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.”
Ain’t no shame in a little Pizza Hut buffet, girl. Just sayin’.
I think I’d be a little bitter if I missed out on this meal too.
The Pizza Hut buffet is my husbands favorite place to eat, seriously. His family used to eat there every Christmas Eve….yes….true story. But it’s like impossible to find any Pizza Hut’s that still have the buffet these days. At least out here in the West.
This enchilada spaghetti looks great!
At least he puts up with you watching 90210 remakes b/c my husband would have that remote in his hand so fast I wouldn’t know what happened. Probably to watch some stupid pawn stars episode or something equally ridiculous.
I have a spaghetti squash past it’s prime on my counter right now and I’m thinking about enchilada-saucing it out. Yum :)
Just wanted to come back and say I actually did the spaghetti squash thing this afternoon, used chicken sausage instead of chicken and zucchini instead of peppers, but same idea :) Came out delicious from the quick taste I stole while making it. Can’t wait for dinner tonight!
So glad the spaghetti squash worked! Also… are you freaking kidding me? My husband is OBSESSED with pawn stars and hardcore pawn. Barf! What is up with these guys?
Wait…are there people who DON’T love the Pizza Hut Buffet? What’s not to love about not having to choose just one pizza topping but have limitless topping options? AND pasta? AND two different kinds of breadsticks??
Again I ask, what’s not to love?
A girl after my own heart! I need to make this! Wish I wasn’t at work because I would make this now!
Looks like I’m having enchilada spaghetti (minus the chicken) for dinner tonight. Carb loading is a lot more fun when you aren’t eating the same boring pasta every night.
This looks wonderful…I love following your blog…and Happy Anniversary!
You just combined two of my favorites – Mexican and pasta. Yes, please. I’ll take some of that.
UM, YUM! That dish looks so good. I’m now hungry and it’s only 1040am here. Not good.
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Definitely a fun twist on pasta! Cute story, too. ;)
Haha, my husband LOVES the Pizza Hut buffet too. For his 21st or 22nd birthday, his mom took us out to lunch. We could go wherever he wanted, it was his birthday after all. He picked Pizza Hut lunch buffet.
Just added this to my list of things to make. Also on the list is your Almond Pomegranate Salmon. Oh, and those sweet potato rolls. And perhaps the snicker-chip-doodles…for a care package for my sister…(or not).
My husband makes fun of me for watching 90210 too and pizza hut is delicious :)
I love chicken.
I love spaghetti.
Loves me some enchiladas.
This is the perfect combination!
Oh, yeah…I love cilantro, too.
I love this twist on two faves! I need to turn on my creativity gene. Enchiladas…they’re not just for tortillas anymore!
I’m laughing out loud literally, this is so similar to me haha my husband also gets tortured by what he calls “trash” tv however lately we have agreed on just constant food network as a happy medium. I remind him that I sacrifice my time watching “too big too fail” countless times which made me too bored to think lol and I listen to Jim Cramer scream on Mad Money quite often, so I’d say he owes me some 90210!
Anyway this dish looks delicious along with all of the other recipes you make, my husband isn’t a big pasta eater but in this case he probably would be lol I’ll let you know how it turns out. Oh and I also used to be Pizza Hut buffet addict, and their creamy Italian dressing from the salad bar has yet to been duplicated, have you tried that? It’s to die for, Anyway great posts as usual!
I’ve never had it! Gotta try.
i love making enchilada pasta! so, so good. any topped with cilantro is good with me :)
ha ha ha ha, well at least yours will eat WHOLE WHEAT pasta. No matter how much I try I try to spruce it up but he has like bionic taste buds and I am always found out and reprimanded! :D LOL This dish looks like something my hubs would love! Must try it soon, seems very simple too. Maybe I will make this a freezer meal for after the baby arrives. You two are so funny. Thanks for your stories.
Yum! This is a really good idea – I bet it would be good as a baked casserole, too. You know, a reason to add more cheese.
Aww haha, that is sweet of you to make it again for him! Hopefully he wont out anymore of your secrets! ;p
Yum! Sounds great. :)
this just SKYROCKETED to the top of my “to make” list!!!!!!!!!!
Yum. My whole family will love this one. Think I might try it next week – I’ll let you know how I go!!
My husband is going to freak out when I show him this recipe. Who would have thought you could mix spaghetti and enchilada’s. Can’t wait to try it.
I just stumbled on your blog today, thankyouPinterest. I feel like Alice falling down the rabbit hole and finding Wonderland. I have drooled all over myself for the last long while while I perused your recipes, and I just wanted to tell you that my family will be holding you personally responsible when I drop dead of sheer Awesome Overload at the amazement I’ve discovered here. (They will also be singing your praises, no doubt, when I whip up some of the deliciousness from the amazement I’ve discovered here.) So…carry on. It might kill me, but from the looks of things around here, it will be {well} worth it. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much Cara! Glad you found me. ;)
hahahaha this is just hillarious! my brother is also obsessed with enchiladas and meatballs but mostly with enchiladas, my mom has to make enchiladas at least once a week but she makes enchiladas verdes, rojas, suizas, enmoladas, entomatadas, enfrijoladas…. blablabla it is really tired to eat them every week and I would like to make him this pasta and see if he can eat it instead of the enchiladas!
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Ohhhhhh myyyyyy goooooooood. I ALSO watch 90210 and thought I was the only person over 19 that did so! I haven’t watched this week’s episode yet, but dying to know what the deal is with the kid from Alaska that isn’t really dead = I really need a hobby because apparently, blogging doesn’t keep me busy enough.
Ugh… what’s my excuse? Guess I need another hobby too.
Yum! This looks great and your writing in this blog post had me cracking up! I’m love the bitter beans for breakfast!!! : )
Oh the memories of the Pizza Hut buffet. I remember showing up at 10:45 in high school so we could get in the doors at 11 and gorge! Those desserts pizzas were to die for. I wish there were one clsoe to my office. I’m sure my boss doesn’t… or i’d be in a food coma every afternoon:)
This looks so yummy! That pasta sounds terrific, thanks for sharing! :)
Haha my boyfriend is the same way. I love to try all new spins on things but he could care less. He would eat plain chicken and the boxed cheesy rice every day if he were to cook. I am actually a little scared to try this for some reason (noodles in mexican?). But you made it so it has to be good. And I’m so ready for cookies tomorrow!
You and Mr. How Sweet are my idols. I can only hope my relationship can be that awesome.
Does the Pizza Hut buffet have the cheese stuffed crust…? Be still my heart.
They didn’t. I wanted to cry.
Everytime I learn something new about you (like the pizza hut buffet love) – my love for you grows stronger. Meeker and I used to eat at Golden Corral weekly when we were first married. We sat there with other couples who had been married for 60 years and enjoyed the heck out of our jello and all you can eat bread sticks.
Aaaand I like the looks of this pasta.
Okay you win. I don’t know if I could do Golden Corral.
Yeah, not sure I could do it now. That was back when I was young (4 years ago) and didn’t know how to cook for myself.
But I still like jello.
First of all, I adore enchiladas. Mmm! Secondly, I have been dying to make buffalo chicken enchiladas for awhile. Now I am considering adapting that to this spaghetti. Thoughts?
Oooh I think you could definitely do that!
The chicken enchiladas look fabulous! Just out of curiosity, what kind of enchilada sauce do you use? The one time I made enchiladas and used a canned sauce, I wasn’t loving it!
Don’t shun me, but I use Old El Paso. I have no idea if it’s good or not… it’s all my local stores have ever carried and I’ve used it for over 5 years. We really like it!
I’ve always wanted to be an “invisible internet friend.” Goal accomplished!
No joke, I just saw this recipe on Pinterest and I thought it looked delicious… I shouldn’t be surprised that it was yours! :)
Mmmmm that looks amazing. He surely can’t complain about THAT! Rock it wifey.
Hahahaha, I love your hubby. Does he not realize that we invisible internet friends also love the same things? No sympathy here, Mr. How Sweet, no sympathy here.
hahahah guys get so upset when good food disappears. my brother got SO MAD at me for finishing the rice pudding once. BUT, mind you, he eats my food alllllllll the time. fair? no. but thats life. haha
love how elegant the pictures are! makes saucy spaghetti look less sloppy ;)
I must admit I’m confused by this dish. I ♥ enchilada’s & I ♥ spaghetti. But together? I am going to trust and try it for myself! All your other stuff is soooooo good I know you wouldn’t steer us wrong!
If mixing enchiladas and pasta is wrong, I don’t want to be right!
Chicken enchiladas.. in spaghetti form?! hallelujah, this might be my new favorite food
OMG. I have all the ingredients to make this RIGHT.NOW. for dinner. best believe i’m doing it.
thanks girrrrl.
Just found your site today, and I feel like all you do is combine my favorite things into dishes. Things like salmon and almond and bacon and cheese and chocolate and spices. Yes.Please. Adding you to my Google Reader now!!
What a fun twist!! Awww- I love that you remember the first meal you made for you two. I cant remember what I first made for J, but i think it was chicken parm!
Love your blog. Love your food. Love you!
Oh, Oh, Oh! This looks and sounds amazing!I too LOVE enchiladas and could make them every week! I am making enchiladas this weekend, but this, this looks wonderful! I cannot wait to try it!
yummmmyyyyyy!! i love your non traditional spins on dishes, Jessica!! I cant wait for you to have a cook book :)
Thanks for deciding tomorrow’s dinner!
Perfect recipe to go with my new Texas Margaritas recipe! FABULOUS Friday night dinner that even the kids will love, well except for the margaritas. :-)