This buffalo chicken pasta recipe combines the spicy goodness of buffalo chicken with the creamy comfort of pasta in a way that’s irresistible. It’s easy to make, full of rich flavors, and sure to please everyone at the table—plus, it’s perfect for any buffalo sauce lover looking for something new!
Why You'll Love it:
Y'all, this cheesy Buffalo Chicken Pasta is a combination of the creamy comfort of mac and cheese crossed with the spicy, tangy flavor of buffalo chicken wings.
This easy pasta recipe takes everything we love about classic buffalo chicken and twists it into a pasta bake that’s creamy, gooey, and absolutely loaded with speecy spicy flavor.
With every bite, you get the richness of cream cheese, the zing of buffalo sauce, and the depth of melted cheddar and mozzarella.
Oh, and let’s not forget the finishing touch of blue cheese crumbles for an extra hit of tangy goodness! But if you're scared of blue cheese, by all means, leave it out!
So whether you're cooking for a game day crowd, a weeknight dinner, or even meal prep for the week, this buffalo chicken pasta dish has all the cozy vibes you want with just enough spice to keep things exciting. I
Like most of my recipes, it’s also highly customizable. Keep it mild for the kids or dial up the heat with extra buffalo sauce for the spice lovers.
Plus, with its quick prep time and basic pantry ingredients, you can whip this up without a fuss.
So let's dive in for a dinner that’s creamy, cheesy, and undeniably fun!
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Spaghetti: Honestly, you can use any noodle you choose! Fettuccine or linguine are great swaps if you prefer thicker noodles. Macaroni noodles also work wonderfully!
- Milk: I recommend using 2% milk. For an even creamier sauce, try half-and-half, or go dairy-free with almond milk.
- Shredded Chicken: Any cooked chicken works here, but rotisserie chicken saves time and is what I always use.
- Buffalo Sauce: My go-to is Frank's Buffalo Sauce. But you could always choose your favorite brand, or make it homemade for more control over the heat.
- Cream Cheese: I love how cream cheese adds tang and more cheesy goodness to this Buffalo Chicken Spaghetti recipe but Greek yogurt or mascarpone will work if you're out of cream cheese.
- Ranch Dressing: Swap with blue cheese dressing if you want to amp up that tang.
- Sour Cream: Not into sour cream? Swap it for full fat Greek yogurt for a lighter touch.
- Cheddar Cheese: As with most cheeses, as long as you use an easy melting cheese, you can switch it up. White Cheddar or Monterey Jack can be fun alternatives.
- Mozzarella Cheese: Same goes with mozzarella cheese. Swap it for Provolone or smoked gouda for a subtle smokiness.
- Blue Cheese: Blue Cheese is always one of those polarizing ingredients. If it's not for you, leave it out completely.
How to Make It
- Prep the Pasta: Boil spaghetti according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain and set the pasta aside.
- Make the Sauce: In a large pot over medium heat, combine milk, buffalo sauce, cream cheese, and ranch dressing. Stir continuously until the cream cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Mix in the Cheeses and Chicken: Add the shredded chicken, sour cream, and half of both the cheddar and mozzarella cheeses. Stir to combine and taste—add salt, pepper, or more buffalo sauce if desired.
- Combine & Bake: Add the al dente pasta to a greased baking dish and pour the buffalo sauce mixture over the top. Gently stir to coat each noodle with sauce. Top with the remaining cheddar, mozzarella, and blue cheese. If it's dry, add about ½ cup of the reserved pasta water to loose it up.
- Broil and Serve: Broil for 3 minutes, just until the cheese bubbles and begins to brown. Let it rest for a minute, then dig in and enjoy!
What to Pair with Buffalo Chicken Pasta
This buffalo chicken pasta goes so well with many things. Here are a few of my favorite easy recipes to pair it with:
- Southern Cucumber Salad with Onion, Vinegar & Sugar Recipe
- Pepperoni Pizza Caesar Wrap
- Crispy Parmesan Crusted Brussels Sprouts Recipe
- Easy Yellow Squash & Zucchini Recipe (Simple Southern Side)
- Easy Italian Grinder Salad Recipe (Viral on Tiktok!)
Want even more delicious buffalo chicken things? Check out these Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Sliders, this Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip, or this Cheesy Baked Buffalo Chicken Meatball Skillet.
Recipe
Creamy Buffalo Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 12 oz Spaghetti
- 2 cups Milk
- 1.5 cups Shredded Chicken
- ½ cup Buffalo Sauce
- 8 oz Cream Cheese room temperature
- ½ cup Ranch Dressing
- ½ cup Sour Cream
- 1.5 cups Cheddar Cheese shredded and divided
- 1.5 cup Mozzarella Cheese shredded and divided
- ½ cup Blue Cheese crumbled (optional)
- Kosher Salt
Instructions
- Boil spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente. Set aside 1 cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- In a separate pot, combine milk, buffalo sauce, cream cheese and ranch over medium heat. Stir until the cream cheese melts and blends with the buffalo sauce.
- Then stir in the chicken, sour cream, and half of the cheddar and half of the mozzarella.
- Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed. Adjust spice level by adding more buffalo sauce. Taste and season with more salt if needed. If it's dry, add about ½ cup of the reserved pasta water to loose it up.
- Add al dente pasta to a greased baking dish then pour the sauce over the top and gently stir it together so every noodle is coated.
- Top the mixture with the remaining shredded cheddar, mozzarella cheese and blue cheese crumbles.
- Put it under the broiler for 3 minutes or so or until the cheese is bubbly and starting to brown.
- Remove from heat and let it rest for one minute before serving.
