This creamy, tangy Buffalo Chicken Pasta dish is great for parties and for family dinners!
Buffalo wings are kind of iconic, aren’t they? Such a popular bar snack, party food, or fun weeknight dinner. But if you want the flavors without the inevitable mess that comes when eating saucy wings, make this Buffalo Chicken Pasta. It’s got all the things we love about Buffalo wings—chicken, tangy hot sauce, blue cheese—and something wings don’t have: pasta!! What’s not to love?
The first time I made this Buffalo Chicken Pasta was on a Sunday afternoon when we were having a bunch of people over to watch football. I had been thinking about the menu and, of course, the first thing that came to mind was wings. They just go with game day. But then I had visions of the huge pile of napkins I’d need for guests’ sauce-coated fingers, and extra bowls for all the bones and I thought, Hey, this is the perfect moment for Buffalo Chicken Pasta! And it was. Our guests went crazy over how the flavor was exactly like Buffalo wings and let me tell you, serving pasta for a casual party like this is a huge crowd-pleaser.
The sauce for this Buffalo Chicken Pasta is so marvelously thick, creamy, tangy, and cheesy. Super delicious. And it comes together very quickly in just one pot, so you won’t need a lot of prep or cooking time. We all know that timing is everything, so how great is it that you can boil your pasta while your sauce simmers (10 minutes!), then drain the penne and pour it right into the Buffalo Chicken sauce. That’s all it takes to make this rich and flavorful dish.
Adapting This Dish For All Dietary Needs
Looking at the ingredients for Buffalo Chicken Pasta, you might think it would have to be a hard pass for vegans, vegetarians, and people who can’t/don’t eat dairy, but it’s really simple to transform this dish to accommodate several diets.
For people who don’t eat meat, there is an easy and delicious fix: just substitute cauliflower florets for the chicken (after all, Buffalo Cauliflower is a thing!) and use vegetable stock. And here’s a great tip: toss the raw florets into the pot with your penne and cook them together! For vegans and people who don’t eat dairy, you’ll be delighted to know that vegan cream cheese melts beautifully into this sauce. And for the ranch or blue cheese dressing? There are some excellent vegan versions of both readily available at the grocery store.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
- 8 ounces cream cheese, cubed
- 1/3 cup buffalo sauce
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup blue cheese or ranch dressing
- 12 ounces penne pasta
- Green onions, diced for garnish
- Red pepper flakes for garnish (optional)
How to Make Buffalo Chicken Pasta
Step 1: In a large pan over medium heat, combine cubed cream cheese, buffalo sauce, and chicken broth. Whisk until the mixture is creamy.
Step 2: Stir in paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt.
Step 3: Mix in the blue cheese or ranch dressing and shredded chicken, and let the sauce simmer on low heat for 10 minutes.
Step 4: While the sauce simmers, boil a large pot of water and cook the penne pasta according to the package directions.
Step 5: Drain the pasta and add it to the sauce, tossing to coat evenly.
Step 6: Serve the pasta topped with diced green onions and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, if desired.
FAQs & Tips
How do I store this pasta?
Cooked and cooled Buffalo Chicken Pasta can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months (thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating).
Salt your pasta water!
Don’t forget to salt your pasta water because it is your only chance to season the pasta evenly–and that is an important flavor component of any pasta dish!
What is better for Buffalo Chicken Pasta: white meat or dark meat?
The best chicken for this dish is the one you love best! Either shredded white or dark meat works beautifully.
Serving Suggestions
This really is a great dish for entertaining, especially if you’re having a big crowd and serving buffet-style. We all know that blue cheese dressing and celery are the traditional mates of all things Buffalo-sauced, so prepare a tray of fresh veggies (celery, carrots, cucumber slices) and this Easy Blue Cheese Dip. And add some more dips to your buffet, like Spinach Artichoke Dip and Loaded Baked Potato Dip. I also like to serve Buffalo Chicken Pizza for a spread like this because it’s good to have some finger food (and you know I like a flavor theme!)
But this Buffalo Chicken Pasta isn’t only good for parties; it’s great for family dinner. When we have it, it’s usually with something green like Grilled Green Beans or a simple Sauteed Broccoli. But pasta also famously goes with salad and bread, so it’s delish to serve Buffalo Chicken Pasta with Kale Caesar Salad and Garlic Rolls, or Brussels Sprouts Salad and Blue Cheese and Onion Flatbread.
Buffalo Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
- 8 ounces cream cheese cubed
- 1/3 cup buffalo sauce
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup blue cheese or ranch dressing
- 12 ounces penne pasta
- Green onions diced for garnish
- Red pepper flakes for garnish optional
Instructions
- In a large pan over medium heat, combine cubed cream cheese, buffalo sauce, and chicken broth. Whisk until the mixture is creamy.
- Stir in paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt.
- Mix in the blue cheese or ranch dressing and shredded chicken, and let the sauce simmer on low heat for 10 minutes.
- While the sauce simmers, boil a large pot of water and cook the penne pasta according to the package directions.
- Drain the pasta and add it to the sauce, tossing to coat evenly.
- Serve the pasta topped with diced green onions and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, if desired.
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