Buffalo Chicken Pasta (Printable)

Tender shredded chicken tossed with spicy buffalo sauce and creamy cheese, finished with tangy blue cheese crumbs.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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 - While the pasta cooks, 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 achieves a creamy consistency.
04 - Stir in mozzarella cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is well combined.
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 punch of buffalo wings without the mess of bones and napkins.
  • The creamy sauce cools the heat just enough to keep you going back for more.
  • You can have dinner on the table in half an hour, even on a hectic weeknight.
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully and somehow taste even better the next day.
02 -
  • Soften the cream cheese before adding it or you will end up with stubborn lumps that refuse to melt.
  • Do not skip lowering the heat when you add the cream, or it can break and turn grainy.
  • Taste the sauce before adding extra salt, the buffalo sauce and cheeses pack plenty of sodium already.
03 -
  • Use rotisserie chicken to cut your prep time in half and add extra flavor without any effort.
  • Reserve a cup of pasta water before draining, it's perfect for thinning the sauce if it gets too thick.
  • Let the cream cheese sit at room temperature for twenty minutes before cooking, it will blend in like a dream.
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