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 I Love This Recipe
- With simple pantry staples, you can quickly prepare this dish. Using rotisserie chicken or pre-cooked shredded chicken makes it even easier!
- This is a 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.
- It 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.
Anita
I am baking this as I write. I would like to know what the nutritional values are, and what a serving is.
Jocelyn
I don't post nutritional values for my recipes. I believe in eating all things in moderation and exercising daily. There are plenty of websites online that you can put the recipe into to find out the calorie content if you really wish. But if you have it baking now...you saw what it was made from.
Felicia johnson
I accidentally cooked my pasta beforehand, can I still use it? Literally standing in front of the stove now. Help! Thank you!
Jocelyn
You are supposed to cook the pasta ahead of time, so you are all good. I hope you enjoy it!
Cheryl
This is a keeper! Tried it using blue cheese dressing instead of ranch and added a good handful of baby spinach leaves as someone commented. Family loved it and wanted more 🙂 Will double the ingredients when I make it again!
Katie
This really is a great dish! I'm not a real buffalo style fan but my husband and kids are. However, even I really enjoy this dish! I had read where others said theirs turned out dry, so I just added a little bit more cream cheese and Ranch dressing. Turned out amazing! I doubled the recipe having three teens in the house. Everyone really liked this dish! I'll definitely make it again!
Jocelyn
I am so glad to hear that your family and you enjoyed this pasta. Mine has never turned out dry, so I'm not sure what the others have done to theirs, but I'm happy to hear that extra cream cheese and ranch works.
Robin
I love Buffalo chicken dip and I love this recipe!!! ???? Will be making today for lunch during the week! I will be adding baby spinach to it to make it a tab healthier haha thank you again for blogging this!!
Jen
So for the pasta it says 8oz (2 cups). Did you mean 16oz (an entire box), which is actually 2 cups?
Jocelyn
No, it is 8 ounces or 2 cups of the PENNE pasta. If you use a different pasta like elbows, it would give you a different amount.
Jen
So half a standard box of Penne?
Jocelyn
If it is a 16 ounce box, then yes 🙂
Shannon mellott
I need the actual way to make it. Can't find directions.
Jocelyn
Scroll down below the pictures until you come to the printable recipe card 🙂
Beverly
I have ricotta cheese I need to use up; think I could use it here?
Also instead of hot sauce, could I get away with using/trying barbeque sauce?
I can't wait to give this a try. Looks absolutely delicious! Thanks.
Jocelyn
I think using the ricotta would work just fine. I'm not sure about the bbq sauce...it will change this dish completely. I have used ranch and bbq sauce in this pasta dish if you want to try this instead. https://insidebrucrewlife.com/cheesy-hawaiian-barbecue-pasta-bake/
Kassidy
How long does this keep in the fridge for?
Jocelyn
How long are you wanting to keep it? I think you could make it up one day, refrigerate it for a few days, then bake it when you need it and it would be fine.
Maggie
Can this be made without ranch or bleu cheese? My family doesn't like dressings but they do love spicy foods.
Jocelyn
The dressings add to the creaminess of the pasta dish. Because of how they mix with the hot sauce and cheese, they don't taste like a normal dressing. If you are wanting a cheesy pasta, I would recommend this cheesy chicken pasta. Just add hot sauce to the chicken before adding it to the pasta. https://insidebrucrewlife.com/cheesy-chicken-pasta/
Sandi Van Hooydonk
Thank you for this recipe! Made it tonight, adjusted quantities a bit, and started with only 1/4 cup of hot sauce and had kids taste it for spiciness, then added a bit more. Huge hit here! My oldest thought it was awesome before I even put it in the casserole dish, when he saw the shredded cheese going on top he just about started drooling lol. Thank goodness it doesn't take long in the oven! With a side salad, easy & quick dinner! Thanks again!
Jocelyn
Woo hoo!!! I am so glad your family enjoyed it!!!
Nancy
Was wondering d I would double this if I wanted to make it in a 9x13 pan?? We feed two teenage boys so the bigger the better
Jocelyn
Yes, I think you would need a 9x13 pan if you double the recipe. I hope your boys enjoy it!!!
Tricia melson
Tried this last night and everyone loved it. I do not care for hot sauce, used half of what this called for. Soooo good. This is a def keeper. Has anyone tried adding a veggie to this?
Jocelyn
I am so glad your family loved it. Mine devours it every time we make it. Are you wondering about adding a veggie to the pasta? We usually just serve a side salad along with the pasta to get some veggies in the meal.
Antunette Torrence Johnson
Sometimes I add broccoli or spinach! Really good
Emma
Can you substitute the cream cheese in any way?
Jocelyn
I think you could use ricotta or cottage cheese in place of the cream cheese. Unless you are trying to get away from dairy...
Jeri
My Dr. has me on a "no white" diet right now; No sugar, flour, potato, rice. Any suggestions to substitute for the pasta? Maybe cauliflower?
Jocelyn
I actually had a friend who said she substituted cauliflower for the pasta, and she loved it!
Justine
I don't have any mozzarella cheese. Could I use shredded cheddar cheese instead?
Jocelyn
You can use a different cheese if you prefer, but it may affect the texture of the baked pasta. Let me know if you try it with the cheddar cheese and how it turns out for you.
Jamie
I made this the other night and it was a hit with me picky kids! Even went back for seconds. I used a seasoned turkey breast instead of chicken and cut the hot sauce in half, turned out amazing! Definitely will make again!
Melissa
Me and. My mom made this last night and it was amazing and we loved it thanks for sharing will be making this again 🙂
Jeanine
What do you think of using Frank's Buffalo Sauce?
Jocelyn
I think that would work just as well.
Danielle
Making this tonight at my husband's request. And since I'll be at work and not eating with the family!! (I don't do dairy so my family believes they are deprived 😉 ) using spaghetti since it's all I have in the house!! Fingers crossed it goes over well 🙂 I know it says '6 servings' but about how much do you call a serving?
Jocelyn
I hope your family enjoyed the pasta. I would say about a cup of pasta would be a serving, I guess. I didn't really measure that...I just went by how many ate it.
Mark
Made this tonight for supper everybody liked it even the wife who hates trying new dishes. Was afraid that it might be to spicy for the 1 year old grandson, started out with just 1/4 cup of Frank's Hot Sauce mixed with the ranch and ended up adding the rest in after tasting it. Doubled the recipe to make 9x13 pan for the family. Will be making it again, was just wondering if there might be something to go with it, maybe just a simple lettuce salad, just seemed to missing something along the with it.
Jocelyn
I am so glad your family enjoyed it!! A simple side salad would be the perfect addition to the pasta.