This Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake is a tasty and simple casserole that can be ready in just 30 minutes. Combining buffalo chicken dip and cheesy pasta in one pan creates a meal that everyone will devour in minutes.
This buffalo chicken calzone is another easy and quick buffalo chicken recipe that everyone enjoys, too.
Jump to:
Buffalo Chicken Pasta
Our family loves anything with buffalo chicken in it. The kids always request this easy buffalo chicken dip for movie and game nights. So, I combined our favorite dip with a cheesy pasta bake for a quick and easy dinner.
Adding pasta noodles to cream cheese, hot sauce, and melted cheese makes this the best buffalo chicken casserole ever! The dish has all the flavors of buffalo chicken dip, but it's much heartier!
Keeping pasta, chicken, and cheese on hand at all times makes assembling a quick 30-minute meal easy. We always keep extra chicken in the freezer for chicken Alfredo gnocchi, cheesy chicken pasta, or buffalo chicken pasta.
Why This Recipe Works
This casserole is so easy to put together on busy nights. You can also prep it the night before and pop it in the oven when you get home from work.
The top layer of melted cheese will have everyone wanting to dive in as soon as the timer goes off. Give it a few minutes, add some toppings, and then go to town on the spicy chicken goodness!
Ingredients Needed
Enjoy all the flavors you love about buffalo chicken wings in a creamy, cheesy buffalo chicken casserole. This easy pasta bake recipe requires just a few simple ingredients.
- Chicken - You can use a rotisserie chicken, leftover chicken breasts, chopped grilled chicken, or canned chicken. We have used every kind of chicken in this buffalo chicken recipe, and it tastes amazing no matter what you use.
- Cream Cheese - Makes the pasta creamy and delicious.
- Shredded Cheese - A mixture of shredded mozzarella cheese and cheddar cheese bakes up nice and gooey.
- Hot Sauce - We love using Frank's Red Hot sauce to give the buffalo pasta a hot and spicy flavor. Feel free to reduce the amount or use a wing sauce instead 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 chicken wings. Our family prefers ranch dressing, so we make buffalo ranch chicken.
- Pasta - For this easy casserole, use your favorite pasta noodles. We prefer penne noodles because they hold the sauce better. Bow-tie noodles would be awesome in this buffalo chicken pasta, too. Cook and drain the noodles before stirring them into the spicy mixture.
- Optional Toppings - Green onions and blue cheese crumbles are great toppings for buffalo pasta.
How to Make Buffalo Chicken Pasta
This easy buffalo chicken pasta recipe can be made in minutes. It is a great meal to have on the dinner table in under 30 minutes.
Be careful! This easy buffalo chicken casserole has a thick layer of gooey cheese on top. Everyone will be fighting for the first cheesy scoop!
- Stir the cream cheese, ranch, and hot sauce in a large bowl until smooth and creamy.
- Add the shredded cooked chicken, cooked noodles, and some of the mozzarella cheese, then stir gently.
- Spoon the buffalo chicken mixture into a greased baking dish and top with the rest of the shredded cheese.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until hot and the cheese on top melts and begins to brown.
- Drizzle the hot buffalo chicken casserole with ranch dressing and hot sauce, then top with green onions and blue cheese crumbles.
BRUCREW TIP: Make this a low-carb buffalo chicken recipe by substituting cooked cauliflower for the noodles. It's a healthy chicken recipe just like that.
Storage Recommendations
Leftovers can be kept in a tightly sealed container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat single servings in the microwave.
Tips and Tricks
- Drizzle the cooked pasta noodles with olive oil to keep them from drying out and sticking together.
- Are you looking for buffalo pasta with a milder, buttery flavor? Use buffalo sauce instead of Frank's hot sauce.
- Shred block cheese instead of buying bags of pre-shredded cheese. Bagged cheese has a powder added to it to keep it from sticking and clumping together. Freshly shredded cheese tastes better and melts creamier.
- Blue cheese has a stronger flavor that some people do not enjoy. For those who love that flavor, serve blue cheese dressing and crumbles on the side.
Make it a Full Meal
This buffalo chicken casserole is a complete meal on its own. However, having extra sides and desserts always makes dinner better. Here are a few recipes we love with it.
FAQs
The pasta casserole can be made up to one day 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. Bake until hot and bubbly.
You sure can. Substitute cooked cauliflower for the pasta noodles and enjoy.
It can. Use a crock pot to cook raw chicken breasts instead of using cooked chicken.
Add the chicken breasts and hot sauce to the hot sauce. Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours. Shredded the chicken in the juices.
Stir in the cream cheese, ranch dressing, and cheese, then let it cook for 15 minutes.
Add the cooked pasta and top with more cheese right before serving.
More Buffalo Chicken Recipes
- Buffalo Chicken Nachos
- Buffalo Chicken Totchos
- Buffalo Chicken Wrap
- Buffalo Wing Chips
- Buffalo Chicken Slider
- Buffalo Chicken Cauliflower Pizza
Do you love a recipe you tried from Inside BruCrew Life?
Please leave a 5-star ⭐️ rating and a review in the comments section below.
Recipe
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake
Combining buffalo chicken, cheese, and pasta in one casserole creates a meal that everyone will love. This Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake is delicious and can be on the table in 30 minutes.
Ingredients
- 2 cups (8 ounces) uncooked, penne pasta (or substitute cooked cauliflower)
- 1 - 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
- ¾ cup ranch dressing
- ⅓ cup hot sauce
- 2 cups shredded, cooked chicken (or 1 - 12.5 ounce can chunk chicken breast)
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- green onions, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray an 8-inch casserole dish with nonstick spray.
- Cook the pasta noodles, according to the package directions. Drain and drizzle with a little bit of olive oil to keep them from sticking.
- Stir together the cream cheese, ranch, 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 dish.
- Combine the remaining two cheeses and sprinkle over the top of the pasta. Bake for 20 minutes, or until cheese on top is melted.
- Remove and serve immediately with green onions, hot sauce, and ranch drizzles. Serves 6.
Notes
- If you are using canned chicken, drain and break it apart with a fork before using.
- To keep the cooked pasta noodles from drying out and sticking together, drizzle them with olive oil.
- Are you looking for buffalo chicken pasta that has a milder, buttery flavor? Use buffalo sauce instead of Frank's hot sauce.
- Shred block cheese instead of buying bags of pre-shredded cheese. Bagged cheese has a powder added to it to keep it from sticking and clumping together. Freshly shredded cheese tastes better and melts creamier.
- Blue cheese has a stronger flavor that some people do not enjoy. Serve blue cheese dressing and blue cheese crumbles on the side as an option for anyone who loves that flavor.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 416Total Fat: 29gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 78mgSodium: 858mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 21g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
*This post was first published in October 2016. The post has been updated and republished in July 2021.
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.