An irresistibly cheesy baked buffalo chicken pasta made with ranch dressing, penne, leftover chicken, and lots of cheese!

Happy February! It is the time of the year where winter weather is in full force and snow is the norm. I am so happy to have a fireplace this year and a nice new kitchen. My favorite thing to do when the snow is falling is to bake and cook.
Some of my favorite dishes this time of year are ones that can be easily made and baked. Meals like this Baked Buffalo Chicken Pasta are the real deal. If you love buffalo chicken tenders or dip then this comfort meal is for you!
I know my family loves a good comfort meal to make memories both preparing it and at the dinner table. If you want to recreate this Amazing Baked Buffalo Chicken Pasta Your Family will Love. here are some tips.
Which kind of Chicken for Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake?
This is a great question because the answer is super versatile! You can really use any fully cooked chicken you would like. Grilled chicken, chicken tenders, boiled chicken, canned chicken–whatever you have on-hand will work.
Can I use Blue Cheese Dressing in Buffalo Chicken Pasta?
Of course!! We actually have made this variation plenty of times in the past. However, my youngest child prefers ranch so I tend to use this in my casserole to prevent him from not eating.
Can I add Celery to my Buffalo Chicken Pasta?
YES! I actually would have added some celery in mine, but I did not have any on-hand. To incorporate celery into this meal, simply work in 1/2 cup in the mixing stage.
Which Cheese is Best for Buffalo Chicken?
Over the years, I have tried many different cheese variations.
However, I keep coming back to a blend of sharp cheddar, and mozzarella.
I find these two cheese work so well together and complement the creaminess of this dish. I also add one brick of cream cheese in with the chicken for extra flavor.
Tempted to make this Buffalo Chicken Casserole? Get the printable recipe below!
Amazing Baked Buffalo Chicken Pasta Your Family will Love
Ingredients
- 2 cups leftover chicken can be plain, tenders, or rotisserie
- 1 ½ cups ranch dressing
- ⅓ cup red pepper sauce
- 16 ounces cheddar & mozzarella blend shredded cheese divided into 2 cups
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 12 ounces penne pasta
- 2 tablespoons green scalllions for garnish
Instructions
- Boil pasta until al dente.
- In a large bowl, shred leftover chicken.
- Add hot sauce, 1 cup of shredded cheese, cream cheese, and ranch to the shredded chicken.
- Combine well.
- Drain pasta.
- Add pasta to chicken and mix.
- Add pasta and chicken mixture to your casserole dish.
- Top with additional shredded cheese & pepper sauce (optional)
- Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes.
- Top with scallions, and enjoy warm.
Now this is a delicious dinner idea that is absolutely perfect for our all too frequent busy weeknights! I love how you address so many potential recipe questions too.
That looks so good! I’ve often said that if you can make something in casserole form, you should. I love buffalo chicken, so I can’t wait to make this.
This recipe looks SO good! I think I want it all for myself though! Also, your Q & A format is so helpful
This looks like a really great recipe! I’ll try recreating it with a plant-based protein alternative for the chicken. :-)
Oh boy, this looks so delish! I wasn’t hungry before, but I sure am now, Can’t wait to try it.
I wouldn’t mind if I had to buy a new pan so long as I could eat this up! Looks delicious!
Yup, my family would definitely love that. I am going to pick up the stuff I need to make this so i can make it one night next week.
Palmolive is such a great soap to use to tackle those baked on messes. I love a good mac and cheese recipe, and with the addition of the buffalo chicken, you really kicked it up a few notches here!
Half an hour is what it will require to make this amazing dish.Must try
I need to whip up this BAKED BUFFALO CHICKEN PASTA RECIPE! It looks delish! Get in me belly!
I am not one for spicy foods but my son loves it. I am sure he would love it
This cheesy baked buffalo chicken pasta looks so good! I would like to try this recipe at home on weekends. I’ll put a lot of cheese for sure!
No doubt this will be a huge hit with my family!
My family loved pasta! I am sure they will enjoy this meal!
Oh my lands, this sounds so good. It actually sounds pretty darn easy too which is a huge plus in my book!
Yum! What a delicious ide for a pasta dish. I’d love to try it sometime.
Mixing pasta, chicken, and cheese are incredible. I like your recipe and will give this a try.
This recipe is absolutely perfect, a big thank you!! My daughter is obsessed with these frozen buffalo chicken pasta trays, while they’re good for a frozen meal it’s not homemade and not to mention pricey. So, this recipe is a godsend, thank you from my family to yours!!
Ps- what hot sauce do you use??
Thank you! We love Frank’s because it is not overly spicy & more flavorful.
It bakes for 245 minutes???
Hi, I fixed that typo. Thank you!
I see cook time at the top of the recipe says 25 mins. But in the steps it says bake for 45 minutes?
Hello, it is 25 minutes. I fixed the 245 typo – meant to remove the 4 and not 2~ Thank you!
Can you freeze this and bake later? If so what do you recommend bake time and temperature should be?