Description
This creamy, cheesy Monterey Chicken Spaghetti is a quick dinner idea that combines juicy chicken, garlic, and melted Monterey Jack cheese for the ultimate comfort food. It’s a flavorful and easy recipe perfect for busy weeknights, ideal for both dinner ideas and satisfying leftover lunches. Whether you’re after a healthy-ish snack or a rich, fulfilling meal, this dish hits every craving. Plus, it’s flexible enough for substitutions and packed with protein—making it a solid winner for simple food ideas any day of the week.
Ingredients
340g spaghetti
450g boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
240ml chicken broth
180g Monterey Jack cheese, freshly grated
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
60ml reserved pasta water
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti and cook until al dente. Drain and reserve ½ cup of pasta water.
2. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
3. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Sear chicken until golden and fully cooked, about 7–8 minutes. Remove and set aside.
4. In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium. Add diced onion and sauté until soft, about 4–5 minutes.
5. Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant.
6. Deglaze the skillet with chicken broth, scraping up browned bits. Let it simmer for 2–3 minutes.
7. Lower heat and stir in Monterey Jack cheese gradually until melted and creamy.
8. Add cooked spaghetti and chicken to the skillet. Toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
9. Sprinkle in crushed red pepper flakes if using. Adjust seasoning to taste.
10. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot.
Notes
Use freshly grated cheese for the smoothest melt—pre-shredded cheese may clump.
Let the cooked chicken rest briefly before adding it back in to keep it juicy.
Reserve and use pasta water—it’s the key to silky, cohesive sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 510
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 430mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: quick dinner, easy recipe, creamy pasta, chicken spaghetti, food ideas, weeknight dinner, cheesy pasta