Surely you’ve sometimes wondered how to preserve cooked chicken spaghetti so that you can eat it the next day without it drying out, losing its flavor, or sticking together. You are left wondering,
“Can you freeze chicken spaghetti?” Yes, you can. For the record, it is best to eat freshly made pasta. But the truth is that we do not always calculate the right amount of spaghetti based on the number of guests.
In that case, the advantage of chicken spaghetti is that it can be perfectly stored in the refrigerator to enjoy the next day. But let’s talk about freezing it, shall we?
How to Freeze Chicken Spaghetti?
With these tips and tricks, you will learn how to freeze your spaghetti to preserve your dishes in perfect conditions. Let’s dive in!
Step 1: Cook the Chicken Spaghetti
- Cook the spaghetti and mix them with chicken, cream of mushroom soup, seasoning, and veggies.
- Mix the chicken spaghetti with the extra virgin olive oil. When you freeze pasta, store it, and use it later in a recipe, the olive oil will help keep it from sticking. To save time and dishes, put the pasta in the same pot in which you cooked it.
- Optional: Split up your meal between two 8×8 dishes.
- Don’t add all the cheese immediately. Sprinkle it on top while serving the meal.
Step 2: Time to Freeze
- Arrange the meal in a single layer on a baking sheet.
- Spread the pasta out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, making sure they do not stick to each other afterward. This will make it easier to defrost small portions. Put the baking sheet in the freezer for a couple of hours.
- Once the pasta is completely frozen, remove the baking sheet from the freezer and transfer the pasta to a resealable freezer bag.
- Seal the freezer bag tightly, pushing out as much air as possible.
Step 3: Label and Store
- Label the freezer bag with the date and contents, then return the chicken spaghetti to the freezer.
- Placing the meal in a freezer-safe container is a good idea. It can be a set of glass containers to store the chicken spaghetti, glass jars (that can be frozen without breaking), or freezer bags.
What Happens if You Freeze Chicken Spaghetti?
Chicken spaghetti freezes exceptionally well and can stay frozen for up to four months. However, you should keep in mind that the meal can lose its flavor, texture, and quality once frozen. Thawed pasta will not taste as good as freshly-made pasta, but that’s just common sense, right?
How Long Can You Freeze Chicken Spaghetti?
If you want to prepare chicken spaghetti, freezing it is the best option to dose its consumption. If stored in an airtight container, chicken spaghetti will last up to four months in the freezer. After 4 months it will also be safe to eat them but the quality may deteriorate. I usually eat them after two months.
How to Thaw Frozen Chicken Spaghetti
Now that you know how to freeze chicken spaghetti, you must know how to defrost it correctly to maintain its original flavor and texture as much as possible. There are many ways to thaw the chicken spaghetti, let’s check out the key steps below.
- Place the frozen chicken spaghetti in the fridge for 12-24 hours so the chicken thaws.
- Put the spaghetti in a saucepan with warm (not hot) water. This will bring the spaghetti to room temperature.
- Stir frozen spaghetti into the sauce carefully. This will slightly defrost the pasta and chill the dish, so make sure it’s piping hot before serving. Also, avoid over-stirring the pasta!
- Immediately place frozen pasta in a pot of boiling water. This will defrost the spaghetti in an instant and cook them for a minute.
- Put it in the microwave for a few minutes.
- I prefer to put them in the microwave for a few minutes and have dinner ready. Piece of cake.
How to Reheat Chicken Spaghetti
Chicken pasta is easy to reheat. It can easily stay in the fridge for two days, and I recommend reheating it on the stove. Simply add a spoon of your No. 1 cooking oil and lightly heat the meal in a pan. Using a microwave works just fine as well. Chicken is not too demanding and as long as you don’t reheat it after four or more days, you should be fine.
Can You Refreeze Chicken Spaghetti?
I strongly advise against refreezing cooked pasta. Their texture and flavor would suffer greatly. Chicken is safe to refreeze within four days. The sooner you refreeze it, the better. Note that refreezing food is a discouraged practice since it can cause health and nutritional problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does chicken spaghetti last in the fridge?
Less than 5 days. The shelf life of chicken spaghetti in the fridge depends on its main ingredient and each dish in particular, although the average is between three and five days.
Can you freeze cheesy chicken spaghetti?
Yes, you can freeze cheesy chicken spaghetti! I have to say though, that pasta tends to keep soaking sauce during the freezing process, making the pasta drier than it was before it was frozen. It’s not a problem though, as it can be easily fixed after thawing.
Can you freeze chicken spaghetti casserole?
Many types of casseroles can be frozen for later use, although it is important to note that some ingredients freeze better than others. Chicken spaghetti casseroles freeze and heat well if properly prepared and frozen.
Conclusion
It’s a good idea to cook a large batch of chicken spaghetti to keep some portions frozen. Chicken spaghetti freezes well and can give you some quick, yet healthy and delicious weeknight dinners that are ready in no time! This article is finished! Now that you have the answer to the question “Can you freeze chicken spaghetti?” and you know how to defrost pasta, all that remains is to wish you an excellent appetite! If you liked this article, share it with your friends and family who love chicken spaghetti as well, and check out my other articles.
