Chicken Enchilada Spaghetti.
Last night I turned to Mr. How Sweet and asked him what the heck I should talk about with this enchilada spaghetti. The enchilada spaghetti that he didn’t get to eat… because he had to go away for work. And the enchilada spaghetti that I made for my brother… and myself. And the enchilada spaghetti that I didn’t save for him.
You know, because enchiladas are his FAVORITEST FOOD EVER.
So he said, “how about you tell all of your invisible internet friends how obsessed you are with watching the horrendous remake of 90210 every week? Because I’m just thrilled that I’m sitting here with a sandwich for dinner, looking at those pictures of a pasta that I didn’t get to eat and watching this terrible trash that is supposed to be passed off as acting.”
Well then… okay. Someone had bitter beans for breakfast.
Then he said, “Or! Maybe you should talk about how we went to the Pizza Hut buffet for lunch and how you secretly love the Pizza Hut buffet because it is soooo good. I’m sure you don’t want THAT little secret to get out!”
Hmmm. Even better. I didn’t know my secret Pizza Hut buffet love was a secret. Happy anniversary to us!
Anyhoo… enchiladas are a little special here. Not because I make them nearly once a week (I do) and not because they ooze with cheese (they do) and not because they are the perfect excuse for millions of margaritas (they are.. trust me) but because they are the first meal I made for us as a couple a trillion years ago. Or you know… five years ago. Same thing.
But you know me. I get bored so easily. I ruin classics. I trash them up. I crave some sort of familiarity with a big plate of change. If it weren’t for me my husband would be eating PLAIN ground turkey with PLAIN egg whites and PLAIN whole wheat angel hair every.single.night. I’m not kidding. No… seriously, I am not kidding.
Guess I have to make this tonight for him so he stops whining.
Chicken Enchilada Spaghetti
serves 2-4
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1/2 red pepper, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon pepper
pinch of cayenne pepper
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
1/2 pound of dry whole wheat spaghetti
1 10-ounce can of red enchilada sauce
3/4 cup freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese
cilantro for topping
Boil water for pasta and prepare pasta according to directions.
While pasta is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium heat and add olive oil. Add onions, peppers, salt and pepper and let cook until vegetables are soft, about 5-6 minutes. Add garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes, then stir in chicken, cumin, cayenne, paprika and chili powder, along with the can of enchilada sauce. Turn the heat down to low, drain the cooked pasta, then add pasta to the skillet too. Fold in cheese and mix thoroughly to combine. Toss with a set of kitchen tongs until everything is mixed, then serve with a bunch of fresh cilantro.
Cookies. Tomorrow. Be there. Or uh… here.
173 Comments on “Chicken Enchilada Spaghetti.”
I think I’d be a little sad if I missed this too! Looks delicious!
Yum, this looks & sounds pretty darn awesome!
These pictures speak for themselves. This pasta looks super uber delicious.
Mr. How Sweet is too funny! You should definitely make him a batch of this pasta – it looks sooooo good! :-D
hahaha I totally watch the “new” 90210 too… and my husband also HATES it and complains about the cheesy acting EVERY week! I don’t care though. It secretly takes me back to those special nights when I was younger that I had a date with Brendon and Dylan ;).
Yes, that!
It looks delish! Beautiful photos. Sorry that Mr Sweet had to miss it. His loss :)
I made enchiladas for my husband once but he said they were too spicy and he couldn’t finish them. So I had to eat his as well as mine…..
Maybe I planned it that way, but only subconsciously of course.
;-)
This looks spectacular. I love pasta dishes that have flavors other than the typical Italian…enchiladas are my favorite Mexican dish and this is a great simple way to mix it up a little bit!
Just the name of this is fantastic! Looks so delicious.
I completely adore the Pizza Hut buffet and can’t control myself around it. You’re not alone. :)
I love a twist on a traditional recipe. I’d be pretty upset if I missed this dinner too, but knowing you I’m sure he’s eaten pretty well lately :)
Haha I’d be bitter too! My brother is also in love with enchiladas. Although what am I saying? I ALWAYS order them at mexican restaurants! They are just soooo good!
I agree with your husband that enchiladas might be the most perfect food! And pizza buffets…yes please! I grew up on the Pizza Hut buffet…it was a special Tuesday night in my house when we went to Pizza Hut for the all you can eat buffet….so much fun! And the dessert pizza was always my favorite!
Soooo good. :)
Mmmm love this! I’ve never been to a Pizza Hut buffet but I’m pretty sure I’d secretly love it.
I do all sorts of stuff with spaghetti, but never enchilada sauce. Funny how sometimes we never think to do something so simple and so right! I need to do this. We would all love it! Great idea Jessica! It looks delicious!
I am laughing my *#% off right now! Sounds like Mr. How Sweet is jealous that he missed this meal! :-)
I have to tell you how much I love your blog – the writing (which has me laughing out loud most of the time), your photography and most of all your RECIPES! The creativity, quality and sheer crazy deliciousness have made me a big fan.
I am a relative newcomer to blogging and your site is a constant source of inspiration for me to keep getting better and better.
Thank you!
Thank you so much Sheri!
Oh my! This is everything I need in a spaghetti. Love.
well I know why he is whining. I would have too. It looks delicious!
two things…i’m making this tonight and i adore pizza hut buffets too…or really any pizza buffett. when we lived in dallas we’d take a trip to gattiland and eat dinner with a million birthday parties going on around us for 2 years olds. we were so cool…
I’m surprised this didn’t make him come home from wherever work called him away to. What would Mr How Sweet do without you? ;)
Love this idea! And I also love the 90210 remake. I just can’t help myself.
Another one of your brilliant ideas – I could seriously eat anything enchilada any day of the week.
Twins! Enchiladas is definitely the first dinner I made for my boyfriend and I which also happened to be the first time we ever hung out just the two of us. We do things a bit untraditionally I guess.
This looks fantastic! And my husband also complains about all the shows I like, he has pointed out to me that all they do in any of these shows is talk, which I really could not see before he said it- apparently he prefers the running/car chasing/shooting variety of entertainment
Ok, that seriously looks delicious!!!!!
I heart you for this recipe. No really, I do….
Tell Mr. Crabby Pants that he’s incredibly lucky to have you cook him half the meals that you do…plain turkey, egg whites, and Diet Coke is no way to live! I’m definitely saving this recipe – my bf loooves enchiladas!
Haha, growing up the only restaurant my town had was a pizza hut. So now eating it makes me nostalgic.
That looks fantastic.
By the by, I emailed you a while back with major congrats for your Foodbuzz noms, but I don’t think it sent… So CONGRATS!!
ah, really??? i never got it!! thanks girl!
mmm spicy pasta, looks wonderful. I bet some fresh avocado would go really well sliced right on top of that too.
I have this vision that your house is always busting with a plethora of amazing food at all times… yet I love hearing that you go out to eat at Pizza Hut! That just made me smile!
My boys love enchiladas, I am making this tonight for them. Thanks!
Well huh…I now know what to do with the 1 out of 80 packages of chicken my boyfriend bought because they were buy 1 get 1 and he just HAD to get his money’s worth.
Ugh… been there.
I must say, I’m intrigued. Spicy spaghetti….i like it! Travis would kill me for changing up his beloved standby though. Might just trick him.
Mmmmm, that looks delicious!
This is a great idea!! My husband claims he doesn’t really like enchiladas, but I know he is wrong This might be a good way to trick him!
Creative! I bet it tastes great.
This sounds really good, I want to try it.
Yum this looks delicious! I love enchiladas, what a great idea to put the flavor in pasta!
I. Have. Never. Heard. Of. Such. Greatness.
And I’m talking about the pasta, not the 90210 remake.
My life has just been altered for the better. I’ll make and report back.
I might have just wet my pants.
Ok, Yum.
I can see this being served on Sundays during football get-togethers. Great idea.
That Pizza Hut buffet is pretty awesome – they have such a variety!
enchildadas + spaghetti = best idea ever!!!
Don’t think this combo ever would have crossed my mind….but it looks soooo good. Just might have to try it.
Actually…definitely going to try it. :)
This looks delicious! I love enchiladas, so I know I would devour this :)
“If it weren’t for me my husband would be eating PLAIN ground turkey with PLAIN egg whites and PLAIN whole wheat angel hair every.single.night.”
And you just described how my (single) brother eats EVERY SINGLE DAY. (Except he does chicken breast, green beans, edamame, and whole wheat rotini… but still, EVERY day.)
This looks awesome… can’t wait to try making it!
Oh my… my husband would NEVER eat edamame. That’s a win in my book!
I am glad I am not the only one who gets snarky comments from my man about my food pics and food he doesn’t get to eat (food I do leave leftovers for that he chooses to ignore until they go bad – sees them on my site and whines)… lol.
This is pasta enchilada greatness. I can’t wait to break his little heart when he ignores this one too ;)
Mmmm. A few months ago my husband declared a new rule in our home: no blogging about something I didn’t get to eat. Umm yeah. I’m a rebel though.
AHHHHHHHH!! It’s official – i love you. I AM OBSESSED WITH THE NEW 90210!! I don’t know why I love it and I hate that I do, but I do! I will gladly come over, eat enchillada spaghetti with you, watch 90210 and brainstorm blog topics :)
Wow, this looks wonderful!
Yum!! This looks so good, especially love that it’s served with fresh cilantro!
Great meal idea!
My guilty secret pizza pleasure is… Dominoes!!! I think they use some sort of artificial something with the cheese… But it’s just too good.