Move over, mac and cheese. There's a new comfort food classic in town, and it's called the Million Dollar Chicken Casserole Recipe! This delicious dish has tender chicken, spaghetti noodles, creamy sauce, and lots of cheese.
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What I loved best is the creamy sauce! It's plenty saucy, creamy, cheesy, and full of flavor. Chicken casserole is also a great way to use up leftover chicken and stretch your food budget.
This classic dish is a family favorite! It's easy to make and can be customized to suit your family's taste buds.
Ingredients
For the exact measurements, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Spaghetti pasta is recommended, but you can also use fettuccine, linguine or angel hair pasta.
- Cream cheese, mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese.
- Use half and half, the sauce will be creamier, but in a pinch use whole milk.
- Shredded cooked chicken, rotisserie chicken is great for this recipe.
- Oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and black pepper.
- Fresh parsley for garnish.
Million Dollar Chicken Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 16 ounces spaghetti noodles 1 package
- 8 ounces of cream cheese softened
- 3 cups grated mozzarella cheese divided
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 ½ cup half and half
- 2 ½ cups shredded chicken use leftover cooked chicken, rotisserie chicken, etc.
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- fresh parsley to garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly oil your baking dish.
- Cook the spaghetti in boiling water for about 10 minutes or until al dente, drain, and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, add the cream cheese, 2 cups of mozzarella, parmesan, chicken, half & half, and spices. Mix until all the ingredients are well combined.
- Pour half of the spaghetti into the baking dish and top with half of the cheesy sauce mixture.
- Add another layer of spaghetti followed by the rest of the sauce.
- Top with the rest of the mozzarella cheese.
- Cover with foil. Place in the oven and cook for 30 minutes. Remove foil and place under broiler for 2-4 minutes until brown and bubbly!
- Remove from the oven and garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
Storage
Allow the casserole to cool completely and then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Million Dollar Chicken Spaghetti freezes great! Allow the casserole to cool completely and then store in an airtight freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and then bake according to the recipe instructions.Love this recipe? Join the free membership group!
Nutrition
Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. For the complete directions refer to the recipe card.
- Preheat the oven and prep your baking dish.
- Cook the spaghetti, drain, and set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, add the cream cheese, mozzarella, parmesan, chicken, half & half, and spices. Combine the ingredients.
- Add half of the pasta to the baking dish and top with half of the sauce, repeat layers.
- Top with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
- Place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes. Place it under the broiler to brown the top of the casserole.
FAQ's
Yes, this casserole is covered with foil while it bakes. This helps to prevent the cheese from browning too much. Just be sure to remove the foil for the last few minutes of baking so that the cheese can get nice and bubbly.
You can assemble this casserole and place it in the fridge for up to 24 hours and then bake it when you are ready to serve.
Deb's tips
Make sure that you boil the noodles to al dente. This will help to prevent them from getting mushy when they are baked in the casserole.
- Soften the cream cheese before trying to mix it with the remaining ingredients. It will creamy and mix well if softened first.
- Half and half is equal parts milk and cream. You can also use all milk or all cream in this recipe. The higher the fat content, the richer the sauce will be.
Variations
- I recommend full-fat cream cheese. It makes the richest sauce.
- Mozzarella cheese is my favorite in this dish, but you could also use cheddar cheese or pepper jack.
- I've started adding bacon to this dish. Eight strips of cooked, bacon crumbled. Oh boy, does that bring the flavor!
- Parmesan cheese is used for both flavor and texture in this dish. If you don’t have it on hand, you could use another hard-grating cheese like Romano.
- A crunchy topping would be terrific as well. Crushed Ritz crackers is super tasty.
Related recipes
Looking for more easy chicken casserole recipes? There are so many great chicken dinner ideas on the blog. Here are a few of the favorites!
- Are you looking for a comfort food casserole that your entire family may enjoy? Look no further than this Cheesy Chicken Tetrazzini Casserole recipe. Another favorite is the Monterey Chicken Spaghetti Casserole - YUM!!
- The next time you are in the mood for an easy dinner recipe give Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole or the Ultimate Chicken Casserole recipes a try.
- You could use leftover Italian Shredded Chicken in this recipe - that would be super yummy!
Serve with
- If you're craving freshness this Green Salad Recipe with Fruit should be first on the menu, it pairs so well with this recipe.
- If you're looking for a quick and easy side dish, look no further than Roasted Green Beans and Carrots, it's simple and healthy and the entire family will enjoy it.
- Are you looking for a simple dessert to end this meal with? Look no further than this Cool Whip Ice Cream Sandwich Cake recipe.
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. It's in our monthly rotation. So much cheesy goodness! Let me know what you think ok? Please leave me a comment below. I'd love to hear from you!
Julia says
I thought 1 tsp of garlic powder made it way too garlicky (and I like garlic). I just thought it ruined the dish.
Debra Clark says
I'm sorry Julia. I appreciate your feedback, thank you for taking the time to comment.
Mandi says
Do you precook the chicken or put it in raw to oven on pasta
Debra Clark says
Yes, the chicken should be cooked. Thanks for asking Mandi, I clarified it in the recipe. Enjoy! This casserole is super yummy!
Camden Rusincovitch says
I can't wait to give this spaghetti chicken casserole a try! Do you have any recommendations for vegetables I could incorporate into this?
Alyssa says
This spaghetti chicken casserole looks like some cheesy goodness. I can't wait to make this. I really love anything with cheese, so I am all about this!
Kristen says
Oh man... if this spaghetti chicken casserole is a chip off the old millionaire dip recipe-- I'm a goner and this will become a regular in the weekly rotation!
Brittany says
Spaghetti chicken casserole is always a crowd pleaser.. it's even one the kids will eat!
Cynthia Rusincovitch says
We always called this spaghetti chicken casserole. I had never heard the name Million Dollar chicken casserole. I wonder if it is a regional thing? Tasty either way!
Myra says
Making this recipe this week...sounds fantastic! Is this made in a 9x13 baking dish?
Bowl Me Over says
Yes, that's correct Myra. Enjoy the casserole!
Vivian Martorell says
Could you use another type of pasta
Bowl Me Over says
Absolutely, you can use long noodles like linguine or fettuccini. You could also use smaller pasta like a rotini, penne, ziti, or even bowtie pasta. Enjoy the casserole!