One bite of this Crack Chicken Spaghetti and you’ll be hooked. This easy dinner is creamy, cheesy and comforting, packed with shredded chicken, crispy bacon, vegetables and spaghetti in a rich cream-cheese base.
What I Love About This Recipe
Crack Chicken Spaghetti has a fun name and a flavor that everyone remembers. It combines Ranch seasoning, bacon, chicken, cheddar and cream cheese to create a seriously tasty dish. You might also know it as Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti or Chicken Bacon Ranch Spaghetti — whatever you call it, it’s delicious and simple to make.
It’s a one-pot meal, which means minimal prep and cleanup. The result is creamy, cheesy and savory, using real cheese and common, budget-friendly ingredients.
Ingredients
Gather the following ingredients to make this family-friendly dinner. The full printable recipe card appears below.
- Cooked, shredded chicken — great for using leftovers
- 1 can cream of chicken soup (condensed)
- Chicken broth
- Cream (10% used here; milk can substitute)
- Celery, chopped
- Carrots, peeled and sliced
- Onion, chopped
- Bacon, cooked and chopped
- Cream cheese (regular full-fat preferred)
- Ranch seasoning packet (or homemade ranch seasoning)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Spaghetti noodles, broken in half before adding
- Fresh chives for garnish (optional)
How to Make
1. In a large pot combine the shredded chicken, cream of chicken soup, chicken broth, cream, carrots, celery, onion, bacon, cream cheese, Ranch seasoning, salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
2. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Turn the heat back to medium-high and add the broken spaghetti noodles. Cook 9–11 minutes, or until the pasta is tender, stirring frequently so the noodles don’t stick to the bottom of the pot.
4. Stir in the shredded cheddar until melted, sprinkle with chopped chives and serve hot.
Recipe Tips
- Use a condensed can of cream of chicken soup (no additional water needed for this recipe).
- Stir frequently while the noodles cook to prevent sticking or burning; the sauce will thicken as the pasta absorbs liquid.
- For a saucier result, reduce the amount of pasta used.
- Leftover cooked chicken or turkey works perfectly. If you don’t have leftovers, bake or poach seasoned chicken breasts and shred them.
- Full-fat cream cheese yields the creamiest texture; avoid low-fat versions if you want maximum richness.
Helpful Kitchen Tools
These basic tools will make the recipe easier to prepare:
- Large Dutch oven or heavy pot
- Cutting board and sharp knife
- Peeler for carrots
- Cheese grater for shredding cheddar
Storage Tips
Store leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave until warmed through. The sauce may be less saucy after refrigeration, but the flavor remains excellent.
Freezing is not recommended because the dairy can change texture after thawing.
Recipe Variations
- Swap the spaghetti for linguine, fettuccine, rotini or macaroni.
- Make a vegetarian version by omitting the bacon and chicken and boosting the veggies.
- If you don’t have cream of chicken, substitute cream of mushroom or cream of celery.
- For an extra creamy version use Velveeta in place of or in addition to shredded cheddar.
- Save time by using a store-bought rotisserie chicken for the shredded chicken.
What to Serve with Crack Chicken Spaghetti
This dish pairs well with a crisp green salad and warm garlic bread or cheesy biscuits. A light, citrusy infused water or a simple kid-friendly drink makes a refreshing accompaniment. Finish the meal with a simple dessert if you like.
More Easy Spaghetti Recipes
- Spaghetti Pie
- Spaghetti Casserole
- Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
- Mexican Spaghetti
- Spaghetti Bake
- Creamy Chicken Spaghetti
Have you tried Crack Chicken before? This recipe is a crowd-pleaser and easy to adapt — a Crack Chicken Noodle Soup would be a natural next step if you enjoy these flavors.
Follow the recipe author on social channels and share your results if you try this dish.
Crack Chicken Spaghetti Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 cups chicken cooked and shredded
- 1 can cream of chicken soup 284ml/10.5oz can
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup cream
- 2 celery ribs chopped
- 2 carrots peeled and sliced
- ½ yellow onion chopped
- 1 cup bacon cooked and crumbled
- 1 package cream cheese 250ml/8oz
- 1 packet Ranch seasoning mix 28g/1oz
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 2 cups spaghetti uncooked, broken in half
- 1 tbsp fresh chives chopped, for garnish
Instructions
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Add chicken, cream of chicken soup, chicken broth, cream, carrots, celery, onion, bacon, cream cheese, Ranch seasoning, salt and pepper to a large pot. Bring to a boil on medium-high heat.
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Reduce heat to low and simmer for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
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Increase the heat to medium-high and add spaghetti noodles. Cook for 9 to 11 minutes, or until noodles are done. Stir frequently to prevent sticking.
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Stir in cheddar cheese and sprinkle with chives before serving.
Notes
Equipment
- Cutting board
- Cheese grater
- Dutch oven or large pot
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate from an online calculator and should not replace professional dietary advice.
Did you make this recipe?
Share a photo of your version on your favorite social platform — it’s great to see how you adapt it.