Description
This Taco Spaghetti Casserole combines the comforting flavors of creamy chicken, zesty salsa, and melted Mexican cheese with tender spaghetti pasta baked to bubbly perfection. It’s a quick and easy 45-minute meal that’s perfect for feeding a crowd or weeknight family dinners, delivering a delicious Tex-Mex twist on traditional casserole comfort food.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 ounces thin spaghetti or angel hair pasta, cooked al dente
Filling
- 2 cups cooked chicken, chopped or shredded
- 2 cans (10 ounces each) cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup salsa
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
Cheese & Topping
- 2 cups Mexican blend cheese, divided (1 1/2 cups for mixture, 1/2 cup for topping)
- Fresh chopped cilantro for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare it for baking the casserole later.
- Cook Pasta: Boil the spaghetti or angel hair pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta well and set aside.
- Mix Filling: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked chicken, 1 1/2 cups of the Mexican blend cheese, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, salsa, and taco seasoning. Stir thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Combine Pasta and Filling: Add the cooked pasta into the bowl with the mixed filling ingredients. Gently stir to evenly coat the pasta with the cheesy, creamy mixture.
- Transfer to Baking Dish: Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish, then pour the pasta mixture in, spreading it out evenly to fill the dish.
- Add Cheese Topping: Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of Mexican blend cheese evenly over the top of the casserole.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese on top is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden.
- Rest: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it sit for a few minutes to set before serving.
- Garnish and Serve: Optionally, garnish with fresh chopped cilantro for added freshness and color before serving.
Notes
- Use cooked chicken leftovers or rotisserie chicken to save time.
- Adjust salsa heat level to preference for spiciness.
- This casserole can be prepared ahead and refrigerated before baking; add a few extra minutes to bake time if baking from cold.
- Substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream to reduce fat.
- For a vegetarian version, omit chicken and add beans or sautéed vegetables.
