a good base recipe and can be used with a variety of meats and pastas. There are just a few simple steps.

  1. Saute the meat. Start by sauteing some onion in olive oil over medium heat. After a few minutes they will begin to soften and you can add the chicken. Cook just enough to get some color on all sides of the chicken and season with salt and pepper.
  2. Cook. Then add the sauce, broth, dry pasta, and seasonings and bring the mixture to a boil. Turn down the heat to low and simmer for about 17-20 minutes, stirring at least once while the pasta is cooking to ensure that it doesn’t stick together or to the bottom of the pan. You don’t need to cover it – you want the liquid to reduce so it forms a yummy sauce.
  3. Add the shredded cheese. Once the pasta is fully cooked and al dente (tender), add the Parmesan cheese. The added cheese creates a luscious sauce as it combines with the thickened liquid.
  4. Garnish and serve. For serving, I like to garnish each bowl with some fresh Parmesan cheese and either parsley or basil.
6 photo collage depicting how to make one pot chicken spaghetti.
A plate of cheesy chicken spaghetti

Variations

  • Add some veggies – Add 2 cups of chopped broccoli or sliced mushrooms with the liquid.
  • Ground beef – If you prefer to use ground beef or ground chicken or Italian sausage, you can. You’ll want to saute the meat so that it is cooked through and no longer pink. Then continue on with the rest of the steps.
  • Spicy – Add a ½ teaspoon or more of red pepper flakes to the chicken.
  • Cheese – Get creative with the cheese on top! If you aren’t partial to fresh Parmesan, you can stir in the canned grated stuff, or use fresh Mozzarella, Jack, or Cheddar cheese to change things up. For even creamier pasta, add a couple of ounces of softened cream cheese.
  • Pasta – Instead of spaghetti, you can use penne, rigatoni, or farfalle.

How Long is Spaghetti Good For?

Storage: Place leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave or in a small pot on the stove.

Freezing: I don’t recommend freezing this finished dish because the pasta gets mushy upon reheating.

Expert Tips

  • Be sure to stir the pasta while it’s cooking. As the starch is released from the pasta, it can cause it to stick together or to the pan. Stirring a couple of times will help avoid this.
  • Watch your pot. If it starts to seem dry, add more broth or a little bit of water. You can always drain out extra liquid at the end if necessary.
  • In a pinch you could use rotisseire chicken and just skip the step of cooking the chicken.
One Pot Chicken Spaghetti lifted off the plate on a fork.

More Easy One Pot Meals 

One Pot Meals are fantastic time savers; not only do they require fewer dishes, but they are often completely finished in under 30 minutes!

Recipe
A close up of chicken spaghetti

One Pot Chicken Spaghetti

4.50 from 14 votes
An easy one pot meal with chicken, spaghetti and a creamy tomato sauce.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 22 minutes
Total Time 37 minutes
Servings 5 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound of chicken breasts about 2 large, cut into one inch chunks
  • 2 tablespoons minced garlic
  • 1/2 cup diced onion
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 8-10 ounces uncooked spaghetti about ½ of a box
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 24-ounce jar spaghetti sauce
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 cup fresh shredded Parmesan cheese or more, to taste
  • fresh minced parsley for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Heat a small amount of olive oil in a 5 quart pot or skillet over medium-high heat and add onion. Stir and cook for a few minutes, until onion becomes translucent. Add garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.
  • Add chicken and season with salt and pepper. Cook chicken until browned on all sides, but not completely done.
  • Add spaghetti sauce, chicken broth, water and seasonings and bring to a boil.
  • Add pasta and a couple pinches of salt; stir. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to low.
  • Simmer for about 17-20 minutes, stirring at least once. Add more water or chicken broth if it seems dry.
  • Remove from heat and stir in shredded Parmesan, reserving about 2 tablespoons for the garnish, if desired.
  • Divide into bowls, sprinkle with fresh grated Parmesan cheese and minced parsley and serve.

Notes

Instead of spaghetti, try penne or rotini pasta. Use roughly 2-2 ½ cups of dry pasta.

Nutrition

Calories: 394kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 33gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 71mgSodium: 446mgPotassium: 531mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 185IUVitamin C: 3.3mgCalcium: 267mgIron: 1.4mg
Keyword one pot chicken spaghetti, one pot spaghetti

Kristin Maxwell

Kristin Maxwell is the creator and main recipe developer, writer, and photographer of Yellow Bliss Road. A self-taught cook and self-appointed foodie, she specializes in easy, flavorful and approachable recipes for any home cook.

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Comments

  1. Not bad but nothing extra special, either. I wish I had used a different tomato sauce. The one I used was rather bland. You need to make sure you separate the pasta as it cooks or you’ll end up with a big glob!

  2. Loved this recipe! It came out perfect. Did have to cook a bit longer because I like more done noodles but just added more chicken stock. Thanks for the great dinner.

    1. Hi, I’ve updated the recipe card to reflect the times that were missing. This dish takes about 35-45 minutes, including prep and cooking.

  3. I have never left a comment in 20 years of internet cooking so this is a first. Fantastic budget friendly meal for the family. For me though, too starchy. I like the idea of the sauce absorbtion so next time I will partially cook the pasta.

    1. Totally understand about the starchiness, however if you partially cook the pasta first you run the risk of it being mushy.

  4. I know we just had your Chicken and spaghetti the other night but for some reason I am craving it again……????.
    The simplicity and the quickness. And of course the great taste will real you in everytime….

  5. Well Kristin:
    It was a hit. I will definitely be back for more delishiousiness.
    Thsnks so much for the speedy but ever so tasty chicken and spaghetti dinner.?????…….

  6. So Kristin,
    I have made your version of chicken and spaghetti, about to serve it to my family.
    It looks and the aroma is really nice.
    Stsy turned for the final test. ?

  7. Kristin,
    Question: could I cook my pasta separately, and then add it to the rest of the pan. Or does it need the starch?

    1. The pasta cooks in the liquid. If you wanted to cook the pasta separately, you could and just leave out the chicken broth and water. It would alter the flavor but it would still be tasty.

    2. Kristin,
      Just so you know I did cook it in the same pot.
      And I was delicious. If I had cook it separately it would have been very Blan…..

  8. Kristin,
    I am making this deliciousness tonight for supper. I really hope it is as good as you say. As my family isn’t that much of a pasta family.Myself. I will let you know…..

  9. This was so easy to make. I omitted some of the ingredients because the hubby is a picky eater and it still tasted awesome. I will be making this again.

  10. I made this recipe and it was so easy, full of flavor and now is one of my husband’s favorite dish.

    THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH FOR SHARING ?

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