Cheesy Rotel Chicken Pasta

Name: Cheesy Rotel Chicken Pasta
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 pound rotini; 1 Tablespoon oil; 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed ((or chicken thighs)); ½ cup diced red bell pepper; ½ cup diced orange bell pepper; ½ cup diced yellow bell pepper; ½ cup diced yellow onion; 1 ounce packet low-sodium taco seasoning; 12 ounces Velveeta, cubed ((about 3/4 of a 16 ounce block)); 1 1/2 cups heavy cream; 10 ounce can Rotel ((diced tomatoes with green chilies)); 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese ((optional)); 1 teaspoon Chicken Better Than Bouillon; ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes ((optional)); 1 teaspoon dried parsley ((optional, for garnish))

PIN RECIPE RECIPE CARD EMAIL RECIPE

Cheesy Rotel Chicken Pasta is a quick 20-minute dinner made with tender bites of chicken, pasta, cheese and Rotel for an easy and filling meal!

A FAST FAMILY-FRIENDLY DINNER

This Cheesy Rotel Chicken Pasta is a quick, one-skillet dinner that even the pickiest eater will be coming back for seconds for. It’s a filling dinner that seems to be a hit with both kids and adults in my family. Plus, it’s super customizable to make it exactly how your taste buds will enjoy it- that’s my kind of dinner. And did I mention how quick it is? Anything that hits the table in only 20 minutes is a huge winner in my house.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Is this dish really spicy?

There is a slight heat from the Rotel and red pepper flakes. You can omit both and replace the Rotel with petite diced tomatoes.

What if I don’t have Better than Bouillon?

Just leave it out. It’s just an added layer of flavor but this dish will still taste great without it.

What to serve with this pasta dish?

A side salad or steamed vegetables, such as peas or broccoli. If you want some more carbs, go for some Garlic Bread, Dinner Rolls or Texas Toast.

How long does leftover Rotel Chicken Pasta last?

You can keep this in the fridge for up to 5 days. Store any leftovers in an airtight container. After it is heated up, you may need to add a bit of water or broth. I would add an ⅛ of a cup at a time.

A serving utensil in a pot of Rotel Chicken Pasta getting a scoop.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)

rotini – You can use any similar size pasta for this dish.
chicken – You can use any cubed chicken, whether it is breast, tenderloin, or chicken thighs. If you have leftover chicken to use, heat the chicken in oil with taco seasonings.
low-sodium taco seasoning – You can use the regular packet instead of low sodium. Sometimes I just find it easier so I can control how salty it gets (because you can always add salt in later but you can’t take it out once it is in there! You can also make Homemade Taco Seasoning so I know exactly what ingredients are in it and can really control things that way, that’s especially important if you’re watching your sodium intake.
bell peppers – Red, yellow, and orange are my favorite for this particular dish as they are the sweetest. You can use any type of bell pepper in this recipe, or even omit the peppers altogether for those pickiest of eaters.
yellow onion – you could also use a sweet yellow onion or even a shallot.
low-sodium chicken Better than Bouillon – This adds so much flavor, and I will put it in any recipe that I can. Make sure you use low-sodium. The regular one is overly salty. The better than bouillon paste adds a great background flavor but if you don’t have it, it’s not absolutely necessary for this recipe to taste great. Don’t go out and buy a jar just for this.
red pepper flakes – This adds a bit of heat. You can omit it if you prefer not to include it.
Rotel – Rotel is just diced tomatoes with green chiles. It adds a zesty kick of flavor and color to the recipe. If you don’t like Rotel, just use a can of diced petite tomatoes. It’s an easy switch.
heavy cream – This will bring it all together and create a thick sauce. Milk isn’t a good substitute for heavy cream since it would make this too thin. You could use half and half though. Or, if you don’t mind sour cream, you could use that instead.
Velveeta – This will create the creamy, cheesy sauce. If you don’t have a block and have enough time, you could make some Homemade Velveeta. Or, simply replace it with 3 cups of your favorite cheese, such as cheddar, Monterey Jack, or even pepper jack cheese. You can also add a mix of any cheese you have on hand. Since a block of Velveeta is generally sold in 16 ounce blocks, you won’t be using a whole block of cheese, just ¾ of it. You could use more if you wanted to.
cheddar cheese – This adds an extra layer of cheese flavor. If you think it’s cheesy enough with the Velveeta, you don’t need to add the extra shredded cheese.

Rotini pasta, oil, cubed chicken, red, orange, and yellow bell peppers, yellow onion, low-sodium taco seasoning, Velveeta cheese, heavy cream, Rotel tomatoes with green chilies, shredded cheddar cheese, chicken Better Than Bouillon, red pepper flakes, and dried parsley.

HOW TO MAKE CHEESY ROTEL CHICKEN PASTA:

Cook the pasta according to the directions. Drain and set aside. To a large skillet, add oil. Then add in the chicken, bell peppers, onions and taco seasoning. Over medium heat, stir for 7 minutes or until the chicken is no longer pink. You want an internal temperature of 165° F.