Description
Buffalo Chicken Pasta: a creamy, spicy one-pot dinner that brings together tender chicken and pasta in a rich buffalo sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz pasta (penne, rotini, or shells)
- 1 lb chicken breast, cut into small cubes
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup buffalo sauce
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup cream cheese, softened
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Green onions or parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the chicken: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chicken, salt, pepper, and paprika. Cook until browned and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- Sauté aromatics: In the same pot, add onion and cook until softened. Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds.
- Build the sauce: Add chicken broth, milk, heavy cream, buffalo sauce, and garlic powder. Stir well.
- Cook pasta: Add the pasta, stir, and bring to a gentle simmer. Cover and cook 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender and sauce has thickened.
- Make it creamy: Stir in cream cheese and cheddar until melted and smooth.
- Combine: Add cooked chicken back into the pot and mix until everything is coated in the creamy buffalo sauce.
- Serve: Garnish with green onions or parsley and enjoy the spicy, creamy goodness!
Notes
- Tip: Use gluten-free pasta to make this gluten-free (or use your favorite gluten-free version).
- Want less heat? Reduce the buffalo sauce or add a splash of milk to mellow the spice.
- Leftovers store in the fridge for up to 3-4 days; reheat gently on the stove.
- To lighten this dish, swap heavy cream for half-and-half or 2% milk and reduce cream cheese slightly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: One-Pot, Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4 of the recipe)
- Calories: 750
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 40 g
- Saturated Fat: 25 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 90 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 180 mg
Keywords: Buffalo Chicken Pasta, creamy buffalo pasta, one-pot pasta, spicy chicken pasta, buffalo sauce pasta, weeknight dinner, creamy pasta