This Buffalo Chicken Pasta is a family favorite made and loved by millions! It combines the bold flavors of buffalo chicken dip with cheesy pasta, all baked in just 30 minutes. One bite, and you’ll see why it’s so popular!
Our buffalo chicken calzone is another quick and easy recipe everyone enjoys.
The recipe for buffalo chicken pasta bake was first shared in October 2016. The post was updated with new photos and tips and republished in February 2025.
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Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake
We're big buffalo chicken fans over here. Our kids request this easy buffalo chicken dip for every movie and game night. So, one day, I thought, "Why not turn it into dinner?" And boom—this cheesy, spicy casserole was born!
I always keep pasta, chicken, and cheese on hand to make this quick dinner in minutes. This pasta bake is perfect for busy nights; you can even prep it ahead of time and bake it when you're ready.
Whether you're a buffalo chicken fanatic or love an easy, cheesy dinner, this dish has something for everyone.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- You can have this dish on your table quickly with simple pantry staples. Using rotisserie chicken or pre-cooked shredded chicken makes it even easier!
- Delicious kid-approved meal! While hot sauce has a kick, you can adjust the spice level to suit everyone's taste. The creamy texture balances the heat, so even those who don't like spicy food will love it.
- This dish is perfect for a crowd! Bring it to game nights, potlucks, or Super Bowl parties, and watch it disappear in minutes!
- It's also great for meal prepping. Leftovers reheat beautifully so that you can enjoy them for lunch the next day.
Jenny says, " This is one of my family's FAVORITE, most requested dishes! I cook a bunch of chicken in the instant pot first and use it for recipes throughout the week. It is cheesy, creamy, and delicious, with a great kick."
Ingredient Notes
Experience all the delicious flavors of buffalo chicken wings in a creamy, cheesy pasta casserole. This simple recipe requires just a few easy ingredients.
- Chicken - You can use rotisserie, boneless, skinless chicken breasts, grilled, or canned chicken. We have used every kind of chicken in this recipe, and it tastes amazing no matter what you use.
- Cream Cheese - Full-fat cream cheese, softened to room temperature, will quickly be combined into the dip.
- Shredded Cheese - I enjoy mixing shredded mozzarella cheese with sharp cheddar cheese. For best results, shred or grate fresh cheese blocks. This ensures a smoother melt and creamier pasta.
- Hot Sauce - We love Frank's Red Hot sauce, which gives the buffalo pasta a hot and spicy flavor. You can reduce the amount or use wing sauce to make it milder.
- Ranch Dressing or Blue Cheese Dressing - Either one will taste great. It all depends on which dressing you prefer with your buffalo wings. Our family prefers ranch dressing, so that's what we use.
- Pasta - Go with your favorite noodles! We like penne pasta since it holds the sauce, but bow-tie noodles would also work great. Just cook and drain the noodles before tossing them into the spicy mix.
- Optional Toppings - Green onions and blue cheese crumbles are great toppings for buffalo pasta.
BruCrew Pro Tip: Use leftover chicken to make a buffalo chicken salad or buffalo chicken wrap.
How To Make Buffalo Chicken Pasta
This spicy pasta recipe is simple, making it a perfect dinner option when you're short on time. FYI: This casserole is smothered in a thick layer of ooey-gooey cheese, so get ready for a scramble for that first scoop!
Cook the Noodles: Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add the noodles, and cook until al dente.
Make the Sauce: Stir the cream cheese, ranch dressing, and hot sauce in a large bowl until smooth and creamy.
Add Chicken and Pasta: Add the shredded cooked chicken, cooked pasta, and some of the mozzarella cheese, then stir gently.
Assemble the Casserole: Spoon the creamy pasta mixture into a greased casserole dish, then top with the rest of the shredded cheese.
Bake until Bubbly: Pop it into a preheated oven and bake it until it’s hot. The cheese on top will melt and get a bit brown.
BruCrew Pro Tip: Drizzle hot casserole with ranch dressing and hot sauce. Then, add green onions and blue cheese crumbles just before serving.
Storage Recommendations
Once the dish cools to room temperature, put leftovers in an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Individual portions can be reheated in the microwave.
Tips and Tricks
- Cook the pasta until it's al dente, as it will continue cooking in the oven later. After draining, drizzle the noodles with olive oil to prevent them from drying out and sticking together.
- Use buffalo wing sauce instead of Frank's hot sauce for a milder buttery flavor.
- Customize the flavor with different cheeses. Mix and match Monterey Jack, mozzarella, Colby Jack, or gouda for a creamy texture. You can also add pepper jack for some spice and blue cheese for a buffalo flavor!
- Keep the blue cheese dressing and crumbles on the side since not everyone enjoys that strong flavor.
- Complete the meal by adding a side salad and garlic herb bread.
Variations
- Make it extra creamy. Stir ½ cup of sour cream or Greek yogurt into the sauce before baking. This adds a little tang and makes the pasta even smoother.
- Use a different cooked protein. Not in the mood for chicken? No problem! Try shredded turkey, ground beef, or shrimp.
- Add veggies. Boost the nutrition by sneaking in chopped bell peppers, spinach, carrots, or celery.
- Serve it low carb. Skip the pasta noodles and use cooked cauliflower florets.
- Add a crunchy topping. Before baking, top the casserole with crushed Ritz crackers, panko crumbs, or crushed Doritos chips for extra texture.
FAQs
Yes! Mix everything in a large skillet, heat until the cheese is melted, then serve it straight from the pan.
You can prepare the pasta dish up to two days in advance. Mix all the ingredients, then cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate it.
Before baking, remove the casserole from the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Bake the casserole until it is hot and bubbly.
Yes, assemble everything in a foil pan, then cover and freeze for 2-3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, then bake until hot and bubbly.
More Buffalo Chicken Recipes
- Buffalo Chicken Tots
- Buffalo Pizza Rolls
- Buffalo Wing Chips
- Buffalo Chicken Slider
- Buffalo Chicken Cauliflower Pizza
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Recipe
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake
This Buffalo Chicken Pasta is a family favorite made and loved by millions! It combines the bold flavors of buffalo chicken dip with cheesy pasta, all baked in just 30 minutes. One bite, and you’ll see why it’s so popular!
Ingredients
- 8 ounces uncooked, penne pasta
- 1 - 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
- ¾ cup ranch dressing
- ⅓ cup hot sauce
- 2 cups shredded, cooked chicken
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- blue cheese crumbles and chopped green onions, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Spray an 8-inch casserole dish with nonstick spray.
- Cook the noodles according to the package directions. Drain them and drizzle them with olive oil to prevent them from sticking.
- Stir the softened cream cheese, ranch dressing, and hot sauce until creamy.
- Add the chicken, ½ cup mozzarella cheese, and cooked pasta noodles to the cream cheese mixture and stir to combine. Spoon into the prepared baking dish.
- Combine the remaining two cheeses and sprinkle over the pasta. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and slightly browned.
- Remove and serve immediately with green onions, hot sauce, ranch drizzles, and/or blue cheese crumbles.
Notes
- Cook the pasta until it's al dente, as it will continue cooking in the oven later. After draining, drizzle the noodles with olive oil to prevent them from drying out and sticking together.
- Use buffalo wing sauce instead of Frank's hot sauce for a milder buttery flavor.
- Customize the flavor with different cheeses. Mix and match varieties like Monterey Jack, mozzarella, Colby Jack, or gouda for a melty texture, or add pepper jack for spice and blue cheese for a buffalo kick!
- Keep the blue cheese dressing and crumbles on the side since not everyone enjoys that strong flavor.
- Complete the meal by adding a side salad and garlic herb bread.
- See more tips and variations in the blog post.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 408Total Fat: 31gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 86mgSodium: 516mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 18g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
Erin Clarke
If you were to use cauliflower instead of pasta, what's the best way to cook it?
Jocelyn
You can boil the cauliflower florets just like you would pasta or potatoes. Cook them until fork tender. Just make sure you do not simmer too much and end with really soggy cauli that falls apart.
Ashley Manahan
I put parmesan cheese for my topping and broiled it... yummy
Jocelyn
Great idea. I am so glad you liked it!!
Nicole
For those that can’t handle spice, this is how I tweaked it. Instead of hot sauce I used MILD baby rays buffalo wing sauce about 1/2-3-/4 cup, and about 1/2-3/4 packet of DRY ranch seasoning versus liquid. I love buffalo flavor but can’t handle the spice on almost anything with it. This still has a kick for bearable and flavorful!
Chelsea
Hello can this be made ahead of time?
Jocelyn
Yes, this pasta casserole can be made a few days ahead of time. Mix everything together, then cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate it. Remove the casserole dish from the fridge 30 minutes before baking, then cover it with foil and bake until hot and bubbly. It may need a little more time in the oven because it is cold. I hope you enjoy it.
Jaime
What is considered a serving size?
Jocelyn
We generally get 6 servings out of the 8x8 pan. I really do not know how much that is because I haven't measured it. We just scoop and dip in. I hope you enjoy it!
Maria
Could you freeze this?
Jocelyn
Yes, this pasta freezes well. Spoon the cooled dinner into a freezer safe container or bag and freeze for 1-2 months. Thaw and reheat before enjoying!
Lindsay
I was looking for a buffalo chicken pasta recipe and this one did not disappoint! This recipe is so good, will be making again!
BreS
Thank you much for sharing this wonderful recipe! It is absolutely awesome!! Hubby loves it too.
Brenda Dye
This is sooóoo so so so good! Love this recipe as is. Kick-ass spicy in the best way!. But-- I double the recipe cuz my penne comes in a 16 oz box 😋 I use 2 Rotisserie Chickens picked clean (no skin) and shredded. Gives me 5-6 cups and I use it ALL. My guys like their protein. I also add 3/4 cup each (after doubling everything) of tiny chopped celery & shredded carrots for texture, flavor and that "Buffalo" theme. I splash 2 tsp Worcestershire in the mix because ...I love it...Umami goodness.Mmmm. And I sprinkle sliced green onions and about 1/3:cup Bleu cheese crumbled on top after baking.
Make this!! You will love it I promise!
Like eating Buffalo Chicken Dip with a spoon ...with Pasta!!
Jocelyn
I am so happy you are enjoying this recipe. Great job on adding a few extras to really give it that buffalo flair! I will have to give your way a try the next time we make it for dinner.