Buffalo Chicken Pasta (Printable Version)

Spicy buffalo sauce, tender chicken, and creamy cheese come together in this bold pasta dish topped with tangy blue cheese.

# List of Ingredients:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz penne or rotini pasta

→ Chicken

02 - 2 cups cooked shredded chicken breast

→ Sauce

03 - 1/2 cup buffalo wing sauce
04 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter
05 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
06 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
07 - 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
08 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
09 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
10 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Topping

12 - 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
13 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives or green onions, optional

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
02 - Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add buffalo sauce and stir to combine.
03 - Lower heat and whisk in cream cheese until smooth. Pour in heavy cream, whisking constantly until sauce reaches creamy consistency.
04 - Stir in mozzarella cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook until cheese melts completely.
05 - Add shredded chicken to the sauce and stir until well coated and heated through.
06 - Add drained pasta to skillet and toss to combine, ensuring even coating with sauce.
07 - Transfer to serving bowls. Sprinkle with crumbled blue cheese and chopped chives if desired.
08 - Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It brings together the bold thrill of buffalo wings and the comfort of creamy pasta without any frying or mess.
  • The sauce clings to every piece of pasta and chicken, so each bite is as flavorful as the last.
  • You can have dinner on the table in half an hour, even on a weeknight when everything feels too rushed.
  • It satisfies both spice lovers and cheese cravers in one single bowl.
02 -
  • Do not skip softening the cream cheese, cold chunks will never fully melt and you will end up with lumps floating in your sauce.
  • Toss the pasta in the skillet instead of pouring sauce over it in a bowl, this way every piece gets evenly coated and the flavors marry together.
  • Taste the sauce before adding the chicken, buffalo sauces vary wildly in heat and salt, so adjust early.
03 -
  • Reserve a cup of pasta water before draining, it is starchy and salty and perfect for loosening the sauce if it gets too thick.
  • Use a rotisserie chicken from the store and shred it while it is still warm, it will be juicier and easier to pull apart.
  • Let the cream cheese sit out on the counter for thirty minutes before you start cooking, it will blend into the sauce without a fight.
  • If you love extra heat, add a pinch of cayenne or a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce right before tossing in the pasta.
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