Cheesy Chicken Rotini
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Super cheesy and creamy, Cheesy Chicken Rotini will become your new favorite, go-to weeknight recipe! Made with common pantry staples, you can have this on the table in a flash!
This recipe is definitely comforting food to the max.
Cheesy Chicken Rotini
Quick meals that come together in less than 30 minutes with ingredients I already have on hand are a must during busy weeknights when we’re running in a 100 different directions. Of course, you don’t have to make it just on weeknights. I’m almost always looking for easy and quick recipes regardless of the day.
Simple, quick, delicious, and one a couple of pans to wash! Now that’s what I call a good recipe!
Tips and Substitutes
I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but you can also use thighs.
As well, if you don’t like cheddar cheese, Pepper Jack, Monterrey, and Colby would all make lovely substitutions.
All pasta taste the same regardless of the shape so use what you have in the pantry. However, this recipe will be good with gluten-free pasta. I’ve recently started using vegetable pasta and chickpea pasta if you want to give them a try. (Click the link for the recommended brand.)
HOW TO MAKE CHEESY CHICKEN ROTINI
- I don’t like canned chicken. Therefore, start by cubing your boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
- Next, boil your noodles.
- While the pasta is cooking, season the chicken and start cooking it in a large pan.
- When the chicken is cooked, add the cooked pasta, cream of mushroom, chicken broth, sour cream, and 1.5 cups of cheese to the pan with the chicken.
- All that is left is to stir it together, top it with the remaining cheese, and replace the lid until the cheese melts.
CREAM OF MUSHROOM SUBSTITUTE
You can make a roux with the recipe and ingredients below, OR you can use two cans Cream of Mushroom
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat. When the butter is melted, reduce the heat to medium and add the flour. Whisk, stirring frequently, until the mixture is thick and foamy, about 1 minute.
Slowly whisk in the chicken broth and milk. Bring to a gentle boil, whisking constantly, until the soup thickens. Add salt and pepper. Remove the pan from the stove. You’ll use all of this in the recipe instead of the cream of chicken and cream of mushroom soup.
Making this sauce for Cheesy Chicken Rotini adds just a few minutes to your cooking time.
While you’re here, check out these recipes
- Sweet Heat Chicken Kabobs
- Crock Pot Rotel Crack Chicken
- Cheesy Sour Cream Chicken
- Undercover Foil Pack Chicken
- Crock Pot Crack Chicken Recipe
- 9 Delicious 20 Minute Dinners
Cheesy Chicken Rotini
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Ingredients
- 2 to 3 large chicken breasts boneless & skinless (chicken thighs can be used, or cooked, shredded rotisserie chicken)
- 2 (10.5 ounce) cans cream of mushroom soup OR see substitution in post
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
- 16 ounces rotini pasta or any shape
Instructions
- Cut chicken into 1-inch cubes. Cook pasta according to package directions and drain.
- Use a large skillet, saucepan, or Dutch oven that's large enough to hold the pasta too. Spray your pan with non-stick spray. Season chicken with pepper, garlic, onion, salt, and cayenne pepper. Add the seasoned chicken to your large pan and cook, stirring often 5 to 6 minutes until chicken is cooked through.
- Add cooked pasta, cream of mushroom, chicken broth, sour cream, and 1.5 cups cheese to the pan with the chicken and stir to combine. Top with remaining ½ cup cheese.
- Cover pan and simmer 5 to 8 minutes or until everything is heated through and cheese on top is melted.
Nutrition
Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are important to you, I recommend calculating them yourself.
I only have 1 can of cream of mushroom soup but I do have a can of cream of chicken. Would it be ok to do those
Yes, that will be okay to use.
Question: if I use the substitute for cream of mushroom soup, would I still use the cup of chicken broth as well? Or is the chicken broth that I use in the substitute the same one? Thanks!!
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
This replaces the 2 cans of cream of mushroom. Everything else is the same
We really enjoyed this recipe. I had to make a change, only because I was missing sour cream. I used fat free Greek Yogurt. It worked. I added a bag of frozen broccoli–I cooked it first in the microwave and stirred in at the last minute. I’ll definitely make it again.
I loved it thank you so much
An excellent recipe! 3 of my kids don’t like mushrooms though, so may try this with the HEB cream of jalapeño soup. Well done!
I tried this recipe, but with a few minor changes:
-used chicken bouillon
cubes(didn’t have broth)
(beware, a little salty)
-used real onions and
garlic(prefer the real stuff)
-used chickpea rotini
-used 4 cheese blend(all I had)
-topped with sliced provolone
cheese
-baked then broiled in oven
until cheese was melted and
brown
It was delicious
-I think I prefer the cheese
blend vs the strong cheddar
cheese flavor