This post is sponsored by my friends at Family Dollar.
Our days are rarely perfect. We clash with coworkers, fight traffic, experience loss, the list goes on. And when things turn sour, we often turn toward the things that make us the happiest. Family, friends, and food often rank high on the scale. For many of us, comfort food is where our minds go. But what is comfort food? Simply put, it’s food that makes us feel better. It’s Mom’s chicken soup. It’s mac and cheese, a steaming bowl of grits or oatmeal, and grilled cheese sandwiches. Comfort food is made up of dishes that hold memories for us. Comfort food makes us happy.
With the loss of our sweet family pet recently, comfort food has been on the menu a lot at the Little household. Sometimes a hearty stick-to-your ribs meal is just what the heart wants. Yeah, yeah, calories… blah, blah, blah, but still. Calories don’t count when your heart hurts, right???
For me, one of my favorite comfort foods is the classic chicken spaghetti. You know which one… Velveeta Cheese and Ro*tel tomatoes. Yep. That one. I just love the stuff.
And that chicken spaghetti made perfect sense when my friends at Family Dollar asked me to show y’all my favorite comfort food dish. It’s funny because we live out of town a little and the closest thing to us is our Family Dollar store, so I always go by there to grab things for supper. You’d really be surprised at the selection if you haven’t been in one recently. They’ve got all the staples covered, and as you can see by this recipe, a whole lot more. I got everything for this recipe including the frozen chicken breast and the spices!
There’s just something about this gooey, cheesy pasta with just a hint of spice that takes me back to my childhood. It’s probably one of my all-time favorite dishes. One bite and I’m instantly taken back to my parents’ worn oak dining room table. My spot was down at the end of the table and there was a bare spot where I spilled some nail polish remover one time trying to get a label off something. They still have that same table and though Dad has worked to repair it, you can still see a little bit of the spot where I used to sit. I love sitting at that table now and thinking about all the happy times we have spent around it.
And I just love that this recipe makes a lot. When it’s just the 3 of us, I’ll divide it into two dishes and either freeze or share the extra one with my parents. And then there’s the leftovers! In fact, I’m wishing I had some right now!
- 2 pounds frozen boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 (16-ounce) package spaghetti
- 1 (10-ounce) can Ro*Tel Tomatoes
- 2 (10.5-ounce) cans cream of mushroom soup
- 1 (16-ounce) package Velveeta cheese
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- Place the chicken in a large pot and just cover with water. Cook over medium-low heat until cooked through. Try not to boil the chicken as it can make it tough. Allow to cool enough to handle, then shred using two forks.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 13x9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
- In a large pot, combine the Ro*tel with the juice, undiluted cream of mushroom soup, Velveeta cheese, and cream cheese. Heat over low heat, stirring constantly, until the cheeses have melted. Add the garlic powder and onion powder. Add the shredded chicken and cooked spaghetti. Mix well. Pour the mixture into the prepared dish and sprinkle with the shredded cheddar cheese.
- Bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until heated through and the cheese has melted.
Making This Recipe? Tag us on Instagram: @SouthernBite using the hashtag #SouthernBiteRecipes, so we can see what you are making in the kitchen!
Calories indeed do not count when the heart hurts…at least that’s my story and I’m sticking to it! I know all too well just how sad and hurting your hearts are now. One of these days you’ll be able to remember your sweet girl with less sadness and more happiness filled with many fond memories. Until then this delicious looking Chicken Spaghetti will definitely comfort you all. I’ll be trying it tonight!
Thanks, Pam! I sure do hope y’all enjoyed this one!
Oh my, that is the ultimate comfort food. I haven’t had chicken spaghetti in a long time. I think Ill be making this soon. My heart goes out to you, I know how bad it hurts to lose a beloved pet. My thoughts are with yall
Thanks, Susan!! I sure hope you’ll enjoy this!
Oh Gosh! All that cheese! Must try this at once – it sounds and looks so good.
Thanks so much, Susan! Hope you’ll enjoy!!
When you divide the cheese by 8 servings it’s only 3 ounces per serving. That’s manageable unless you’re eating Chicken Spaghetti every day.
All in moderation, right??
Chicken Spaghetti is one of my VERY favorite dishes, and this recipe looks easy and delicious. I’m so sorry for your loss, Stacey. Just thinking about losing either one of our two is enough to make me tear up right this minute.
It’s tough, but is getting better every day. Thanks, Patti! I hope you have many more years with your sweet pets!
I know how hard it is to lose a family pet, and my heart just breaks for you all. Keeping busy making wonderful foods like this will help give you time to heal! I will definitely be making this very soon….using gluten free spaghetti and gluten free cream of mushroom soup! I am so glad Velveeta is gluten free! Thanks for sharing the recipe, and will keep your family in my prayers.
Thanks so much, Joansy! Cooking has always been therapeutic!
I made this with spaghetti squash! Turned out awesome also added a little dried herbs [basil,chives garlic]
Sounds awesome!!
I have he very had the pleasure of eating this chicken spaghetti! I am looking forwaward to making this! Looks so yummy. Also sorry for your loss, I have been there..it does get better…
Thanks so much, Jo Ann!
Sorry..auto spelling. Never had this dish. Can’t wait to try it!
Does the canned tomatoes have green chillies in them or is it just regular canned tomatoes. Don’t have Ro*Tel brand in Canada that I know of, at least not where I live.
Yes. It’s a can of diced tomatoes with green chilies in it.
I’m sorry for your loss. I know it really hurts cos i lost my dear dear little doggy a little over a year ago and it’s getting better but sometimes there are moments when tears come up again. When i look at his picture or make a chickendish. He loved chicken so much and always when i made it he was getting a little piece. Just for taste. So when i now cook a chickendish ( wich i couldn’t for a long time), i think of him. But now i do cook them again and your dish looks very attractive to me. So i’m sure that i make this one and that it’s not gonna be the only time that i’ll do so. I just know i make this one often cos it’s easy and cheesy and i love both reason! Thanks for the recipe and take your time to heal. You’ll finally think of him/her with a smile on face instead of a tear in your eye. Promise.
Thanks so much, Marja!
Just put this dish in the oven. I subbed one can of cream of chicken for one of the cream of mushroom. Very much looking forward to it!
I sure hope you’ll enjoy!!!
This looks and sounds amazing😊. Unfortunately, it has about 2weeks worth of my daily sodium allowance. I might try to see if I can adjust it to waaay lower the sodium content.
It shouldn’t be too hard.
Can you freeze this
Sure can! 🙂
Made this tonight. It was a hit. Thank you for the recipd
Awesome! So glad y’all enjoyed it!!
Just made this for my husband and adult son the other night and both agreed the recipe is a “keeper”! My son even took a container full to work the next day for his lunch. I enjoyed this recipe too, easy to make (I used the packaged rotisserie chicken from Costco) and very tasty.
I’m just tickled everyone enjoyed it so much! My family just loves it too!
I’m making this as I am writing this… I love this recipe! Instead, this time I used sun dried tomatoes, a can of Campbell cheese (both of what I had on hand. To add some juice lost f%om canned tomatoes I added a couple of splashes of chicken stock!
Hopefully it’s as good as the above recipe… Fingers crossed
Hope you enjoyed it!
I made this last weekend and since there are only 2 of us I froze half of it. It is wonderful & easy. I work full time so it was great to come home & pop it in the oven (had made it night before). I am always looking for recipes that I can take out of freezer and put in oven ——this was yet another one I have tried from your site that’s great! I want to try more crock pot ones too so am searching for those & other freezer friendly recipes on your site. Thank you for all your recipes, stories and tips.
Thanks so much, Esther! I’m so glad you enjoyed this!
How did you reheat it after freezing? Temp and time?
I love this recipe. Which would work best, freezing after cooking or before or does it matter?
SO glad you enjoy it, Ann! I think I would freeze this one before baking it.
This was a disappointing recipe, very bland and dry. If I were to make it again I would add a second can of rotel a little more cheese and some heavy cream to really bump it up.
Goodness! I’ve never had anyone refer to this recipe as bland or dry. Did you follow the recipe as written?
I just made this and it turned out great! I live alone so will be freezing most of it lol.
It freezes beautifully! Glad you enjoyed it!
I love everything but the cream cheese. Could I use ricotta or just leave it out? This sounds so yummy! Right now I am having stomach problems so of course any food looks yummy & I can’t wait until I can make & eat this. Since it is just my mom & me, I might half the recipe but other then that & the cream cheese, there is nothing different I will do. Sorry about the loss of your pet. I had a dog & a cat who lived till they were 16 & passed away in the 80’s. I still miss them but it’s gotten a lot better over the years.
You won’t actually taste the cream cheese, but if you’d like, you can just leave it out. Thanks so much. 🙂
Lovely and delicious recipe. I just loved it. Will try it soon. And hope my whole family will love it. Thanks for sharing!
Sure hope you’ll enjoy it!
I hope you and all the other goddamn mom bloggers out there understand that NO ONE READS YOUR LIFE STORIES BEFORE THE RECIPES. we dog care about you. Just the food. Idiot.
Wow Maggie, that was uncalled for! And FYI, I do read the life stories along with the recipes, so I guess that would make your statement a little untrue. Anyway, I am about to try your recipe, which sounds similar to mine except the cream cheese. Also, I am sorry for the loss of your pet.
Thanks SO much, Tina!!
Goodness. Someone’s been in the wine today, huh?
That’s just an absolutely ridiculous comment Maggie. So uncalled for! If you don’t want to read the life stories…. DON’T READ THEM. It only takes about 5 seconds to scroll through it.
🙂 Thanks, Crystal!
My husband is allergic to mushrooms; what would be a good alternative to the cream of mushroom soup?
Cream of chicken should work.
Although the cheese combination is delicious (it could even be queso and my husband agreed), I found the cheese to spaghetti ratio to be too cheesy. I’ll either double the spaghetti or divide the cheese in half next time! Thanks for the recipe — we really may take out the cream of mushroom and serve with chips!
Any ideas for an organic substitute for the Velveeta? We’re 99% chemical free. Thanks-
I’m just not sure there’s a suitable alternative.
If you use half the amount of cheese it is more palatable. Way too much cheese.
I like it with all of it, but you certainly need to do what tastes best to you.
Do you think adding cream of chicken soup will made it soupy?? Thanks for the delicious recipe, and sorry for your loss
Thanks, Rell. I think that would be fine if you wanted to add it.
I made this for my husband today and he is a cheese lovet! He doesn’t like chicken shagwtti but he loved this one! Thanks !
So glad he enjoyed it!