BUFFALO CHICKEN PASTA

Buffalo chicken pasta combines all the familiar flavors of buffalo chicken wings with a blend of cheeses and pasta.

Buffalo Chicken Pasta

From the recipe collection of Tara Ippolito

This buffalo chicken pasta is an absolute must try.

Everyone in my house loved this recipe. Even the people who aren’t necessarily huge fans of chicken wings.

Even my very picky brother told me that this was one of the best recipes I've ever had him try.

Anyone who has siblings knows that they are the most honest people on the planet when it comes to voicing their opinions to another sibling.

This is one of those meals that you may be a little unsure about at first. The flavors might not seem like they work well together.

But they absolutely do! They actually work perfectly together.

It's the flavors of chicken wings combined with the comfort of pasta, making it a deliciously filling meal.

I hope you give this one a try. I know that if you do, you’ll love it just as much as my family and I do.

Fast. Simple. Delicious.

Did you know that I have a cookbook called Fast Simple Delicious? 

It’s 60 no fuss no fail comfort food recipes perfect for busy weekday dinners.

Click HERE to order your copy or click the 3 lines in the top right corner and click “Book”. Thank you for the support

What can I serve this buffalo chicken pasta with?

Even though the flavor of this pasta is super unique, it goes well with lots of different side dishes.

So feel free to choose your own.

I personally would serve this with some homemade garlic bread and a nice big salad or vegetable on the side.

Buffalo chicken pasta variations

I absolutely love this recipe as it is, but if you'd like some ideas on how to make it a little differently, here are some great ones to consider.

• Use spicy buffalo sauce inside of mild to add some extra kick.
• Feel free to use any pasta shape that you’d like. It all works.
• Any kind of cheese you’d like to use would be great here. Just be sure to shred the cheese yourself.

• You can use any kind of cooked chicken you’d like instead of shredding a rotisserie chicken. Use 2.5 cups of it.
• Substitute the dry ranch packet with ¼ cup of ranch dressing if needed.

Do I really have to shred the cheese myself?

This is the one thing that I’d really urge you not to take a shortcut on.

Pre-shredded bagged cheese has chemicals in it like cellulose.

This keeps the cheese from clumping, but it also prevents it from melting properly.

Shred the cheese off the block, and this buffalo chicken pasta will turn out much creamier that way.

Buffalo chicken pasta ingredients

• Butter
• Red onion, chopped
• Celery, chopped
• Tomato paste
• Cream cheese, softened
• Rotel
• Mild Buffalo sauce (I like Franks Red Hot)
• Rotisserie chicken, shredded
• Dry Ranch dressing packet
• Cheddar cheese, hand shredded
• Mozzarella cheese, hand shredded
• Cooked tube pasta & a ladle of pasta water ( I used Mezzi Rigatoni)
• Salt, pepper, garlic powder
• Parsely (optional)

Instructions

First, melt the butter in a large skillet, then sauté the red onion and celery, lightly seasoning the vegetables with salt and pepper.

Once they’re soft, stir in the tomato paste.

Now add the softened cream cheese and stir it in for about 2-3 minutes.

Next, stir in the Rotel tomatoes and let everything cook together for 2-3 minutes.

Then stir in the buffalo sauce.

Now, add the shredded rotisserie chicken and the dry Ranch packet seasoning.

Then, season it with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Keep in mind that the ranch packet is salty, and the buffalo sauce is a little spicy.

Next add the shredded cheeses and mix everything together until the cheese is melted.

Now, stir in the pasta water and add the pasta. If the sauce is too thick, feel free to add a little extra pasta water to thin it out.

Finally, add the pasta to a serving bowl, garnish with fresh parsley (optional) and serve warm. Enjoy!