The best part? It’s cooked all in one pan! You are going to love this quick and easy dinner recipe so much. Everyone loves Buffalo Chicken, and they’re going to love it when you make this Buffalo Chicken Pasta recipe too! Just like Buffalo Chicken Pizza, Buffalo Chicken Sliders, Buffalo Smashed Potatoes, and Buffalo Chicken Dip, all of the spicy, savory, and creamy flavors of hot wings are in this dish!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Ingredients In Buffalo Chicken Pasta
Here’s what you need to make this easy shredded chicken pasta recipe: Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Cooked Chicken: Start with a pound of chicken that you’ve already cooked or about 3 cups of shredded or diced chicken from leftovers or a rotisserie chicken. You can boil chicken breasts for this recipe, or use my crockpot shredded chicken recipe. Garlic, Onion, and Celery: sauteed with a bit of olive oil and salt and pepper, these aromatic veggies create a savory first layer of flavor for our dish. Chicken Broth and Diced Tomatoes: Choose low-sodium chicken broth for this recipe, or the finished pasta could be overly salty. The broth and juice from the tomatoes give us enough liquid to cook dry pasta right in the skillet. Pasta: I like bowties (a.k.a farfalle) in this dish, but it will truly work with any pasta shape you enjoy. Try it with penne, rotini, or even long pasta like spaghetti. Hot Sauce: Pick up a bottle of Frank’s Red Hot sauce, or a similar Buffalo-style hot sauce. Cream Cheese: Cut a block of full-fat cream cheese into cubes, and let it sit out and room temperature to soften. You can make this recipe with low-fat cream cheese, but it won’t be as creamy. Shredded Cheese: Cheddar and Mozzarella cheese are both mixed into the sauce to make it amazingly cheesy! You can of course use your favorite types of cheese instead though. Try provolone, monteray jack, or swiss. Let the shredded cheese sit at room temperature too, so that it melts quickly. Ranch or Blue Cheese Dressing: In Buffalo, they serve blue cheese dressing with chicken wings, but you may prefer ranch dressing instead. Crumbled Blue Cheese: Again, this is the best choice, but you can use crumbled feta as a substitution. Both are delicious!
How To Make Buffalo Chicken Pasta
Recipe Tips
Make sure you have a lid that fits on your skillet well enough to keep the heat in while the pasta is simmering. Cook time may vary slightly depending on the shape of the pasta that you are using and how soft you’d like it when it’s finished. Start checking on the pasta at the 10-minute mark, and add additional time if needed. If you choose long pasta, you may need to break it in half so that it fits in the pan. Add the cheese over low heat. If you try to use high heat to melt the cream cheese there is a possibility that the milk proteins can separate. Go low and slow! It’s ok if your sauce seems a bit thin! It will thicken in a minute or two as it cools. Shred your own cheese: For the best flavor and melty texture, you should consider buying cheese in blocks and shredding it yourself. You’ll also save money doing it this way! Shred the cheese while it’s cold, and then let the shredded cheese come to room temperature before adding it to the pasta. The same goes for crumbled cheese – it’s better to buy a block and crumble it yourself rather than buying containers of “crumbles”. Instead of chicken, use leftover holiday turkey to make this tasty meal!
Baked Buffalo Chicken Pasta
Turn this skillet meal into a cheesy casserole with just a few extra steps and some extra shredded cheese. Once the dish is finished, but before you garnish it, transfer it to a casserole dish (if you’re cooking in an oven-safe skillet, you can just leave everything right there!). Sprinkle an additional half cup of cheddar and a half cup of mozzarella on top, and bake at 350°F/180°C for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the pasta is bubbly. Garnish with creamy dressing and crumbly cheese before serving. You might also enjoy baking up some Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Peppers!
Storing Tips
Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge, and enjoy within 3 days or so. This dish is best when it is fresh, so I don’t recommend making it ahead of time on purpose. I’d avoid freezing this meal, as the pasta will likely become too soft. To Reheat leftovers: Add a splash of water and stir to loosen up the sauce while reheating gently in a pan on the stove or in the microwave.
What To Serve With Buffalo Pasta
I like to serve this chicken pasta dish with a simple salad and freshly baked breadsticks. Try my tasty Wedge Salad or a simple Caesar Salad. It’s everything you love about chicken wings but in a creamy, cheesy, one-pot pasta dish! Be sure to Pin this recipe – it’s perfect for making with leftovers or a rotisserie chicken and makes a simple meal for a busy weeknight. © Little Sunny Kitchen
