Buffalo Chicken Pasta
This Buffalo Chicken Pasta is a spin off of my favorite Buffalo Chicken Dip, made into dinner! It's and easy 30-minute dinner. Perfect weeknight or potluck meal.
Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 16 ounces cream cheese, whole, softened
- 1 ½ cups Ranch dressing, creamy
- 4 tablespoons hot sauce
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 2 pounds cooked chicken breast, shredded
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 12 ounces penne pasta, see notes
- Optional Garnish: chopped parsley, green onions, blue cheese, or extra hot sauce
Instructions
- In a medium heavy pot, stir softened cream cheese over medium-low heat until melted and smooth.
- Stir in Ranch dressing, hot sauce, and cheese. Stir until mixture is well heated through.
- Add chicken broth and whisk until a sauce consistency is reached. Stir in the shredded chicken. Add salt or pepper to taste, if needed. Keep warm.
- Cook pasta until al dente, according to package instructions. Drain, but do not rinse.
- Toss pasta with warm buffalo chicken sauce. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes before serving, as this allows sauce to thicken up a bit. Garnish as desired and enjoy.
Notes
- We use 12 ounces of pasta, as the sauce tends to thicken up as it sits. We've also used 16 ounces of pasta with good results; if you use more pasta, leftovers will need to be thinned out with broth or water.
- Soften the cream cheese before melting so it blends smoothly into the sauce without lumps.
- Use freshly shredded cheddar for easier melting; pre-shredded cheese may have ingredients in it that cause it not to melt as easily.
- Cook the pasta just until al dente so it holds up when tossed with the creamy sauce.
- Don’t rinse the pasta after draining. The starch helps the sauce cling better to each piece.
- Make it ahead by preparing the sauce in advance and storing it in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat before tossing with pasta.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container and reheat slowly over low heat, adding enough broth or water to bring back the saucy texture.
- This recipe is part of our 30-Minute Meal Recipes Collection.
- We love serving buffalo chicken pasta with Pull-Apart Rolls or Garlic Cheese Bread.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 950kcal | Carbohydrates: 77g | Protein: 98g | Fat: 99g | Saturated Fat: 37g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 28g | Monounsaturated Fat: 23g | Cholesterol: 164mg | Sodium: 640mg | Potassium: 1060mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 1914IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 397mg | Iron: 4mg