Description
Buffalo chicken pasta is a bold and creamy one-pot meal that combines spicy buffalo sauce, tender chicken, and rich cream tossed with pasta. Perfect for game day, family dinners, or comfort food cravings, this quick recipe delivers crowd-pleasing flavor and effortless cleanup. Customizable and satisfying, it’s a spicy twist on classic pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz pasta (penne, rigatoni, or fusilli; gluten-free if needed)
- 2 cups shredded cooked chicken (rotisserie, grilled, or leftover)
- ½ cup buffalo sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream or 4 oz cream cheese
- ½ cup reserved pasta water (as needed)
- Optional:
- Shredded cheddar or mozzarella (for extra creaminess)
- Chopped green onions, celery, or blue cheese crumbles for garnish
- Extra buffalo sauce for drizzling
Instructions
- Cook pasta al dente according to package directions. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water and drain.
- In a large skillet, combine buffalo sauce and heavy cream or cream cheese. Simmer until smooth and creamy.
- Add shredded chicken to the sauce and stir to coat evenly.
- Toss in cooked pasta. Add reserved pasta water a little at a time to reach desired sauce consistency.
- Garnish with blue cheese crumbles, chopped green onions, or extra buffalo sauce before serving.
Notes
- Use rotisserie chicken for convenience or grilled chicken for smoky flavor.
- Substitute heavy cream with Greek yogurt, coconut cream, or cashew cream for lighter or dairy-free options.
- Add extra vegetables like spinach, mushrooms, or caramelized onions for nutrition and depth.
- To make it gluten-free, use certified gluten-free pasta and check all sauces and spices.
- For less heat, mix buffalo sauce with ranch dressing or add more butter.
- Can be made ahead assemble just before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 950mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 115mg