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    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes » Buffalo Chicken Pasta recipe

    PUBLISHED: March 14, 2021 • By Toni Dash 12 Comments

    Buffalo Chicken Pasta recipe

    Jump to Recipe

    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    buffalo chicken pasta bake

    Buffalo chicken wing lovers will flip for this hearty, easy cheesy Buffalo Chicken Pasta bake recipe. It’s full of all the ingredients you love in buffalo chicken and more!

    buffalo chicken pasta bake

    This recipe is what happens when you combine Buffalo Chicken Dip and pasta. Covered with cheese and a crispy cracker topping, then baked to perfection!

    It’s creamy, rich, tangy, spicy and satisfying. If you can’t get enough of buffalo sauce you’ll want this recipe in rotation….along with Irresistible Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Lasagna!

    Easy Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake

    Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake is one of those recipes you’ll come back to over and over again.

    It checks all the boxes. It’s delicious, easy to make and loved by kids and adults alike. 

    Baked Buffalo Chicken Pasta is full of moist shredded chicken, zesty buffalo sauce and loads of cheese. It’s finished off with a buttery crushed cracker topping.

    Make it with regular pasta or gluten free for a satisfying flavorful dinner! 

    With a bit of heat from Frank’s Red Hot sauce and lots of creaminess, every bite of this pasta bake is better than the last. 

    For an even faster recipe you can skip the extra cheese, cracker crust and baking. We think you won’t want to miss that buttery topping though.

    baked buffalo chicken pasta in pan

    Recipe Ingredients + Notes

    Unsalted butter. It will be melted and mixed with the cracker crumbs for the buttery topping.

    Ritz crackers. You’ll need about one sleeve of crackers, crushed. See the Substitutions below for gluten-free recommendations.

    Penne pasta. Regular or gluten-free pasta work. Macaroni elbows, rotini or bow tie pasta work well too.

    Olive oil. Used to sauté the onions.

    Yellow onion. Peeled and chopped.

    Garlic. Peeled and finely minced.

    Salt and ground black pepper. The only seasonings needed.

    Shredded chicken. Use shredded rotisserie chicken from the grocery store for convenience. Or try my homemade shredded chicken recipe in this pasta. You could even use canned chicken if preferred. 

    Frank’s RedHot Original sauce. Do NOT use the Frank’s wing sauce or extra hot sauce. It’s spicy but gives the chicken the best flavor. 

    Cream cheese. Be sure it’s room temperature for the best results.

    Mozzarella and sharp cheddar cheese. Other varieties of cheese can be substituted. Monterey Jack, mild cheddar and shredded Parmesan would all be tasty. 

    Sliced green onions. Optional for a fresh garnish.

    Ranch Dressing or Blue Cheese Dressing. Drizzle some on when serving for a ‘next level’ flavor idea. Or sprinkle with blue cheese crumbles.

    buffalo chicken pasta ingredients

    How to make it Gluten-Free (substitutions)

    To make this pasta bake gluten-free the pasta and crackers will need to be substituted.

    Here are the products I personally used when making the gluten-free version:

    Tinkyada Brown Rice Penne Pasta. This is a favorite pasta staple in my kitchen. It has good flavor and most importantly it holds its shape well.

    For the Ritz cracker substitution I recommend either Schar’s Entertainment Crackers (first choice) or Lance’s Gluten-Free Baked Original crackers.

    Tried and Tested Recipe

    This recipe has been tested with regular pasta, gluten-free pasta, at altitude and sea level. Delicious results every time!

    baked buffalo chicken pasta serving from above b

    How to Make it – Step-by-Step

    STEP 1. Preparation

    Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. 

    STEP 2. Cook pasta 

    Cook penne to al dente. Drain in a collander and rinse with cold water. 

    While the pasta cooks, proceed with the rest of the recipe.

    STEP 2. Cracker topping

    Make the cracker topping by adding cracker crumbs to melted butter (photo 1). Mix to combine and set aside (photo 2). 

    STEP 3. Cook onion and spices

    Sauté onion in olive oil over medium heat. When translucent, add the garlic, salt and pepper. Cook another minute or two, until fragrant (photo 3).

    buffalo chicken pasta recipe steps 1-4

    STEP 4. Add chicken and hot sauce

    Add the shredded chicken to the pan along with the Frank’s RedHot sauce (photo 4).

    Stir to coat the chicken in the sauce (photo 5). 

    STEP 5. Add cream cheese and cheese

    Place the cubed cream cheese on top of the chicken (photo 6). Stir to melt and combine (photo 7).

    Sprinkle in the shredded cheese (photo 8) and stir until melted and fully incorporated (photo 9). 

    buffalo chicken pasta recipe steps 5-8

    STEP 6. Add pasta

    Fold in the cooked pasta (photo 10) and gently stir to coat with sauce (photo 11). Transfer the pasta to a prepared baking dish (photo 12). 

    If you don’t have the time to bake the Buffalo Chicken Pasta, you can enjoy it after this step.

    However, the baked cracker topping adds an extra dimension of buttery flavor that’s worth the extra time.

    buffalo chicken pasta recipe steps 9-12

    STEP 7. Bake

    Sprinkle the cracker topping over the pasta (photo 13). Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. The top should be golden and crisp (photo 14). 

    buffalo chicken pasta recipe steps 13-14

    Garnish Buffalo Chicken Pasta with green onions and serve with a side of blue cheese or ranch dressing.

    baked buffalo chicken pasta in pot and servings

    Pro Tips

    How to crush the crackers. Using a mini chopper works great for creating nice sized crumbs. The crackers can also be put into a sealed plastic bag and crushed with a rolling pin. 

    Do not over cook the pasta. Cook the pasta to “al dente”. This means it’ll be a bit ‘toothsome’, or just barely cooked through. Overcooked pasta will get mushy when baked with the sauce. 

    Skillet pasta bake variation. Use an oven safe skillet or cast iron pan for the stove top steps. Then, add cracker topping and transfer directly into the oven. 

    FAQs

    Can this Buffalo Chicken Pasta be made ahead of time?

    Yes, you can follow all the steps up to step 10 to prepare the pasta in advance. Then, transfer to a baking dish, cover with foil and chill until ready to bake (up to 24 hours). When ready to bake, continue with the recipe as directed. NOTE: for best results we do not recommend making the pasta bake with gluten-free pasta ahead of time.

    Can I use a different kind of hot sauce for Buffalo chicken?

    Yes, any vinegar based red hot sauce will work in this Buffalo Chicken Pasta recipe. 

    Storing Leftovers

    Leftover Buffalo Chicken Pasta should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Reheat and enjoy within 3 days.

    Note that the cracker topping won’t be as crispy when it’s reheated in the microwave. The leftover pasta bake still tastes delicious though! 

    Can you freeze Buffalo Chicken pasta?

    The buffalo chicken casserole freezes well too. After it cools, transfer the pasta bake to a freezer safe container and seal tightly.

    Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating. 

    baked buffalo chicken pasta serving

    More Recipes You’ll Love!

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    Did you make it? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!
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    buffalo chicken pasta sq

    Buffalo Chicken Pasta

    Buffalo chicken pasta is creamy, rich, tangy and spicy. It's a perfect dish for a crowd, gathering or a flavor-packed dinner.
    5 from 50 votes
    Print Save Recipe Recipe Saved! Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 420kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
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    Ingredients

    • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
    • 1 cup crushed Ritz crackers about 1 sleeve of crackers
    • 16 ounces Penne pasta regular or gluten-free
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • ½ large yellow onion peeled and chopped
    • 3 cloves garlic peeled and finely minced
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 3 cups shredded chicken
    • 1/2 cup Frank’s Red Hot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce or a similar vinegar based hot sauce*
    • 1 8-ounce package cream cheese room temperature and cut into blocks
    • 1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
    • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
    • Sliced green onions for garnish
    • 1/4 cup Ranch Dressing or Blue Cheese dressing optional

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 9-inch by 13-inch baking dish or casserole with non-stick food spray.
    • Cook the pasta al dente according to the package instructions., then strain Drain the pasta and rinse it with cold water and set aside.
    • Stir the melted butter into the cracker crumbs and set aside.
    • While the pasta is cooking, add the oil to a large pan over medium heat.
      When hot add the onion and cook until translucent (aproximately 5 minutes).
    • Add the garlic, salt and pepper and cook until fragrant (another 1-2 minutes).
    • Stir in the shredded chicken and hot sauce until the chicken is coated.
    • Add the cream cheese and stir until it has fully melted.
    • Sprinkle in the cheese and stir again until melted.
    • Gently fold in the cooked pasta and stir just until combined. (Do not over stir the pasta or it may start to break down)
    • Spoon the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the cracker topping evenly over the top of the pasta.
    • Bake for 15-20 minutes until the topping is golden in color and crisp.
    • Remove the pan from the oven and let it cool for 5 minutes. Garnish with freshly sliced green onions. Drizzle the top with ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing if desired.

    Notes

    This casserole can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 420kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 789mg | Potassium: 203mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 438IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 204mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @boulderlocavore or tag #boulderlocavore!
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    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    TONI DASH
    Toni Dash head shot

    Toni Dash, is a Certified Nutrition Coach and the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of Boulder Locavore®. She has been developing easy to make, well-tested recipes since 2010. Her seasonal recipes bring excitement to the dining table for both gluten-free and gluten diners. Toni has been featured in numerous publications and on culinary websites for her creative, delicious recipes and travel features. For more details, check out her About page.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Gus says

      February 11, 2022 at 7:26 am

      5 stars
      I loved this recipe the first time I made it and just made it again. So good!

      Reply
    2. Dana Sandonato says

      February 11, 2022 at 7:17 am

      5 stars
      What a fantastic way to indulge in some of my favorite flavors! I grew up right outside of Buffalo, so I’m a sucker for Buffalo-flavored anything. Never thought to do a pasta with it, and I’m SO glad I did!

      Reply
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    About Toni Dash

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    Welcome! I’m Toni. I’m a Certified Nutrition Coach and my goal is to MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER with delicious, well-tested recipes and travel tips! More About Me …

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