This Chicken Noodle Casserole is comfort food elevated. It’s creamy and cheesy with tender chicken and pasta, making it perfect for busy weeknights, family dinners, or sharing with a crowd. Everything bakes together into a warm, bubbly casserole!

When our cheesy cream cheese chicken and rice casserole went crazy, I just knew I had to create a pasta version. I know we have loads of pasta lovers out there, and this creamy chicken pasta bake has quickly become a favorite in our house! I hope your family loves it as much as we do!

Ingredients You’ll Need

This recipe uses simple, pantry-friendly ingredients that come together to create the perfect casserole. Rotisserie chicken makes it extra easy, while plenty of cheese gives it that classic comfort-food finish.

• Cream Cheese: Softened and cubed to create a rich, creamy base for the sauce.
• Butter: Adds richness and helps create a smooth, velvety texture.
• Cooked Chicken Breast: Shredded or diced chicken makes this casserole hearty and filling. Rotisserie chicken works perfectly.
• Spaghetti: Break into smaller pieces to create a tender pasta base that holds the creamy sauce well. Cooked based on package directions to slightly less than al dente.
• Cream of Chicken Soup: Provides savory flavor and helps bind the casserole together.
• Garlic: Fresh minced garlic adds depth and warmth.
• Italian Dressing Mix: Brings a boost of seasoning and tangy flavor.
• Chicken Broth: Helps loosen the sauce and adds extra savory richness.
• Colby Jack Cheese: Melts beautifully for a creamy, cheesy finish. Cheddar cheese also works great.
• Salt and Pepper: Balance and enhance the flavors.
• Fresh Parsley: Adds brightness and a fresh pop of color to balance the richness.

Exact measurements can be found in the recipe card below.

How to Make Chicken Noodle Casserole

This casserole comes together quickly with just a few easy steps. Once everything is mixed, it bakes into a creamy, bubbly dish topped with melted cheese.

1. Preheat: Heat the oven to 350°F and generously grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. Whisk: In a bowl, whisk together the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth.
3. Combine: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooked chicken, cooked spaghetti, cream cheese mixture, cream of chicken soup, garlic, Italian dressing mix, chicken broth, half of the shredded cheese, salt, and pepper. Stir until evenly combined.
4. Spread: Transfer the mixture into the prepared baking dish and smooth the top.
5. Top: Sprinkle with the remaining shredded cheese. Lightly spray foil

Crisp vegetables, creamy pasta, and a delightfully spicy chipotle dressing collide in this Southwest Pasta Salad. Between the ease of prep and how well it keeps in the fridge, this recipe has been on repeat in my kitchen lately.

Frankly, I adore a good pasta salad. They are so perfectly versatile! I mean, I have dozens of them on this site alone. And, I’ve loved using our family’s classic chipotle ranch recipe for salads, burgers, and more for years now. So, it was only a matter of time until I crafted a pasta salad around that spicy and tangy dressing. This salad makes those flavors shine!

Southwest Pasta Salad

Friends, I can’t stop coming back to this dish. Between the textural contrast of crunchy vegetables and creamy pasta, and the flavors of tart lime and spicy chipotle peppers, every single bite stays fresh and interesting. No matter how many times this meal shows up at the dinner table, my boys will always be up for seconds.

And, on those nights when we do have leftovers, this pasta salad keeps very well in the refrigerator for several days. It’s become one of my favorite lunch options when I need to grab something quick and easy.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Pasta – I typically use ditalini for this pasta salad. Tiny pasta is the move for almost any pasta salad because it holds plenty of sauce, and is already

Spicy and tangy, this creamy Chipotle Ranch is a delicious, absolutely irresistible topping for salads, burgers, fries, and more. I throw this one together quite frequently, as it is one of my newest favorites. I like to have it on hand for last minute pizza and salad nights.

I have been making homemade salad dressings for my family for as long as my boy’s can remember. It’s hard to believe that this site got its name from the pitter patter of their tiny feet in the kitchen, now that two of them are already in their twenties! But, over the past two decades, I’ve made about a boatload of my homemade ranch dressing. This recipe for chipotle ranch dressing gives those classic flavors a fun, spicy twist.

Chipotle Ranch

On busy nights where I’m throwing together dinner at the last minute, a jar of this dressing is a total life saver. This is a classic, well-rounded dressing that features the gentle heat of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.

We’ve loved it for years, and have found a seemingly endless number of uses for it. Dressing a salad? Yes. Topping a burger? Absolutely. Dipping fries? Say less! No matter the meal, my crew will happily use this recipe whenever ranch is required.

Ingredients and Substitutions

The Dairy – I use mayonnaise, sour cream, and whole milk to make the creamy, mildly tangy foundation for this dressing.

Seasonings – The backbone of the flavors in this ranch come from five main ingredients from the spice cabinet: d

These Hershey Kiss Pretzels may look innocent enough, but don’t let that fool you. Sweet, salty, crunchy, and perfectly melty, they’re wildly addictive in the best and worst way. You’ll grab one, promise it’s the last, then find yourself reaching back for more. You’ll love me and curse me at the same time.

Easter Hershey Kiss Pretzels are one of the easiest treats to make! They’re just pretzels, Hershey’s Hugs, and an M&M on top. I remember our two-year-old helping me make them even! He was having a grouchy day, so I plopped him on the counter and thought, chocolate will fix this…. and it did. He unwrapped each Hug and carefully placed them on the pretzels, only sampling a few along the way.

They are a perfect way to get the kids involved in the kitchen!

Ingredients For Easter Hershey Kiss Pretzels

These Hershey Kiss Pretzels are tiny and unassuming. They look like a harmless little treat, but don’t let that fool you. One is never enough. Here’s what you need to make this yummy treat:

• Mini Pretzels: Crunchy, salty base that pairs perfectly with sweet chocolate for the ultimate bite-sized treat.
• Hershey’s Hugs: Softens when warmed to create a creamy chocolate layer that melts over the pretzel.
• Easter M&Ms: Colorful, festive topping that adds a pop of sweetness and a fun crunch.

The last time I made these, my kids kept sneaking back to the Ziplock bag, convinced I wouldn’t notice “just one more.” Spoiler alert: I noticed. Mostly because I was doing the exact same thing right alongside them and they disappeared way sooner than they should have.

Not everyone wants ham on Easter and that’s okay. Whether you’re craving something a little cozier, more indulgent, or just different, these non-traditional Easter dinner ideas prove that your holiday main dish can still feel special without sticking to tradition.

From slow-cooked prime rib and smoked brisket to comforting chicken pot pie and juicy pork chops, this roundup is packed with crowd-pleasing mains that fit Easter just as beautifully as ham ever did.

Bold & Hearty Easter Main Dishes

If you’re looking to shake things up this Easter, these non-traditional mains offer hearty, impressive alternatives that still feel special enough for the holiday.