Description
This Buffalo Chicken Pasta recipe combines tender shredded chicken, spicy buffalo sauce, and creamy cheese to create a flavorful and comforting meal. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, it features a smooth buffalo cheese sauce coating al dente pasta, topped with tangy blue cheese and fresh chives for an extra burst of flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz penne or rotini pasta
Buffalo Sauce & Cheese Mixture
- 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken breast
- 1/2 cup buffalo wing sauce
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Garnish
- 1/2 cup blue cheese, crumbled
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives or green onions (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Create sauce base: While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the buffalo wing sauce and stir to combine thoroughly.
- Incorporate cream cheese: Lower the heat and whisk in the softened cream cheese until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Gradually pour in the heavy cream, whisking constantly to maintain a creamy sauce consistency.
- Melt cheeses and season: Stir in shredded mozzarella cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Continue cooking until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Add chicken: Add the cooked shredded chicken to the sauce. Stir well to coat the chicken evenly and heat through completely.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the drained pasta directly to the skillet and toss gently to combine, making sure the pasta is fully coated with the buffalo cheese sauce.
- Plate and garnish: Transfer the pasta to serving bowls. Sprinkle with crumbled blue cheese and chopped fresh chives or green onions if desired for added flavor and color.
- Serve immediately: Serve the buffalo chicken pasta hot to enjoy the creamy, spicy flavors at their best.
Notes
- Use cooked shredded chicken for convenience; leftover rotisserie chicken works great.
- If you prefer less heat, reduce the amount of buffalo wing sauce or substitute with mild wing sauce.
- For a richer dish, you can add more cream or cheese to taste.
- This dish pairs well with a crisp green salad and celery sticks for a classic buffalo experience.
- To keep the pasta from drying out, toss it with olive oil after draining if not combining immediately with the sauce.
