Buffalo Chicken Pasta (Print)

Bold and comforting pasta with spicy buffalo sauce, tender chicken, and creamy cheese topped with tangy blue cheese.

# Ingredients:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz penne or rotini pasta

→ Chicken

02 - 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken breast

→ Sauce

03 - 1/2 cup buffalo wing sauce
04 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter
05 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
06 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
07 - 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
08 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
09 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
10 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Topping

12 - 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
13 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives or green onions, optional

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
02 - Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the buffalo sauce and stir to combine.
03 - Lower the heat and whisk in the cream cheese until smooth. Pour in the heavy cream, whisking constantly until the sauce reaches a creamy consistency.
04 - Stir in mozzarella cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook until the cheese is fully melted.
05 - Add the shredded chicken to the sauce and stir until well coated and heated through.
06 - Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss to combine, ensuring the pasta is evenly coated with the sauce.
07 - Transfer to serving bowls. Sprinkle with crumbled blue cheese and chopped chives or green onions if desired.
08 - Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It delivers all the bold flavors of buffalo wings without the mess of sauce on your fingers.
  • The creamy cheese balances the heat so perfectly that even people who claim they don't like spicy food ask for seconds.
  • You can have it on the table in under forty minutes, making it ideal for weeknights when you want comfort without the wait.
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully and somehow taste even better the next day.
02 -
  • Always soften the cream cheese before adding it to the sauce, or you'll end up with stubborn lumps that refuse to blend.
  • Don't skip tasting the sauce before adding the chicken, because buffalo sauces vary wildly in heat and salt levels.
  • Reserve a cup of pasta water before draining, it's the easiest way to adjust the sauce consistency without diluting the flavor.
03 -
  • Warm your serving bowls in the oven for a few minutes before plating, it keeps the pasta hot longer and feels like a restaurant touch.
  • If you're cooking for a crowd, double the sauce and keep it warm in a slow cooker so people can help themselves.
  • A squeeze of fresh lime juice just before serving brightens the whole dish and balances the richness beautifully.
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