Make Whole Grain Spaghetti Chicken Casserole

One of the times I treasure the most in our often busy, hectic days is suppertime with my little family. We are so blessed to be able to eat together on most days, and it's just so special! This is when magical moments happen - Little A will crack a hilarious joke. Little C will tell us about her latest career goal (she's 6 and planning her post-secondary education already - ha!). Baby B will ask for a high five in her sweet baby voice. I really want to make an effort to continue this tradition as my girls grow up. There's something about sitting and eating together that is just so intimate and sweet, isn't there?

I don't usually make anything to fancy or complicated for dinner, so one of my favourite things to make are casseroles. This whole grain spaghetti chicken casserole uses simple ingredients that are full of flavour and nutrients. You can even make a double batch and freeze some for later!

Here's how I make whole grain spaghetti chicken casserole (adapted from this recipe by The Pioneer Woman):

Ingredients:

• 3 cups Barilla® whole grain spaghetti, broken into 2" pieces
• 2 cups boiled cooked chicken breast
• 2 cans cream of mushroom soup
• 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
• ½ cup to 1 cup diced veggies (I used onions and tomatoes here, but you could use whatever you have on hand - green peppers, broccoli, etc.)
• 2 cups reserved chicken broth from boiling chicken
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• salt & pepper to taste
• 1 cup additional grated cheddar cheese

Boil the chicken breast in a large pot of water for about 30 minutes until cooked. Reserve 2 cups of the chicken water for later, and save the rest to boil the spaghetti.

Break the Barilla® whole grain spaghetti into 2 inch pieces.

Chop the cooked chicken into small pieces.

Boil the Barilla® whole grain spaghetti in the reserved chicken broth until al dente (about 7 minutes).

Mix the cooked spaghetti with all of the other ingredients except for the 1 cup of additional cheddar cheese.

Pour the mixture into a 9 x 13" casserole dish or divide the casserole into two smaller dishes so that you can save one for later.

Sprinkle the 1 cup of cheddar cheese on top of the casserole. This is when you could freeze the casserole for later if you desire.

Bake at 350 degrees F for about 45 minutes.

Enjoy!

Footie pajamas are optional at the casserole party!

Thank you, Barilla® Canada, for reminding us how important family dinners are! Families across the country are uniquely different, and yet we all experience the common need for greater connection. That’s why Barilla® created Share The Table® – to help inspire, empower and support all families to enjoy more meaningful meals. Barilla believes that while mealtime may not be a panacea for building strong children and families, it is still one of the most important things we can do to instill a sense of courage, confidence, and character in our children today, so that they, in turn, can make the world a better place.

Click here to get some more recipe ideas from Barilla® to help facilitate a fun family dinner tradition! They also share ideas to make mealtime more interactive (like downloadable games!), and you could even win a trip to Italy by sharing your supper time photos!

Happy supper time!

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Barilla® Canada. As always, all of the opinions shared here are my own.