Creamy Spicy Buffalo Chicken Pasta
Emily
One-pot creamy buffalo chicken pasta with tender chicken, tangy buffalo sauce, and melted cheese. Ready in 30 minutes for an easy weeknight dinner.
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 580 kcal
Large skillet
Large pot
Wooden spoon
Colander
- 12 oz penne or rotini pasta
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 cup buffalo sauce adjust to taste
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup ranch dressing
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- salt and black pepper to taste
- fresh parsley for garnish
- green onions sliced, optional
Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
Season and cook chicken: Season chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and paprika. Heat butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook 5-7 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
Make the sauce: In same skillet, sauté minced garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add cream cheese, buffalo sauce, and chicken broth. Stir continuously until cream cheese melts and sauce is smooth.
Add cheese: Stir in shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheeses until completely melted and incorporated into the sauce.
Combine everything: Return cooked chicken to skillet. Add drained pasta and drizzle with ranch dressing. Toss everything together until well coated. Add pasta water if sauce is too thick.
Season and serve: Taste and adjust seasoning with more buffalo sauce, salt, or pepper as needed. Garnish with fresh parsley and green onions. Serve immediately.
- Save pasta water before draining to adjust sauce consistency
- Soften cream cheese at room temperature for 30 minutes to prevent lumps
- Don't overcook pasta initially as it continues cooking in sauce
- Adjust buffalo sauce quantity to control heat level
- Can substitute rotisserie chicken to save time
Keyword Buffalo Chicken Pasta