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March 11, 2014 by: Shell

“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?

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Comments

  1. Virginia @thatbaldchick says

    March 11, 2014 at 9:30 am

    Cheat night, indeed. That looks delish, and SO worth cheating for!

    • Shell says

      March 11, 2014 at 11:32 am

      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!

  2. Lindsey @ Redhead Baby Mama says

    March 11, 2014 at 11:25 am

    Oh yes, Shell.  YES. This is getting a pin.  For my tummy. 

  3. Chris Carter says

    March 11, 2014 at 12:35 pm

    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!

  4. Robin (Masshole Mommy) says

    March 11, 2014 at 12:36 pm

    That sounds delicious.  I am Italian, so we have pasta every week – carbs and all 🙂

  5. Debra says

    March 11, 2014 at 1:14 pm

    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. Karen says

    March 11, 2014 at 1:20 pm

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

  7. brett says

    March 11, 2014 at 1:28 pm

    you had me at bacon.

    really. bacon. I <3 bacon.

  8. Jessica says

    March 11, 2014 at 1:40 pm

    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.

  9. Shop with Me Mama says

    March 11, 2014 at 3:40 pm

    Oh yum! I have never tried it with chicken! A much healthier option! Mmmm!

  10. Jennifer @TheRebelChick says

    March 11, 2014 at 4:34 pm

    I don’t think I’ve ever eaten anything like this before but it sounds good! I am going to have to try it the next time I buy Ranch dressing!

  11. Beth says

    March 11, 2014 at 4:34 pm

    That looks delicious. I will have to try that. I a fan of cooking in a crock pot. Thanks for sharing!!

  12. Debbie L says

    March 11, 2014 at 5:08 pm

    Sounds tasty!   I know Isa will love it – she is a Ranch fan!

  13. Terin Garrett says

    March 11, 2014 at 5:08 pm

    Comfort food at it’s finest! My husband makes the best spaghetti! I’ll have to get him to try this recipe though! 🙂

  14. Isabella Grey says

    March 11, 2014 at 5:29 pm

    That sounds so great! I wish I could cook something like this!

  15. sara@domesticallychallenged says

    March 11, 2014 at 5:31 pm

    Yum, and I can leave it all day? Bonus!!

  16. Kecia says

    March 11, 2014 at 7:40 pm

    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!

  17. Melissa says

    March 11, 2014 at 9:40 pm

    This looks delicious! My husband is not a spaghetti fan but I think he would LOVE this!

  18. Krystal says

    March 11, 2014 at 9:57 pm

    Chicken, bacon, ranch ANYTHING is my favorite. I’ll give this a go!

  19. Chrysa says

    March 11, 2014 at 10:37 pm

    Yikes! That really is a cheat! I’m not a fan of ranch, but I DO love my bacon!

  20. Cassie @ Southeast by Midwest says

    March 12, 2014 at 7:54 am

    When I think of spaghetti I automatically think of marinara. This looks like it would taste yummy!

  21. Ashley M says

    March 12, 2014 at 9:24 am

    OH yum, I love that you put bacon in this. One of my favorite ingredients. 

  22. Emmy says

    March 12, 2014 at 9:35 am

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

  23. Melinda@LookWhatMomFound...andDadtoo says

    March 12, 2014 at 9:55 am

    that sounds really good. I’d try a different shaped noodle because the husband hates spaghetti for some reason

  24. Tracey says

    March 12, 2014 at 9:56 am

    This looks unreal! I want to eat it up!

  25. Toni says

    March 12, 2014 at 10:52 am

    Oh my, that spaghetti looks divine.  We do a cheesy chicken spaghetting and it’s so good.

  26. Amanda Love says

    March 12, 2014 at 3:15 pm

    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. Eliz Frank says

    March 12, 2014 at 4:40 pm

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

  28. Debi@TheSpringMount6Pack says

    March 12, 2014 at 5:24 pm

    That looks so good. I will be making this right away

  29. Janel says

    March 12, 2014 at 7:04 pm

    I love comfort food! And recipes that can be made in the crockpot! 

  30. Angie | Big Bear's Wife says

    March 12, 2014 at 7:57 pm

    I want to dig right in!! yumm! I love spaghetti, well I love ALL pasta! 

  31. Brandy says

    March 12, 2014 at 9:06 pm

    Oh my, this sounds delicious. Thanks for sharing a new recipe for me to test out! Yum Yum!

  32. Jenn says

    March 12, 2014 at 11:43 pm

    Ok this sounds totally yummy.  I am bookmarking for sure and will be making it.  Can’t wait!

  33. Ashley - Embracing Beauty says

    March 12, 2014 at 11:58 pm

    Oooh, that sounds yummy! I love comfort foods!

  34. Natalie says

    March 13, 2014 at 9:40 pm

    I want this right now!

  35. Paige says

    March 15, 2014 at 12:03 am

    We make a very similar dish except it’s in the crockpot! I love it!

Welcome to Things I Can't Say: Tips and Tales from an Introverted Mom. I'm Shell. Boy mom, beach girl, bookworm, ball games, baker, brand ambassador, Thinking yoga, food, and travel should start with "b," too. Finding the easiest way to do some things while overthinking so many others. Read More…

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