Description
Monterey chicken spaghetti delivers a creamy, cheesy symphony of flavors that dance across your palate. Comfort and zest merge in this irresistible dish, promising a delightful meal you’ll crave time and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 lbs chicken breast, boneless and skinless
- 1/2 cup monterey jack cheese, shredded
Vegetables:
- 1 cup bell peppers, diced
- 1/2 cup onions, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Pantry Ingredients:
- 16 oz spaghetti pasta
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp dried thyme
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and prepare a large baking dish by lightly greasing it with olive oil.
- Slice chicken breasts into uniform bite-sized pieces, ensuring even cooking.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and sauté diced bell peppers, chopped onions, and minced garlic until vegetables become tender and fragrant, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Add chicken pieces to the skillet, seasoning with salt, black pepper, dried oregano, and thyme. Cook until chicken turns golden and is completely cooked through, about 6-7 minutes.
- Meanwhile, boil spaghetti pasta in salted water according to package instructions until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Deglaze the skillet with chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Stir in heavy cream and reduce heat, allowing the sauce to simmer and slightly thicken for 3-4 minutes.
- Combine cooked pasta, chicken, and vegetable mixture in the prepared baking dish, ensuring everything is evenly distributed.
- Sprinkle shredded Monterey Jack cheese over the top of the pasta mixture.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until cheese is melted and slightly golden.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow sauce to set and flavors to meld.
Notes
- Slice chicken uniformly to guarantee consistent cooking and prevent some pieces from being undercooked or overdone.
- Select fresh, high-quality Monterey Jack cheese for maximum flavor and smooth melting texture in the final dish.
- Consider swapping heavy cream with Greek yogurt or half-and-half for a lighter, lower-calorie version without compromising richness.
- Use fresh herbs instead of dried oregano and thyme when available to elevate the overall aromatic profile of the spaghetti.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 70 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg