Cheesy Rotel Chicken Pasta

Why You’ll Love This Cheesy Rotel Chicken Pasta

This is a well-known recipe with all our close friends and family, as we make it anytime someone needs a comforting dinner. When my kids were little, it was always in our weekly dinner rotation on busy school nights. Besides our crockpot beef stew, this is my husband’s favorite comfort food, he has nicknamed it “cheesy goodness”! Here’s why we know you will make it over and over again:

• Quick and Easy: This dish comes together in one-pot in under 20 minutes, making it a lifesaver on busy nights.
• Oh-So-Cheesy: The combination of Velveeta cheese and Rotel brings a creamy, cheesy richness with just the right amount of spice. Every bite is pure comfort food!
• Affordable: With just 5 simple ingredients, this is a meal that won’t break the bank and can easily be doubled to feed a crowd.
• Spicy or Not: Use mild canned Rotel tomatoes and chilies for flavor without the spice. Go for original, hot, or extra hot to really pump up the heat!

Key Ingredients

Below you will find helpful notes for key ingredients used to make this rotel chicken pasta recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card below for the full ingredient list and exact amounts!

• Egg Noodles: We like using medium egg noodles for the best ratio of pasta to creamy sauce. Feel free to use small or regular instead!
• Shredded Chicken: Our instant pot shredded chicken is always ready quickly, which is great. You can use rotisserie chicken as well.
• Velveeta Cheese: Honestly, we don’t recommend swapping this cheese with any other. Nothing’s ever quite as good in this recipe!
• Rotel: If you are feeding kids, we recommend using a can of mild Rotel. If you want more heat, use original, hot, extra hot or try Rotel with habaneros!
• Cream of Mushroom Soup: You can swap out the canned cream of mushroom for any similar flavor, like cream of chicken, celery, or even onion.

How to Make this Rotel Chicken Pasta Recipe

This easy, cheesy pasta recipe takes just 20 minutes to toss together! Below is a quick recipe overview, but please scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post for full instructions.

Cook’s Tips & Variations

• Leftover Chicken: Have any leftover shredded chicken in the fridge? This is the best way to use it up!
• Add Veggies: Feel free to sneak in some veggies like bell peppers, spinach, beans, or corn for extra nutrition without sacrificing flavor.
• Pasta Substitutions: While egg noodles are our favorite in this dish, you can also use any pasta noodle like penne, rotini, or even macaroni!
• Make It Beefy: Swap the chicken for a package of ground beef or turkey. Just brown the meat in the pot, we like to also add in a little diced onion, then add in the rest of the sauce ingredients.
• Season To Taste: Make sure and taste before seasoning with salt and pepper. We personally find that this recipe is salty enough and doesn’t need a lot of seasonings.
• Make It Casserole-Style: Transfer the pasta to a casserole dish, top with shredded cheese, and bake for 10 to 15 minutes at 350°F. Just make sure to cook your noodles a minute or two less, so they don’t become soggy.

What to Serve with Cheesy Rotel Pasta

• Garlic Bread: For the ultimate comfort food dinner, plate this cheesy pasta with our favorite garlic bread!
• Toppings: You can have fun with the toppings – green onions, cilantro, jalapeños, or even some crushed tortilla chips on top can give this pasta a little extra flair.
• Veggies: You can lighten up your plate with a veggie side dish like oven roasted cherry tomatoes or roasted green beans.

How To Store Leftovers

While we like this best served fresh, the leftovers are still tasty!

• Fridge: Transfer cooled leftovers to an airtight container and store for up to 3 days.
• Reheating: Reheat leftovers on the stove over low heat or in the microwave in 30 second bursts, stirring often. Add a splash of milk or chicken broth to keep the sauce creamy as it warms.
• Freezer: We don’t recommend freezing any leftovers, the texture will not be the same once thawed.