Buffalo Chicken Casserole (2024)

Julie Clark

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If you like buffalo chicken dip, you’ll love this all-in-one Buffalo Chicken Casserole. It’s creamy, cheesy and bursting with buffalo ranch flavor.

Matt’s love of buffalo chicken has officially own all of the family over. It started by us trying buffalo chicken dip, which was a mistake. Because although it doesn’t look amazing? It’s addicting.

I took the love of the buffalo ranch flavor and made potatoes, mac ‘n cheese and pinwheels. And now we’re sharing a new main dish, the Buffalo Chicken Casserole. Although we all love this, Kinslee loves it the most. And I know you’re going to love it too once you see how easy it is.

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Why you’ll love this recipe:

  • Dinner ready in under an hour.
  • Options to use leftover shredded chicken or pasta.
  • Great for potlucks or family gatherings.
  • Adjust the spicy flavor by adding more or less buffalo sauce

Ingredients Needed:

  • Pasta: Any pasta shape will do. And we’ve even made this with gluten free pasta and Banza chickpea pasta.
  • Cream Cheese: I go with full fat cream cheese. Because this isn’t exactly health food, right?! But if you’d like, you can use a lower fat cream cheese.
  • Evaporated Milk: Why use evaporated milk instead of fresh milk? For one, I always tend to have a couple of cans of this on hand, and fresh milk always seems to be running short in the house. Evaporated milk also holds up to the heat of the oven. You won’t have any curdling if you use it.
  • Ranch Seasoning: Add one packet of seasoning to boost that ranch flavor in the casserole.
  • Ranch Dressing: Your favorite brand of salad dressing will work just fine.
  • Buffalo Wing Sauce: Frank’s buffalo sauce is our favorite. Or you can make homemade buffalo sauce.
  • Rotisserie Chicken: Rotisserie chicken works great in this recipe. I like how the chicken already has a little bit of flavor which just adds to the casserole. You can also use leftover shredded chicken or our favorite roasted chicken recipe.
  • Shredded Cheese: Always buy a block of cheese and shred your own for casseroles. If you use pre-shredded cheese, it can leave your casserole greasy.
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How to Make Buffalo Chicken Casserole

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 9×13 baking pan with cooking spray.
  • Cook pasta according to the package directions.
  • While the pasta is cooking: In a bowl, use a hand mixer to beat the cream cheese until smooth.
  • Add in the evaporated milk, ¼ of a cup at a time, mixing between each addition. Mixing in the milk slowly will help your mixture to stay smooth and not have small chunks of cream cheese.
  • Add the ranch dressing and buffalo sauce. Mix well.
  • Add the chicken and 1 ½ cups cheese. Stir to combine.
  • Mix in the drained pasta until it is coated.
  • Add noodle mixture to the casserole. Spread it out evenly.
  • Top with the remaining cheese.
  • Bake for 25-30 minutes or until it is bubbly and heated through. I do 25 minutes, then 3 minutes under the broiler on low to crisp up the top. That is optional, but I love the crispy top!
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Recipe Variations

  • I’ve already mentioned that you can use any type of pasta you’d like.
  • Use blue cheese dressing instead of ranch if you like that flavor.
  • Top with blue cheese crumbles, bacon, diced green onion or ranch drizzles.

Serving Ideas

This is an all-in-one casserole with pasta, chicken and cheese. What it doesn’t have is veggies! This would be great with a side salad, roasted broccoli or oven baked potatoes.

Add our ranch dinner rolls if you’d like some bread with it.

Buffalo Chicken Casserole

4.86 from 7 votes

If you like buffalo chicken dip, you'll love this all-in-one Buffalo Chicken Casserole. It's creamy, cheesy and bursting with buffalo ranch flavor.

Servings 10

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Print RecipeSave Recipe

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces rotini pasta about 4 cups dry
  • 8 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 14 ounces evaporated milk 1 can
  • 1 ounce ranch salad dressing seasoning mix 1 package
  • 3/4 cup ranch dressing
  • 1 1/2 cups buffalo wing sauce
  • 2 1/4 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
  • 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided

Optional Toppings:

  • ranch dressing
  • green onions sliced

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

  • Cook pasta according to the package directions.

  • While the pasta is cooking: In a bowl, use a hand mixer to beat the cream cheese until smooth.

  • Add in the evaporated milk, ¼ of a cup at a time, mixing between each addition. Mixing in the milk slowly will help your mixture to stay smooth and not have small chunks of cream cheese.

  • Add the ranch dressing and buffalo sauce. Mix well.

  • Add the chicken and 1 ½ cups cheese. Stir to combine.

  • Mix in the drained pasta until it is coated.

  • Spray a 9×13 baking pan with cooking spray.

  • Add noodle mixture to the casserole. Spread it out evenly.

  • Top with the remaining cheese.

  • Bake for 25-30 minutes or until it is bubbly and heated through. I do 25 minutes, then 3 minutes under the broiler on low to crisp up the top.

  • Drizzle ranch dressing over the top of the casserole.

  • Sprinkle with sliced green onions or bleu cheese crumbles.

Notes

The calories shown are based on the recipe serving 10, with 1 serving being 1/10 of the casserole. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box are calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.**

Nutrition

Calories: 544kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 97mg | Sodium: 1859mg | Potassium: 320mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 782IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 386mg | Iron: 1mg

Author Julie Clark

Course Main Dish

Cuisine American

Calories 544

Keyword cheesy pasta, easy casserole

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Buffalo Chicken Casserole (26)
Buffalo Chicken Casserole (2024)

FAQs

How many calories are in a serving of buffalo chicken casserole? ›

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
501Calories
26gFat
34gCarbs
34gProtein
Jun 7, 2023

How do you make a casserole taste better? ›

Fresh herbs or citrus zest can also punch up flavors with a bit of welcome brightness for a long-cooked dish, as can adding some heat in the form of a dash of hot sauce, a generous pinch of minced or sliced fresh chili pepper, or a shake of red pepper flakes.

How do you make a casserole not soggy? ›

Just because your casserole is starting to look a bit soupy doesn't mean it's beyond saving. In fact, all you need to do is add some pasta noodles or grains to your base. This trick works for the simple reason that both types of ingredients soak up water as they cook.

What side dishes go well with buffalo chicken? ›

The best side dishes to serve with buffalo chicken are blooming onion, crispy green beans, celery and carrot sticks, coleslaw, loaded potato skins, macaroni and cheese, cornbread, French fries, blue cheese stuffed mushrooms, grilled vegetables, sweet potato fries, and green salad.

Are casseroles high in calories? ›

The one downside of casseroles is that they are generally high in fat and calories thanks to ingredients like cheese, sour cream, and cream-based soups.

What is a serving of casserole? ›

The serving size of mixed entrée recipes (casseroles) must be stated in cups (1-1½ cups), not ounces. Plain meat dished are stated in ounces. To calculate the amount of servings of six (6) two (2) ounces of protein your recipe provides, estimate the number of servings for each protein ingredient and add together.

How long should a casserole be cooked for? ›

The time a casserole takes to cook will vary from 2-2½ hours for chuck, blade and thick flank, up to 4 hours for shin, leg and neck. Pork cuts for braising and casseroling normally take 1½ hours, and lamb much the same.

What is the key to making a good casserole? ›

  1. Choose the right baking dish. If you're all about the crunchy topping, use a shallow dish. ...
  2. Undercook your pasta. ...
  3. Drain your meat. ...
  4. Beware of mushy vegetables. ...
  5. Know your cheeses. ...
  6. Master the art of casserole assembly. ...
  7. Don't skip the topping. ...
  8. Make it now, but bake it later.

What are the 5 components of a casserole? ›

Not every single casserole has all of them, but as a rule of thumb, here's what to look for: a starch, a binding agent or sauce, and a protein or vegetable. Many casseroles also have both vegetables and proteins, as well as a crunchy element to give some textural contrast, and cheese.

Do I bake my casserole covered or uncovered? ›

Generally, casseroles with grains, rice or pasta that will cook during the baking process are usually covered, for at least part of the time. Casseroles made of cooked ingredients are usually baked uncovered. If you like a crisper, browner top, be sure the casserole is uncovered for at least part of the bake time.

Why do casseroles have to sit overnight? ›

Casseroles are at their best when the ingredients are able to meld, which is why they often taste even better the second day.

Is it better to cook casserole the day before or? ›

Make-ahead meals (especially baked casseroles) are terrific because you can completely assemble them in advance and bake them just before serving. They're the ultimate comfort food as they come bubbling hot and delicious straight from the oven to the table to the delight of family and friends.

What state is known for buffalo chicken? ›

Buffalo Chicken Wing History

But the concept of cooking wings in peppery hot sauce was born in 1964 at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York, when co-owner Teressa Bellissimo cooked leftover wings in hot sauce as a late-night snack for her son and his friends.

How many days is buffalo chicken good for? ›

How Long Can You Keep Cooked Chicken in the Fridge? The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) says that cooked chicken can last three to four days in the refrigerator, if stored at 40°F or less. 1 And that goes for any type of cooked chicken—store-bought, homemade, or restaurant leftovers.

Is buffalo chicken good for you? ›

While Buffalo chicken isn't inherently unhealthy, it's made with mostly real food after all, due to the deep-frying and copious amount of butter used in the traditional recipe it tends to be a little richer and higher in calories than other methods of preparing chicken.

How many calories are in a serving of buffalo chicken? ›

Buffalo Chicken Nutritional Facts and Calories
Amount Per Serving% DV
Calories505kcal25%
Fats16g21%
Sat. fats6g27%
Mono. Fats3g7%
7 more rows

How many calories in a portion of chicken casserole? ›

CHICKEN CASSEROLE NUTRITIONAL VALUES & CALORIES

3.5 oz (100g) of chicken casserole has 160 calories, 76 calories from fat. It contains 8.5 grams of fat and 3.6 grams of saturated fat. It is very low in sugar. Chicken casserole also contains vitamin A and vitamin C from the creamy chicken soup.

How many calories are in a chicken pasta casserole? ›

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
395Calories
20gFat
35gCarbs
20gProtein

How do you calculate calories in a casserole? ›

Go to the USDA National Nutrient Database and look up the calories and nutrients for each individual ingredient in the correct amount. Enter the information into the Meal Calculator spreadsheet including number of servings for each individual ingredient or recipe.

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