Buffalo Chicken Pasta is creamy, cheesy pasta loaded with tender shredded chicken and spicy buffalo sauce. Cream cheese, cheddar, mozzarella, and a splash of milk create a rich sauce for an easy dinner ready in about 30 minutes.
Using cooked, shredded, or rotisserie chicken makes this one of those easy dinners I can throw together without much prep. I like that you can adjust the buffalo sauce to give it as much or as little heat as you want.
Why I Love Buffalo Chicken Pasta
About the Ingredients ⭐
- Cream Cheese: Soften to room temperature so it melts smoothly into the sauce.
- Penne Pasta: Cook according to the package directions.
- Shredded Chicken: Rotisserie chicken makes this quick and easy, but any cooked chicken works.
- Granulated Garlic: Adds garlic flavor. Minced garlic can also be used.
- Hot Sauce: I use Frank’s RedHot for classic buffalo flavor.
- Mozzarella Cheese: Shredded mozzarella makes the sauce extra cheesy.
- Cheddar Cheese: Adds plenty of rich cheddar flavor.
- Blue Cheese Crumbles: Optional for topping.
- Chicken Broth: I like using Better Than Bouillon.
- Whole Milk: Makes the sauce creamy. Heavy cream can also be used.
Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below
How To Make Buffalo Chicken Pasta
1 – Assemble: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place the cream cheese in the center of a cast iron skillet and arrange the cooked penne around it.
2 – Add Chicken: Add the shredded chicken and garlic, then drizzle the hot sauce over the top.
3 – Make It Cheesy: Add the mozzarella, cheddar, and optional blue cheese. Pour in the chicken broth and milk.
4 – Bake: Bake for 20–25 minutes, until hot and bubbly and the cheeses have melted.
5 – Stir: Remove from the oven and stir everything together until creamy and well combined. Don’t worry if it looks a little thin at first—it will come together as you stir.
6 – Garnish: Top with sliced green onions or chives and enjoy! 🌶️🍝🧀
Tips I Found Helpful 💙
- Soften the cream cheese: Room-temperature cream cheese melts more easily into the sauce.
- Use cooked pasta: Cook the penne according to the package directions before adding it to the skillet.
- Adjust the heat: Add more or less hot sauce depending on how spicy you like your Buffalo Chicken Pasta.
- Keep stirring: The sauce may look thin when it first comes out of the oven, but keep stirring and it will become creamy.
- Shred your own cheese: Freshly shredded cheese melts more smoothly than pre-shredded cheese.
Questions Readers Ask Most
More Pasta Recipes I Love 💙
Buffalo Chicken Pasta
Creamy Buffalo Chicken Pasta with tender chicken, penne, buffalo sauce, and plenty of melted cheese.
Ingredients
- 8 oz Cream Cheese
- 10 oz Penne Pasta, Cook According To Package Instructions.
- 1 lb Cooked and Shredded Chicken
- 1 Tbsp Granulated Garlic
- ½ Cup Hot Sauce
- ¼ Cup Shredded Mozzarella
- ¼ Cup Shredded Cheddar
- ¼ Cup Blue Cheese Crumbles
- ¼ Cup Chicken Stock
- ¼ Cup Whole Milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Place the cream cheese in the center of a 10-inch cast iron skillet and arrange the cooked penne around it.
- Add the shredded chicken and sprinkle with granulated garlic. Drizzle the hot sauce over the top.
- Sprinkle with the mozzarella, cheddar, and optional blue cheese.
- Pour in the chicken broth and milk.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until hot and bubbly and the cheeses have melted.
- Remove from the oven and stir until everything is creamy and well combined. The sauce may look thin at first, but it will come together as you stir.
- Garnish with sliced green onions or chives and enjoy.
Notes
Use cooked pasta and cooked shredded chicken for this recipe. The sauce may look thin when it first comes out of the oven; keep stirring and it will become creamy as everything combines.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1 1/2 cupAmount Per Serving: Calories: 463Total Fat: 27gSaturated Fat: 14gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 119mgSodium: 1006mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 32g
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