Easy Dinner Idea: Cheesy Skillet Chicken Spaghetti
A simple recipe for delicious comfort food, Easy Dinner Idea: Cheesy Skillet Chicken Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb spaghetti/thin spaghetti/thin linguine
- 1 lb thin sliced, boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 medium yellow onion
- 1 red bell pepper
- 3 tbsp butter
- 3 tbsp all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 3/4 tsp smoke paprika
- pinch crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 cup reserved pasta water
- salt
Instructions
- Cook the pasta (1/2 of a 1 lb box) according to package directions. SET ASIDE ONE CUP OF PASTA WATER BEFORE draining the pasta when cooked.
- Finely chop one red bell pepper and 1/2 of a medium yellow onion. Set aside.
- Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Lightly salt both sides of the boneless chicken breasts.
- Carefully add the chicken to the skillet and cook turning occasionally until golden brown on both sides and cook through, about 7 minutes.
- Remove the chicken to a plate and set aside.
- If the skillet is dry, add the additional tbsp of olive oil.
- Sauté the onions and peppers together over medium-high heat until they are soft and the onions translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Create your roux. Add 3 tbsp of butter to the skillet with the vegetables.
- Sprinkle the 3 tbsp of all purpose flour over the melted butter and veggies, stirring constantly.
- When the flour is fully incorporated, add the heavy cream to the skillet in a steady stream. Stir continually, lowering the heat to medium.
- Slowly add in the chicken broth and stir to combine.
- Sprinkle the cheese over the ingredients in the skillet and stir continually until it is completely melted.
- Add the smoked paprika and a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes and stir.
- Reduce the temperature to low.
- Cut the chicken into small pieces and add to the cheese sauce. Stir to combine.
- Add the drained, cooked spaghetti to the chicken and cheese sauce.
- Gently toss to coat the spaghetti in the sauce.
- Add pasta water, a little bit at a time, until the sauce has the desired thickness/texture. Stir after each addition.
- Salt to taste.