Black Folks Southern Chicken Spaghetti
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Many people associate soul food with the South and Southern comfort food.
But soul food goes beyond Southern. It’s food rich with flavor. Hearty homecooked meals with plenty of seasoning.
This recipe for Black folks Southern chicken spaghetti is an example of a Southern soul food dish.
What is soul food Southern chicken spaghetti?
Unlike traditional spaghetti, Southern chicken spaghetti does not include ground beef or meatballs. Not even marinara sauce!
Succulent shredded chicken and spaghetti noodles are coated in a delicious mixture of cream cheese, sour cream, diced tomatoes, and cheddar cheese. It’s then seasoned with onion, garlic, salt, and black pepper, to make a meal bursting with yummy flavors that you’ll love!
How do you make Southern chicken spaghetti in the Instant Pot?
This dish combines incredible textures with flavorful Rotel tomatoes and chiles, cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and sour cream. Mixed with tender, seasoned chicken adding depth with a French onion crunch!
The easiest way is to cook the spaghetti noodles and coat them with the savory ingredients mentioned above is to use the Instant Pot.
It only takes 2 minutes (Wowza!) to pressure cook the pasta – followed by a mere 5-minute natural pressure release!
Can you bake chicken spaghetti in the oven?
How do you cook Rotel chicken spaghetti?
This zesty tomato dish is then topped with more cheddar for an extra cheesy bite. Then it’s baked like Black folks baked mac and cheese for a golden spaghetti top.
Your taste buds are going to run wild as soon as they detect all of the fantastic goodies packed in this Southern soul food chicken spaghetti recipe!
Kitchen equipment for this Southern chicken spaghetti casserole
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Ingredients for Black folk’s Southern chicken spaghetti
- 3 cups of cooked and seasoned shredded chicken
- 8 oz. of spaghetti noodles, uncooked
- 6 cups of water
- 1 tablespoon of butter
- ¼ cup of red onion, diced
- 20 oz. of Rotel tomatoes and chilies (two 10 oz. cans – I used mild)
- 8 oz. of softened or whipped cream cheese
- 1 cup of sour cream
- ½ a teaspoon of garlic powder
- ½ a teaspoon of onion powder
- ½ a teaspoon of salt
- ¼ teaspoon of black pepper
- 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ a cup of shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup of fried onions
Instructions for Black folk’s Southern chicken spaghetti
- Get the best recipe for flavorful, tender, juicy Southern-style chicken HERE!
- Once the chicken is made, shred or chop the cooked chicken into bite-size pieces.
- Heat the oven to 350 degrees F, grease a 9×13″ baking dish, and set it aside.
- Fill the Instant Pot stainless steel inner pot with water and add the butter.
- Break the uncooked spaghetti pasta in half and scatter the pasta evenly in the inner pot with the water.
- Close the Instant Pot lid (make sure the valve is up – in the position for sealing) and pressure cook on high for 2 minutes.
- When the cooking time is finished, allow a natural pressure release for 2 minutes.
- To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable.
- When done, drain the spaghetti noodles in a colander and set them aside.
- Return the stainless steel inner pot to the Instant Pot and turn it on to the ‘slow cook’ setting.
- Add the cooked chicken, red onion, Rotel tomatoes, cream cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to the inner pot.
- Stir the ingredients together until the cream cheese is melted.
- Add the 2 cups of cheddar cheese and fried onions, then stir.
- Then fold the cooked spaghetti pasta into the mixture until the noodles are coated.
- Transfer the coated noodles into the prepared casserole dish.
- Sprinkle the top of the casserole with the remaining ½ a cup of cheddar cheese.
- Bake in the conventional oven for 10-15 minutes. In the Instant Pot Omni Plus oven for 8-10 minutes. Or until the cheese on top of the casserole is melted and golden brown.
- Serve Black folks Southern chicken spaghetti right away, and enjoy!
What goes into Southern-style chicken spaghetti?
Start with the main ingredient – spaghetti! Then there are the additions of seasoned chicken, tomatoes, cream cheese, sour cream, cheddar cheese. Finally, seasonings like garlic and onion powder add an extra boost of flavor to this already unique dish.
What does Southern chicken spaghetti taste like?
Contrary to the name, Southern chicken spaghetti does not taste like traditional spaghetti.
It’s more like a casserole of fiesta spaghetti because of the infusion of seasoned chicken, Rotel tomatoes and chilis, along with layers of shredded cheddar cheese!
There are countless ways to serve this versatile dish.
What do you serve with Southern chicken spaghetti?
What goes with Southern chicken spaghetti?
While you can enjoy chicken this soul food spaghetti dish all alone, here are a few suggestions for side dishes that pair well with this one-of-a-kind recipe.
- Air fryer parmesan kale salad
- Southern green beans
- Mashed potatoes
- Tomato watermelon salad
- Jamaican coco bread
Black folks Southern chicken spaghetti FAQs
What part of the chicken do you use for Southern chicken spaghetti?
Southern chicken spaghetti calls for seasoned chicken. I prefer boneless skinless chicken breast, shredded, which I used in this recipe. But as long as the chicken is generously seasoned (chicken seasoned the Southern soul food way), you can use any part of the bird. White meat, dark meat, chicken legs, chicken tenders, rotisserie chicken, or chicken thighs!
Can you add seasoning while cooking the chicken breast?
For the most intense flavor, it’s best to season the chicken, cook it, and then add it to this recipe.
How many cups of frozen chicken or shredded chicken do you use?
3 cups of cooked chicken are what you’ll need!
Why do you break up the pasta?
Break the pasta in half, so it fits into the Instant Pot. Then you don’t have to stand over the pot waiting for it to boil. Instead, you simply close the lid and make spaghetti – noodles and all, ready in a mere 2 minutes!
How long do you boil the noodles, so they don’t get soggy?
It only takes 2 minutes (Wowza!) to pressure cook the pasta – followed by a mere 5-minute natural pressure release!
Do you think cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup will make it soupy?
This recipe is traditionally made with canned cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup. Instead, this recipe calls for cream cheese and sour cream for a much more complementary flavor with the cheddar and tomatoes.
Do you drain the can of Rotel?
No need. Just pour the diced tomatoes in without draining.
Can you freeze chicken spaghetti?
You can preserve leftovers by freezing them for later use. Here’s one of the best ways to freeze chicken spaghetti to enjoy it anytime!
You’ll need a gallon-sized freezer bag or two quart-sized freezer bags and parchment paper or plastic wrap.
Layout the parchment paper or plastic wrap on a flat surface, then spoon the chicken spaghetti onto the wax paper or plastic wrap in one even layer. Then place the chicken spaghetti into one of your freezer bags.
Is it possible to bake chicken spaghetti in the oven?
Baked chicken spaghetti in an oven is indeed possible! It’s a simple and easy way to cook it without any fuss. You only need a 9×13″ baking dish, your favorite spaghetti pasta, and some shredded cooked and seasoned chicken. Basically – a similar recipe to this one with a few more ingredients and cheese on top!
Is it possible to make chicken spaghetti ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare this soul food recipe ahead of time by placing the ingredients in the Instant Pot to pressure cook later in the day. When ready, pressure cook, then combine the ingredients and serve!
What are the best spaghetti recipes?
Are you a fan of spaghetti, like most families?
This recipe is for a Black folks’ seasoned soul food spaghetti.
Here’s are some more ideas for other ethnic spaghetti recipes from around the world!
- Spaghetti alla carbonara from Italy
- Bolognese spaghetti from Italy
- Chicken tetrazzini from the US (a San Francisco treat!)
- Chinese food & soul food spaghetti noodle yock-a-mein
- Black folks soul food chicken spaghetti with tomato sauce
- Mexican spaghetti casserole from Mexico
- Thai curry coconut shrimp and spaghetti from Thailand
- Singaporean chili crab over steamed white rice
- Korean kimchi fried rice with spicy pork from Korea
- Malaysian beef rendang with fragrant jasmine rice from Malaysia
- Vietnamese lemongrass pork lo mein noodles from Vietnam
- Japanese teriyaki chicken and soba noodle stir-fry from Japan
What do you think of this recipe?
Have you heard of Southern chicken spaghetti before you came to this recipe?
We all love a good pasta dish, and Southern chicken spaghetti is no exception. There’s nothing like a hearty helping of this dish to fill you up and make you feel warm inside!
Who are you going to share this chicken spaghetti recipe with?
Leave your answer in a comment below!
More Black folks’ classic chicken recipes:
-Coming soon to The Soul Food Pot – Black folks chicken soup
Equipment
- 1 Instant Pot electric pressure cooker
- 1 9x13 baking dish
- 1 Instant Pot Omni Plus oven
Ingredients
- 3 cups chicken cooked, seasoned, & shredded
- 8 oz spaghetti noodles uncooked
- 6 cups water
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ¼ cup red onion diced
- 20 oz tomatoes Rotel tomatoes and chilies, two 10 oz. cans – I used mild
- 8 oz cream cheese softened or whipped
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
- ½ cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 cup fried onions
Instructions
- Get the best recipe for flavorful, tender, juicy Southern-style chicken HERE!
- Once the chicken is made, shred or chop the cooked chicken into bite-size pieces.
- Heat the oven to 350 degrees F, grease a 9×13″ baking dish, and set it aside.
- Fill the Instant Pot stainless steel inner pot with water and add the butter.
- Break the uncooked spaghetti pasta in half and scatter the pasta evenly in the inner pot with the water.
- Close the Instant Pot lid (make sure the valve is up – in the position for sealing) and pressure cook on high for 2 minutes.
- When the cooking time is finished, allow a natural pressure release for 2 minutes.
- To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable.
- When done, drain the spaghetti noodles in a colander and set them aside.
- Return the stainless steel inner pot to the Instant Pot and turn it on to the ‘slow cook’ setting.
- Add the cooked chicken, red onion, Rotel tomatoes, cream cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to the inner pot.
- Stir the ingredients together until the cream cheese is melted.
- Add the 2 cups of cheddar cheese and fried onions, then stir.
- Then fold the cooked spaghetti pasta into the mixture until the noodles are coated.
- Transfer the coated noodles into the prepared casserole dish.
- Sprinkle the top of the casserole with the remaining ½ a cup of cheddar cheese.
- Bake in the conventional oven for 10-15 minutes. In the Instant Pot Omni Plus oven for 8-10 minutes. Or until the cheese on top of the casserole is melted and golden brown.
- Serve Black folks Southern chicken spaghetti right away, and enjoy!
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Nutrition
Wow! I love the twist of this Spaghetti recipe.
Right! Soul food spaghetti with chicken because chicken makes everything better!
Very good article. I certainly love this website. Keep it up!
Never tasted anything like it! Just incredible!!! I used spicy Italian meatballs instead for the kids, but next week I will make it again with the chicken. Can’t wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love your variation with meatballs, too!!