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Published: by Stefanie · This post may contain affiliate links.
This cheesy buffalo chicken pasta bake recipe is an easy meal with minimal prepwork, and has just enough spicy flavor from the buffalo sauce to keep you coming back for more.
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Ourbuffalo chicken casserole with pastaisfull of cheesy goodness,tender pasta,shredded chickenandpackedwith the traditionalbuffaloflavor. It’s theperfect way to use up leftover chicken,great for game day, and is aneasy dinner recipethat thewhole family will love.
I love when a complete meal can be made using simple ingredients and only a couple of dishes. I have a handful of go-tos like thischicken bacon ranch casserole or my mom’s chicken cacciatore recipe. I also like finding new ways to use spicy buffalo sauce, so it was time for the buffalo chicken mac to make it’s way to the dinner table.
Some of my favorite buffalo chicken recipes, also great for parties and game days, include theclassic buffalo chicken dip, buffalo chicken fries, and buffalo chicken meatballs. As for pasta dishes, a family favorite is thechicken parmesan pasta bakeand easy weeknight sour cream noodle bake.
Jump to:
- 🍗 Ingredients:
- Substitutions and Variations
- 🔪 Instructions:
- Recipe Tips for Buffalo Chicken Pasta Casserole
- Fun Fact
- Recipe FAQs
- More Tasty Buffalo Flavored Recipes
- Buffalo Chicken Casserole with Pasta
🍗 Ingredients:
- ziti pasta– you will only need half a box of pasta.Penne or rotini would also work well in this recipe
- cream of celery soup– could also use cream of chicken soup.
- cream cheese– soften at room temperature so it mixes easier
- ranch seasoning/dip mix– store-bought orhomemade ranch seasoningcan be used.
- buffalo wing sauce– Frank’s is one of our favorites.
- mozzarella cheese– or use a blend of your favorite cheeses.
- cooked chicken– use cooked skinless chicken breasts or rotisserie chicken. Try our instant pot chicken breasts or air fryer boneless chicken breast for speedy chicken, ready to toss into your casserole. Chicken thighs have a different flavor and we do not recommend using those for this recipe.
- Green onions– for garnish.
For a full list of ingredients and their measurements, 📋 please view my printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Optional Garnish:
Garnish this buffalo chicken pasta casserole with green onions, a drizzle of buffalo sauce, more cheese, or ranch dressing. Blue cheese dressing or blue cheese crumbles also pair well with the buffalo favor.
Substitutions and Variations
- Pasta– feel free to use penne pasta or rigatoni
- Cheese– monterey jack cheese or sharp cheddar cheese would also taste delicious.
- Saucier– ½ cup of milk or heavy cream can be added to the cheese sauce if desired.
- Low carb– swap the pasta for riced cauliflower.
- Gluten-Free – choose a gluten free pasta.
- More protein– use protein pasta like Banza or Barilla.
- Homemade buffalo sauce– Melt a ½ stick of butter with a cup of hot sauce over medium heat. Season if desired. Some like to use black pepper, onion powder, and/or garlic powder.
🔪 Instructions:
PREP: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease the casserole dish. Cook the pasta so it’s al dente, then drain and set aside.
Step 1: While the pasta cooks, combine the cream cheese, ranch seasoning, soup, and buffalo sauce in a very large mixing bowl.
Step 2: Stir in the cooked chicken and ½ cup of cheese.
Step 3: Use a wooden spoon to gently mix in the cooked pasta so it’s covered.
Step 4: Spread the mixture into a 9×13 baking dish.
Pro Tip: The mixture can be thick, so be easy when adding the pasta so it doesn’t break. You can also coat it with a little olive oil after cooking so it doesn’t stick together, making it easier to stir.
Step 5: Sprinkle the remaining cheese over top.
Step 6: Cover with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until the casserole is bubbly and the cheese has melted.
Step 7: Garnish with additional buffalo sauce and green onions.
SERVE: Chow down on this easy chicken dinner the way it is, or pair it with a simple dinner salad.
Recipe Tips for Buffalo Chicken Pasta Casserole
- Do not mix any water with the condensed soup.
- Using ½ cup of sauce isn’t too spicy, but gives the casserole the classic buffalo taste. Reduce to ¼ cup for less spice while still keeping the delicious flavor.
- Freshly shredded cheese will be more melty and gooey since pre-shredded cheese has a coating on it to keep it from clumping.
- To make ahead, assemble the creamy buffalo chicken casserole, cover and refrigerate. When ready pop it into the oven (covered) and cook as normal.
Fun Fact
Buffalo wings were originally created in Buffalo, NY which is how the sauce got it’s name. -Pepper Palace
Recipe FAQs
How long does spicy buffalo chicken pasta last?
Keep leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
Can you freeze this casserole?
Once the casserole has cooled, you can wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months. Bake covered at 350 until warmed through.
More Tasty Buffalo Flavored Recipes
-
Buffalo Shrimp
-
Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
-
Buffalo Chicken Dip
-
Buffalo Chicken Fries
If you try this Buffalo Chicken Casserole with Pasta or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you liked it in the 📝 comments below.
5 from 14 votes
Created by: Stefanie
Buffalo Chicken Casserole with Pasta
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes minutes
Total Time 50 minutes minutes
6
This cheesy buffalo chicken pasta bake recipe is an easy meal with minimal prepwork, and has just enough spicy flavor from the buffalo sauce to keep you coming back for more.
6
Ingredients
- 8 oz. ziti pasta cooked and drained (see note re: amount of pasta)
- 10.5 oz. cream of celery soup
- 8 oz. cream cheese softened
- 1 packet ranch seasoning/dip mix 1 oz., dry
- ½ cup buffalo hot sauce more or less to taste
- 3 cups grated mozzarella cheese divided
- 3 cups diced chicken breast cooked chicken (chicken breast or rotisserie)
- ½ cup sliced green onions for garnish
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°F.
Cook pasta to al dente according to package instructions. Drain pasta and set aside.
In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, soup, ranch seasoning, and buffalo sauce.
Stir in ½ cup cheese and the chicken.
Carefully mix in the pasta until mixture is evenly combined.
Spread mixture into a greased 9×13 casserole dish.
Top with remaining cheese.
Cover with aluminum foil and bake for about 30 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly and the cheese is melted.
Garnish with an extra drizzle of hot sauce and sliced green onions.
Notes
Storage:
Keep leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the refrigerator or freeze for 3 months.
Notes:
If desired, replace the cream of celery with cream of chicken condensed soup.
Using ½ cup of sauce isn’t too spicy, but gives the casserole the classic buffalo taste. Reduce to ¼ cup for less spice while still keeping the delicious flavor.
Don’t toss the leftovers, because it’s even better the next day. Reheat in the oven or microwave!
Add ½ cup milk or cream to the sauce mixture for a saucier casserole.
Nutrition
Calories: 565kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 136mg | Sodium: 1442mg | Potassium: 526mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1132IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 353mg | Iron: 1mg
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