Buffalo chicken pasta transforms the zesty flavors of buffalo wings into a creamy, comforting pasta dish that’s equally fantastic for weeknight dinners or for feeding a crowd.
Buffalo Chicken Pasta
Buffalo chicken pasta is a fun twist on the classic American hot wings. All the zesty flavors of buffalo wings are transformed into a creamy, comforting pasta dish that’s fantastic for weeknight dinners or feeding a crowd. The steps are way easier than preparing wings. It’s similar to buffalo chicken dip but with the addition of pasta. As with many casseroles, this dish starts with a can of condensed soup. Toss it with chicken breasts and buffalo sauce and let it simmer in a slow cooker until tender, then stir in noodles, cheese and ranch dressing. You’ll want to try this pasta if you’re a fan of buffalo chicken recipes, mac and cheese or creamy casseroles.
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Ingredients
- Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts provide the protein base of the dish. Cutting them into cubes ensures that they cook quickly and evenly, absorbing the bold buffalo flavor.
- Condensed cream of chicken soup: Condensed soup creates a creamy and rich base for the sauce. The undiluted soup thickens the sauce so that it clings perfectly to the pasta. If you’d rather DIY, we have a recipe for that.
- Buffalo sauce: Tangy and spicy hot sauce delivers the kick that makes this dish taste like buffalo chicken wings.
- Onion: Finely chopped onions give the dish savory depth and a slight sweetness to balance the heat of the buffalo sauce.
- Garlic powder: No need to mince garlic, as a small amount of powder is enough to lend a subtle garlicky note.
- Salt and pepper: These basic seasonings highlight the other flavors, making the dish well-rounded and tasty.
- Penne pasta: Tubular pasta provides a sturdy, chewy texture that holds up well to the thick sauce, ensuring each bite is flavorful and satisfying.
- Mozzarella cheese: Shredded part-skim mozzarella melts into the sauce for irresistible gooeyness.
- Sour cream: The tangy creaminess of sour cream cools down the heat of the buffalo sauce and balances the dish.
- Ranch dressing: Ranch salad dressing infuses the dish with a familiar flavor profile associated with buffalo wings. It offers a creamy, herbaceous contrast to the spicy sauce.
- Celery: Finely chopped. celery is an optional topping that provides a crisp, fresh texture and a subtle bitterness that contrasts with the richness of the dish, mimicking the celery sticks that come with buffalo wings.
Directions
Step 1: Make the sauce
Combine the chicken, cream of chicken soup, buffalo sauce, onion, garlic powder, salt and pepper in a five-quart slow cooker. Cover the cooker and cook on low for four to five hours or until the chicken is tender.
Step 2: Cook the pasta
Cook the pasta according to package directions for al dente noodles. Drain the noodles and set aside until the chicken and sauce are ready.
Step 3: Combine and garnish
Remove the slow cooker insert. Stir in the cheese until melted. Add the pasta, sour cream and ranch dressing. If desired, top with celery.
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Recipe Variations
- Make it vegetarian: Substitute the chicken with cauliflower or a plant-based protein such as tofu or seitan.
- Cheese lovers twist: Mix in some cheddar or sprinkle blue cheese on top for extra cheesy flavor.
How to Store Buffalo Chicken Pasta
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat them in the microwave or in a 350°F oven until warmed through. You can also freeze the pasta in an airtight container for up to three months and thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Can you make buffalo chicken pasta ahead of time?
You can slow-cook the chicken sauce ahead of time and refrigerate it. When ready to serve, cook the pasta and add it to the heated sauce along with the cheese, sour cream and ranch dressing.
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Recipe Tips
Can I use rotisserie chicken for this recipe?
Using rotisserie chicken is a great time-saver. Just shred the cooked chicken and stir it into the sauce. You’ll still want to slow-cook the sauce to soften the onion and meld together the flavors.
What type of pasta works best in buffalo chicken pasta?
Penne is ideal, but you can also use rotini, rigatoni or any other short pasta that holds the sauce well.
What to serve with buffalo chicken pasta
Buffalo chicken pasta is rich, so pair it with light sides such as lemony broccoli, a simple Caesar salad or cucumber-tomato salad. Or go with the theme and serve carrot and celery sticks with blue cheese dressing for dipping.
Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Pasta
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
240 min
Yield
8 servings
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 cans (10-3/4 ounces each ) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
- 1 cup Buffalo wing sauce
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1-1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 package (16 ounces) penne pasta
- 2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
- 2 cups sour cream
- 1/2 cup ranch salad dressing
- Finely chopped celery, optional
Directions
- In a 5-qt. slow cooker, combine the first 7 ingredients. Cook, covered, on low until chicken is tender, 4-5 hours. Cook pasta according to package directions for al dente; drain.
- Remove slow cooker insert. Stir in cheese until melted. Add pasta, sour cream and ranch dressing. If desired, top with celery.
Nutrition Facts
1-1/2 cups: 699 calories, 33g fat (14g saturated fat), 130mg cholesterol, 1995mg sodium, 56g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 4g fiber), 41g protein.
Buffalo chicken is a favorite in our household. Combine it with pasta and
you have the ultimate comfort food. If you prefer less spicy food, the addition
of sour cream, ranch dressing and mozzarella provides a creamy texture and cooler flavor that nicely balances the spice in this buffalo chicken pasta dish. —Kathy White, Henderson, Nevada
Recipe Creator
