1. Rotel Chicken Spaghetti
Rotel chicken spaghetti is creamy, cheesy, slightly spicy, and perfect when you want a comforting casserole-style pasta dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
- 1 can Rotel tomatoes
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup cream cheese or Velveeta-style cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1/2 cup diced bell pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook spaghetti until al dente, then drain.
- Sauté onion and bell pepper until soft.
- Add Rotel tomatoes, chicken broth, cream cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Stir until creamy and melted.
- Add shredded chicken and cooked spaghetti.
- Mix well, then top with cheddar cheese.
- Serve warm with parsley.
Tip: Add a splash of pasta water if the sauce gets too thick.
2. Mexican Spaghetti
Mexican spaghetti is a bold weeknight pasta made with ground beef, tomato sauce, taco seasoning, cheddar, and fresh cilantro.
Ingredients
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1 can tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup salsa
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Fresh cilantro, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook spaghetti until al dente and set aside.
- Brown ground beef with olive oil, onion, and garlic.
- Add taco seasoning, tomato sauce, and salsa.
- Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add spaghetti and toss until coated.
- Top with cheddar cheese and cilantro.
Tip: Add corn, black beans, jalapeños, or diced tomatoes for extra flavor.
3. Shrimp Carbonara
Shrimp carbonara is creamy, rich, and elegant but still easy enough for a quick dinner. It uses shrimp, parmesan, eggs, pasta water, and black pepper.
Ingredients
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Salt, to taste
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook spaghetti and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
- Whisk eggs, parmesan, and black pepper in a bowl.
- Sauté shrimp with olive oil and garlic until pink.
- Turn heat to low and add cooked spaghetti.
- Remove pan from direct heat, then stir in egg-parmesan mixture.
- Add pasta water slowly until creamy.
- Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.
Tip: Do not add the egg mixture over high heat or it can scramble.
