Easy Ground Chicken Spaghetti Recipe with Red Sauce

I would love to be the mom who has time to make homemade red sauce and sometimes I am. Other times, not so much!

With this ground chicken spaghetti recipe, you would never know my secret: I use jarred red sauce! Toss in some Italian seasoning and olive oil to make a flavorful ground chicken bolognese sauce- it is delicious.

Rao’s is hands down, the BEST jarred sauce out there. If you’re a pasta lover, you must try it, you’ll never want to make your own again.

I like to use brown rice and quinoa spaghetti because it’s gentle on little tummies and I feel good about serving it to the kids. Add in a little side salad, some garlic bread and a little (or a lot) of parmesan cheese and this comfort food meal will be a family favorite in no time.

❤️ Why You’ll Love Ground Chicken Spaghetti

• Ready in less than 20 minutes.
• Use your favorite pasta noodles.
• Family-friendly meal that toddlers and adults will love.
• Can be made gluten or dairy free.
• Perfect for busy weeknight dinners.
• ​Uses jarred sauce and a few simple ingredients.

🍲 Ingredients

Lean Ground Chicken

Marinara Sauce: Rao’s Sensitive Marinara is the best.

Spaghetti

Olive Oil

Garlic Powder

Parmesan Cheese

Fresh Basil and Parsley

👩‍🍳 How to Make Ground Chicken Spaghetti

1. Cook the spaghetti or pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.
3. Add the ground chicken and season with garlic powder and black pepper. Cook until no longer pink.
4. Once chicken is cooked, add about 1/2 cup of marinara sauce and pour over chicken (use more if needed). Turn the heat down to low and cover with lid to cook for about 5 minutes.
5. Add the cooked pasta with the rest of the marinara sauce and parmesan cheese.
6. Stir everything together until the ingredients are well coated with the sauce.
7. Garnish with more grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh basil or parsley, if desired.

🪄 Tips and Tricks

• Make sure your pasta is al dente when you drain it, as it will cook more in the hot sauce.

🗒 Substitutions

• Different protein: chicken thighs, ground beef, ground turkey or ground pork.
• Different Pasta: gluten-free pasta or zucchini noodles.

🗒 Best served with

• Garlic bread and a green salad.

🗒 Variations

• If you want more nutrition in your ground chicken spaghetti, toss in your favorite veggies. Bell peppers, zucchini, broccoli, yellow onion, and extra diced tomatoes are yummy, filling and adds a kick of healthy goodness.
• If you want a creamy chicken spaghetti, add a touch of half and half or a little sour cream at the end.
• For some spice, add red pepper flakes or green chilies to the sauce while it cooks. 
• Add crushed tomatoes for a chunkier pasta sauce.

👝 How to Store Leftovers

This is great for meal prep because there’s lots of leftovers, depending on the size of your family. Store in an airtight container for up to three days in the fridge or three months in the freezer.

Reheat in the microwave, stove top or oven. I like to save a little bit of sauce if I know I will have leftovers, in case it dries out.

🤔 Common Questions