Discover the ultimate comfort food with this incredibly creamy and cheesy Baked Spaghetti recipe, featuring tender shredded chicken, savory BBQ sauce, and crispy bacon – all prepared in under an hour!
This post is proudly sponsored by Vons.
As a food blogger, my life often revolves around two beloved places: my kitchen and the grocery store. It’s where inspiration strikes, ingredients are gathered, and culinary dreams take shape. Whether I’m navigating the familiar aisles of my local Vons with an expert’s precision – knowing exactly where every item resides – or simply meandering, searching for that spark of a new recipe idea, the grocery store is my creative playground. I’ve often joked that if the classic show “Supermarket Sweep” ever made a comeback, I’d be a reigning champion!
That’s why I’m absolutely thrilled to announce my partnership with Vons! This collaboration allows me to delve deeper into what truly inspires me in the kitchen, bringing you exciting new recipes crafted with quality ingredients. For this particular culinary adventure, my focus landed squarely on Vons’ exceptional Signature line of products. This extensive collection, boasting over 4,000 items, offers an incredible array of options, making it a go-to for home cooks seeking both quality and variety. From pantry staples like pasta and condiments to everyday essentials like coffee, soups, and cereals, the Signature line consistently delivers, and I always ensure my own kitchen is well-stocked with these fantastic products. This partnership is not just about creating a recipe; it’s about celebrating the convenience, quality, and inspiration that Vons and their Signature line bring to everyday cooking.
My journey for today’s recipe began in the condiment aisle, where I instantly gravitated towards the Signature Kitchens® Original BBQ Sauce. For me, BBQ sauce is synonymous with warm weather, outdoor gatherings, and childhood memories. As a kid, it was my absolute favorite condiment, finding its way onto almost every meal. Its sweet and smoky notes promised a comforting, yet exciting flavor profile for my next creation. Next, I made a beeline for the meat department. My mission: to find the perfect complement to that rich BBQ sauce. What better choice than Signature SELECT™ Bacon? Because, let’s be honest, Bacon + BBQ equals culinary magic!
To round out my shopping cart, I visited the dairy aisle to select a few varieties of cheese, knowing a good baked pasta dish demands plenty of melty goodness. Then, a quick stop in the pasta aisle yielded several options from the Signature Pasta range. With my basket full of high-quality Vons Signature products, I returned home, eager to transform these fantastic ingredients into something truly special. And that’s exactly how this incredible Baked Spaghetti Recipe with BBQ Chicken and Bacon came to life. Let me assure you, the moment you take your first bite, you’ll understand why I say the flavor of this dish is truly out-of-this-world!
Imagine: perfectly cooked spaghetti, coated in a rich, creamy, and gloriously cheesy BBQ sauce, mixed with tender, shredded chicken. This delightful mixture is then topped with crunchy, savory bacon and an extra layer of melted mozzarella cheese, baked until golden and bubbling. Each forkful is a symphony of textures and tastes – the chewiness of the pasta, the succulence of the chicken, the smoky sweetness of the BBQ sauce, the luxurious creaminess of the cheese, and the irresistible crispness of the bacon. It’s a harmonious blend that creates an ultimate comfort food experience. This baked spaghetti isn’t just a meal; it’s an indulgence that makes weeknights feel like a special occasion. I can honestly see this becoming a regular feature in my weekly dinner rotation, and I’m confident it will in yours too!
Beyond its incredible taste, this Baked Spaghetti with BBQ Chicken and Bacon recipe offers the added benefit of being surprisingly easy to prepare. It’s the ideal dish for busy weeknights when you crave something hearty and satisfying without spending hours in the kitchen. The combination of familiar flavors in a new and exciting format makes it a hit with both kids and adults. Plus, baked pasta dishes are fantastic for meal prepping or feeding a crowd, making them a versatile choice for any occasion. The layering of textures and flavors ensures that every bite is as exciting as the last, keeping you coming back for more. It’s truly a dish that exemplifies the joy of home cooking, turning simple ingredients into a memorable feast.
Baked Spaghetti with BBQ Chicken & Bacon Ingredients
- 6 slices Signature Farms Uncured Hickory Smoked Thick Sliced Bacon
- 1 (16 oz) package Signature Kitchens Spaghetti Noodles
- 8 oz cream cheese, cubed
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- 1 cup Signature Kitchens Original BBQ Sauce
- 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese (shredded) – divided
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts (boiled or pressure cooked & shredded)
Baked Spaghetti with BBQ Chicken & Bacon Instructions
To begin, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). This ensures your oven is at the optimal temperature for cooking the bacon to perfect crispness and for baking the spaghetti later.
Next, prepare the bacon. Lay the bacon slices on a wire rack placed over a baking sheet. This setup allows air to circulate around the bacon, promoting even cooking and helping it crisp up beautifully without sitting in its own grease. Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and cook for 20-25 minutes, or until the bacon is delightfully crisp. Keep an eye on it as cooking times can vary depending on thickness and oven performance.
While the bacon cooks, bring a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil. Salting the pasta water is crucial for flavoring the spaghetti from the inside out. Add the spaghetti noodles to the boiling water and cook for 9 minutes, or until al dente – tender with a slight bite. Drain the cooked spaghetti thoroughly and set it aside. Do not rinse the pasta, as the starch on the noodles helps the sauce adhere better.
Now, let’s prepare the star of the show: the creamy, cheesy BBQ sauce. Place a large pot or Dutch oven on your stovetop over medium heat. Add the cubed cream cheese and chicken broth to the pot. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then whisk continuously until the cream cheese has fully melted and the sauce is smooth and lump-free. This creates a luxurious base for our BBQ spaghetti.
Stir in the onion powder, garlic powder, kosher salt, and black pepper, ensuring these seasonings are well combined into the creamy base. Then, pour in the Signature Kitchens Original BBQ Sauce. Mix everything together thoroughly until the sauce is uniform in color and flavor. Finally, add one cup of shredded mozzarella cheese to the sauce. Continue to stir gently until the mozzarella has completely melted and is fully incorporated, creating a rich and gooey BBQ cheese sauce.
Once the bacon is cooked to your desired level of crispness, carefully remove it from the oven. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess grease, then crumble it into small, bite-sized pieces. This crispy bacon will add a fantastic texture and smoky flavor to the finished dish.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked spaghetti, the pre-cooked and shredded chicken breasts, and the creamy, cheesy BBQ sauce you just prepared. Toss everything gently until the spaghetti and chicken are thoroughly coated in the delectable sauce. Ensure every strand of pasta and piece of chicken is drenched in flavor.
Transfer this irresistible mixture into a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Spread it out evenly. Then, generously sprinkle the top with the crispy, crumbled bacon and the remaining ½ cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. This final layer of cheese will melt and brown beautifully in the oven, creating a golden, bubbly crust.
Place the baking dish into the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the dish is heated through. For an extra golden crust, you can briefly switch to the broiler for the last minute or two, watching carefully to prevent burning.
Remove the Baked Spaghetti from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving. If desired, garnish with a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley or cilantro for a burst of color and herbaceous flavor. Grab a big, giant fork and dig into this amazing, comforting meal! It’s the perfect dish to bring joy to your dinner table.
If you’re looking for more delicious and easy weeknight pasta recipes that deliver on flavor and convenience, you absolutely have to check out these five favorites. They are tried-and-true winners that are sure to please your family and friends!
- Buffalo Chicken Cheesy Penne
- One Pot Tuscan Shrimp Scampi Pasta
- Taco Baked Ziti
- Italian Sausage Shells & Cheese
- One Pot Buffalo Taco Spaghetti
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Baked Spaghetti with BBQ Chicken & Bacon
This creamy, dreamy Baked Spaghetti recipe is tossed in a cheesy, BBQ sauce with shredded chicken & crispy bacon for a delicious meal made in under an hour!
Servings: 6 people
Prep Time: 30 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 45 mins
Author: Whitney Bond
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Ingredients
- 6 slices hickory smoked thick sliced bacon
- 16 oz package spaghetti noodles
- 8 oz cream cheese, cubed
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese, shredded – divided
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked & shredded
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
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Place the bacon on a wire rack on top of a baking sheet and place in the oven to cook for 20-25 minutes, or until crisp.
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In the meantime, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
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Add the spaghetti and cook for 9 minutes, drain and set aside.
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To prepare the sauce, place a large pot on the stovetop over medium heat.
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Add the cream cheese and chicken broth, bring to a simmer and whisk until the cheese has melted and the sauce is smooth.
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Add the onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper and BBQ sauce, combine well, then add one cup mozzarella cheese.
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Stir continuously until the cheese has melted into the sauce.
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Once the bacon is cooked and crispy, remove and drain any grease, then crumble.
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Combine the cooked spaghetti, cooked and shredded chicken breasts and creamy, cheesy BBQ sauce.
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Transfer to a 9 x 13 baking dish.
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Top with the crispy, crumbled bacon and remaining ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese.
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Place in the oven and bake for 15 minutes.