This creamy Buffalo Chicken Pasta is loaded with shredded chicken breast, spinach, cherry tomatoes, and gluten-free pasta in a rich, creamy, cheesy Buffalo sauce, creating a bold, flavorful main course for your next meal.
Quick Look: Buffalo Chicken Pasta
- ⏱ Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 🔥 Cook Time: 20 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 30 minutes
- 🍲 Serving: 8 Bowls
- ⚡ Calories: 672 calories per bowl
- 🍂 Flavor Profile: Bold, creamy, and crave-worthy with a spicy kick
- 👌 Difficulty: Easy, the perfect dinner when you want a little spice in your life
SUMMARIZE & SAVE THIS RECIPE ON:
With just a couple easy steps and a few minutes of effort, you'll have a deliciously creamy and spicy chicken and pasta dish on the table that will wow the crowd.
Like my Chicken Garlic Parmesan Pasta, and my Canned Salmon with Pasta, this creamy Buffalo chicken pasta combines a rich sauce with noodles and white meat chicken to create a dish that's as delicious as it is easy. The best part is that you can have it on the table quickly, and we all love that.
Jump to:
Why You'll Love This Buffalo Chicken Pasta
- Simple Ingredients: Everything needed for this recipe is a pantry staple, so you won't have to hunt down exotic ingredients.
- Affordable: Chicken is just about the most affordable fresh protein available, and the other ingredients are equally wallet-friendly.
- Rich and Creamy: The zesty Buffalo sauce in this recipe is rich, creamy, and cheesy.
- Great for a Crowd: Serve this recipe as-is for a filling dinner or double it for parties and potlucks.
Flavor Substitutions and Variations
- Mild: Make a milder version of this recipe by omitting the dry jalapenos.
- Breaded Chicken: Try using cut-up breaded chicken tenders for a different flavor and texture. Of course, always choose gluten free if needed.
- Chopped Celery: Add chopped celery for even more classic Buffalo chicken flavor.
Ingredients
See the recipe card at the end of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact quantities.
- Chicken Breasts: I prefer Springer Mountain Farms because of their quality and freshness. Here I am using pre made chicken strips, feel free to cook fresh or buy a rotisserie chicken already made!
- Garlic Olive Oil: I prefer Costabile Garlic Olive Oil for its quality, purity, and zesty garlic flavor. (Use code: 15GoldenGK for 15% off)
- Penne Pasta: Penne is easy to eat with a spoon and holds the sauce well. As always, I opt for gluten-free pasta, but you can use regular pasta if you don't have any food sensitivities.
- Ranch Dressing, Buffalo Sauce, and Cream Cheese: These ingredients combine to make the creamy, spicy base for the sauce in this recipe.
- Spinach: Spinach adds more flavor, vitamins, and minerals to the dish.
- Cherry Tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes are full of flavor and health benefits, providing a naturally sweet and slightly acidic note to the dish.
How to Make Creamy Buffalo Chicken Pasta
1: Dice the chicken into small pieces with a knife or shred it in a food processor. Then, combine it with the ranch dressing in a bowl and set aside.
2: Add butter and olive oil to a large, high-rimmed pan or skillet. Once melted, cook the tomatoes, dry jalapenos, minced onion, and paprika for 2 minutes.
3: Add the uncooked pasta, broth, water, and spinach. Place a lid on the pan and cook for 9 to 11 minutes until the pasta is al dente.
4: Remove the lid and stir. If the pasta is al dente, reduce the heat to low. Then, add the cream cheese, both cheeses, and the Buffalo sauce and stir until fully combined. Then, add the chicken, stir well, and serve.
Expert Tips
- The easiest way to prepare the chicken is by shredding it in a food processor.
- Be sure your skillet is large enough to accommodate all the ingredients.
- Be sure your heat is on low when adding the cream cheese so it melts without curdling.
Storage
Refrigerate this Buffalo chicken pasta for up to 3 days in an air-tight container. For longer storage, freeze it for up to 1 month in an air-tight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
To reheat the dish, add it to a large skillet with a bit of water or broth and cook it over medium-low heat until heated through.
What to Serve with Buffalo Chicken Pasta
Pair this zesty, creamy pasta dish with a vegetable choice like green beans, broccoli, pan-fried squash, or this air fryer asparagus. A simple salad also makes a nice pairing with it.
Of course, you'll want a sweet treat to cap off your dinner. Oreo mint cheesecake or this frosted yellow cake both make lovely finish to a dinner with this pasta dish.
More Pasta Recipes
If you love pasta dishes full of flavor and texture like this one, then try these other delicoius recipes.
Buffalo Chicken Pasta FAQ's
Buffalo chicken pasta is a pasta dish made with chicken breast, spinach, pasta, and a sauce combining Buffalo sauce and ranch dressing to create a classic Buffalo chicken flavor profile.
Gluten-free pasta is almost non-discernable from regular pasta. Some gluten-free pastas may have a slightly nutty flavor, but that's it.
Al dente pasta should be tender but still have some firmness to it when you bite into it.
★ Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to give it a star rating below! I would love to hear back from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and TikTok for more delicious recipes.
📖 Recipe
Creamy Buffalo Chicken Pasta
Video
Ingredients
- 32 oz grilled chicken breast strips Springer Mountain Farms
- 16 oz gluten-free penne pasta
- ½ cup ranch dressing
- 1 cup Buffalo sauce
- 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
- ¾ cup water
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes diced
- 2 cups diced spinach
- 8 oz cream cheese cut into quarters
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 tablespoon dry jalapeno
- 1 tablespoon garlic olive oil
- 1 tbsp minced onion
- ½ teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Dice the chicken into small pieces with a knife or shred it in a food processor. Then, combine it with the ranch dressing in a bowl and set aside.
- Add butter and olive oil to a large, high-rimmed pan or skillet. Once melted, cook the tomatoes, dry jalapenos, minced onion, and paprika for 2 minutes.
- Add the uncooked pasta, broth, water, and spinach. Place a lid on the pan and cook for 9 to 11 minutes until the pasta is al dente.
- Remove the lid and stir. If the pasta is al dente, reduce the heat to low. Then, add the cream cheese, both cheeses, and the Buffalo sauce and stir until fully combined. Then, add the chicken, stir well, and serve.
Notes
- Refrigerate for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- Freeze for up to a month in an airtight, freezer-safe container. Defrost before reheating.
- Add the pasta to a large skillet with a touch of water or broth, and cook on medium-low until heated through or microwave at 1-minute intervals.
- A large cast-iron or heavy-bottom skillet works best if you have one.
- If you don't have a skillet large enough for this recipe, you can use a pot or Dutch oven.
- Use short pulses when shredding your chicken in a food processor, so you can control how small the pieces become.
Leslie says
There's so much I love about this recipe! I love that it's filling and full of the classic buffalo chicken flavor and the fact that's it's gluten-free is so amazing!
Lora says
A fun and flavorful chicken recipe that's great for a party!Was very easy to make!
Krystle Smith says
The creamy, spicy sauce had just the right amount of kick without being overwhelming, and I loved how it was so comforting while still packing that bold buffalo flavor.
Ashley says
This was such a delicious take on one of my favorite foods… Buffalo wings! The sauce was so flavorful. This pasta will definitely be a fall staple this year.
Liz Berg says
Such a delicious entree! My family loved this for dinner, and I know I'll be making it again soon.
Leslie says
Love this classic take on buffalo chicken pasta! Such a great recipe!
Claudia says
Just tried this Creamy Buffalo Chicken Pasta recipe and it’s amazing! The flavors are spot on and it’s so easy to make. Thanks for sharing!
NKendrick says
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with it!
Emily says
My family loved the rich and creamy texture! This buffalo chicken pasta was a hit with everyone!
Ashley says
What a great idea! We love buffalo chicken dip so naturally this was a winning recipe.
Anonymous says
This worked exactly as written, thanks!