Things I Can't Say

Tips and Tales from an Introverted Mom

“Cheat Night” Spaghetti

I try plenty of healthful recipes. Trying to get my kids to eat what will help them grow big and strong while keeping my waistline from expanding.

But this. This is NOT one of those recipes.

This is comfort food. This is easy to make, pure deliciousness, without any sort of redeeming healthy features. But everyone in my house is guaranteed to eat it all.

And really, everyone needs a “cheat night” once in a while. As long as the rest of the time, you are eating healthy, balanced meals, I think it’s okay to throw in a meal like this.

Chicken and bacon and ranch… oh, my! And toss it all in with pasta and it’s pretty much my perfect comfort food. Plus you make it in the crockpot, meaning this is an easy meal for those nights when we’re getting home late after soccer practice(see, exercise! So, it’s okay to have a cheat night sometimes).

Cheat Night Spaghetti

cheat night spaghetti

Ingredients

  • 1 lb chicken breasts
  • 6 slices bacon, cooked and diced*
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 oz package of ranch dressing mix
  • 1 10.75oz can of condensed cream of chicken soup
  • 1 cup of sour cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 8-16 oz spaghetti (I make this with 16oz and have plenty of leftovers, even after my family of five eats. It will depend on how far you want the sauce to last or if you really pile it on)

*Bacon cooking tip: Line a cookie sheet with foil. Place bacon slices on the foil and place in a cold oven. Turn oven on to 400 degrees and bake for 20-22 minutes.

Directions:

  • Place chicken in crockpot.
  • Mix together the rest of the ingredients, except for the spaghetti, and pour over chicken.
  • Cook on low for 6 hours.
  • Shred chicken with a fork and stir mixture.
  • Cook pasta according to package directions when you are ready to eat.
  • Either mix the sauce into the pasta or pour over individual servings, depending on your taste. I prefer to mix it together.

Do you have a favorite “cheat night” recipe?

Comments

    • That’s my requirement for a cheat night meal- it has to be amazing! If I’m getting those extra calories, it better be something really good. And this qualifies!

  3. Love the recipe- LOVE the bacon cooking tip even MORE!!! I hate cooking bacon because it is so laborious and messy and smelly ETC!!! This will be WONDERFUL! Thanks Shell!

  5. LOVE that this is done in the crockpot. I don’t have to stand over the stove, I can just pour it all in and go! My cheat meal is usually faux fried rice that I use a bag of frozen rice, frozen veggies that I make in microwave and then flip around in a frying pan with a little oil and fresh chopped onion & garlic.

  6. Spaghetti is really popular around our house so I’ll have to try this out.  Spaghetti plus bacon equals yummy!!

  8. That looks good enough to eat right out of the computer! I am a huge spaghetti person. I could eat it for a week straight with no problem. This recipe looks and sounds delicious.

  16. You had me at Ranch! It’s been a while since we’ve had spaghetti, but we are definitely pasta eaters. Right now, I’d say my favorite cheat dinner is Chicken Nachos. I cannot get enough of them!

  22. Oh that does sound like a pure comfort food!  Easy to make too.  I might just have to make that tonight.  

  26. Oh this looks yummy and one I know the whole family would enjoy. Just the word bacon is enough for hubby to want to eat it. Thanks for the recipe. 

  27. It looks really satisfying and delicious too… I won’t call that cheating. 🙂