Description

Monterey Chicken Spaghetti is a cozy, flavor-packed pasta dish that combines al dente spaghetti, juicy spiced chicken, a creamy savory sauce, and plenty of melted Monterey Jack cheese. Finished with fresh parsley, this one-pan comfort meal is both easy enough for a weeknight dinner and impressive enough for guests.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

12 ounces spaghetti, cooked al dente

Chicken

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Salt and black pepper, to taste

Sauté & Sauce

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced

Sauce & Topping

1 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Fresh parsley, for garnish

Instructions

Cook the Spaghetti: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set aside.
Sauté the Chicken: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Season the chicken breast pieces with paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Add the chicken to the skillet and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and fully cooked. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
Sauté Onion and Garlic: In the same skillet, reduce the heat to medium and add the butter. Once melted, add the chopped onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened and translucent. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
Make the Creamy Sauce: Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream, stirring to combine and scraping up any bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring to a gentle simmer and let the sauce cook on low for about 5 minutes, allowing it to thicken slightly.
Combine Chicken and Pasta: Add the cooked spaghetti and chicken back into the skillet. Toss everything together well so the pasta is fully coated in the creamy sauce and the chicken is evenly distributed.
Add Cheese and Melt: Sprinkle the shredded Monterey Jack cheese evenly on top of the pasta mixture. Cover the skillet and let it sit for 2-3 minutes, allowing the cheese to melt.
Garnish and Serve: Remove from heat, garnish with fresh chopped parsley, and serve the Monterey Chicken Spaghetti warm straight from the skillet.

Notes

You can substitute rotisserie or leftover cooked chicken for a faster prep.
For a spicier kick, add a pinch of crushed red pepper to the sauce.
Try swapping Monterey Jack for Pepper Jack cheese for extra flavor.
This recipe can be made ahead and reheated; add a splash of chicken broth if it thickens too much.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Main-course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
Calories: 610
Sugar: 4g
Sodium: 625mg
Fat: 27g
Saturated Fat: 11g
Unsaturated Fat: 13g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 57g
Fiber: 3g
Protein: 35g
Cholesterol: 110mg

Keywords: Monterey chicken spaghetti, creamy pasta, Monterey Jack cheese, skillet pasta, comfort food, chicken recipes