Easy Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake With Cheese

🌶️ Easy Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake With Cheese

🕒 Time

• Prep: 15 minutes
• Cook: 30 minutes
• Total: About 45 minutes
• Servings: 6–8

🛒 Ingredients

For the pasta bake:

• 12 oz (340 g) penne or rotini pasta
• 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
• 1 cup buffalo sauce
• 8 oz (225 g) cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup ranch dressing
• ½ cup sour cream
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• ½ cup chicken broth
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste

For topping:

• ½ cup shredded mozzarella
• ½ cup shredded cheddar
• 2 green onions, sliced
• Optional: ranch or extra buffalo sauce for drizzling

👩‍🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preheat the oven

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or a little oil.

2. Cook the pasta

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

Add the pasta and cook according to the package directions, but stop 1–2 minutes before it’s completely tender.

The pasta will continue cooking in the oven, so slightly undercooking it helps prevent a mushy casserole.

Drain the pasta well and set it aside.

3. Make the creamy buffalo sauce

Place a large skillet or saucepan over medium-low heat.

Add:

• Cream cheese
• Ranch dressing
• Sour cream
• Chicken broth
• Buffalo sauce

Stir continuously until the cream cheese melts and the mixture becomes smooth and creamy.

Add the minced garlic, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper.

Stir everything together.

Tip: If the sauce looks too thick, add another splash of chicken broth.

4. Add the chicken

Add the 2 cups of cooked shredded chicken to the buffalo cream sauce.

Stir until the chicken is completely coated.

Let it cook for about 2–3 minutes, just until everything is hot.

Taste the sauce and add salt if needed. Remember that buffalo sauce and cheese can already be quite salty.

5. Combine with the pasta

Add the drained pasta to the skillet.

Stir gently until the pasta is thoroughly coated with the creamy buffalo chicken mixture.

Make sure the sauce reaches all the pasta so the finished bake stays creamy.

6. Add it to the baking dish

Pour the buffalo chicken pasta mixture into your prepared 9×13-inch baking dish.

Spread it evenly using a spatula or the back of a spoon.

7. Add lots of cheese

Sprinkle the remaining:

• ½ cup mozzarella
• ½ cup cheddar

evenly over the top.

For an extra-cheesy bake, you can add a little more mozzarella.

8. Bake

Place the casserole in the preheated oven.

Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes, or until:

• The cheese has completely melted.
• The edges are bubbling.
• The center is hot.

For a beautifully browned cheese topping, switch the oven to broil for 1–2 minutes at the end.

Watch it carefully because cheese can burn quickly under the broiler.

9. Rest before serving

Remove the pasta bake from the oven and let it rest for about 5–10 minutes.

This allows the sauce to thicken slightly and makes it easier to serve.

10. Garnish and serve

Sprinkle sliced green onions over the top.

For even more buffalo flavor, drizzle a little extra buffalo sauce over each serving.

You can also serve it with ranch dressing on the side.

🧀 Easy Variations

Milder: Use less buffalo sauce and replace some of it with additional chicken broth or ranch.

Extra spicy: Add a little cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes.

Extra cheesy: Add another ½–1 cup of mozzarella or cheddar.

With vegetables: Mix in cooked broccoli, spinach, bell peppers, or corn.

Blue cheese version: Sprinkle crumbled blue cheese over the top before serving.

⭐ Best Tips

• Don’t overcook the pasta before baking.
• Use rotisserie chicken to make this recipe especially quick.
• Let the cream cheese soften first so it melts more easily.
• If your buffalo sauce is very spicy, start with ¾ cup and add more to taste.
• For the creamiest result, don’t skip the cream cheese and sour cream.
• Let the casserole rest for a few minutes before serving.

Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave, adding a small splash of milk or chicken broth if the pasta has thickened.