This quick and easy Buffalo Chicken Pasta is an irresistible dish that combines spicy buffalo sauce with three ooey-gooey cheeses, juicy grilled chicken, and perfectly al dente pasta!
Why you’ll love this
- Flavorful. If you love buffalo chicken dip, you’ll LOVE this pasta dish. It has everything. you love about the classic dip with the addition of pasta.
- Comforting. Creamy, spicy, and loaded with protein and carbs. It’s the perfect stick-to-your-ribs dinner.
- Easy. Simple steps and every day pantry staples make this dish a breeze to prepare.
Ingredients
- Sour Cream – adds a creamy texture and tangy flavor. Use full-fat for the best flavor and consistency. Greek yogurt may be used, but you’ll use out on richness.
- Cream Cheese – use full fat for the smoothest, creamiest texture. Be sure it’s softened to room temperature to avoid clumps.
- Ranch Dressing & Seasoning Mix – adds a bold Ranch flavor without thinning out the sauce too much.
- Frank’s Red Hot Sauce – the star ingredient for that classic buffalo taste! I like the original sauce, but feel free to play around with their other flavors like their buffalo wings hot sauce!
- Ranch Dressing – prevents the dish from being too spicy and adds an additional creamy texture. Blue cheese lover? Use blue cheese dressing instead!
- Cheese: Monterey-Jack, Cheddar, and Blue Cheese – use freshly shredded cheeses for best results. The combination of these three cheeses creates a creamy, sharp, and bold flavor, but play around with other varieties, if desired.
- Chicken – I used Refrigerated Grilled Chicken Breast Strips that I found at my grocery store. I enjoy the grilled flavor, but any cooked chicken will be fine such as rotisserie chicken or whatever leftover cooked chicken (check out my Instant Pot Shredded Chicken) you have laying around. Fried chicken (such as chopped chicken nuggets) would also be fun!
- Pasta – rigatoni holds the sauce nicely, but any shape will be fine. Cook 2 minutes less than package instructions, because the pasta will continue to cook in the oven.
- Green Onions – adds a fresh, crisp finish to balance out the spicy, rich sauce.
How to make
- Use a hand mixer to mix together sour cream, cream cheese, ranch seasoning, hot sauce, and ranch dressing in a large bowl, then stir in cheeses, chicken, and pasta.
- Transfer to a greased 9×13 inch baking dish, top with remaining cheeses, cover and bake at 350 degrees F until hot.
- Garnish with green onions and serve.
Variations
- Vegetarian. Swap chicken for roasted cauliflower.
- Spicier. Add extra hot sauce or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- Less spicy. Swap some of the hot sauce for more ranch dressing.
- Try another pasta. Penne, fusilli, rotini, or bow tie also work well.
What to serve with buffalo chicken pasta
- Salad with your favorite dressing. A crisp salad will balance out the richness of the dish.
- Garlic Bread. Perfect for dipping into the sauce.
- Celery Sticks and Carrots. A classic pairing with anything buffalo.
How to store
Leftovers will last in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
To enjoy again, thaw overnight in the fridge, if frozen, then bake, covered, until heated through.
– Jennifer

Buffalo Chicken Pasta
This quick and easy Buffalo Chicken Pasta is an irresistible dish that combines spicy buffalo sauce with three ooey-gooey cheeses, juicy grilled chicken, and perfectly al dente pasta!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 28 minutes
Yield: 12 people
Equipment for this recipe
(equipment shown are affiliate links)
Ingredients
- 1 (8 oz) container sour cream
- 1 (8 oz) block cream cheese softened to room temperature
- 1 (1 oz) packet ranch dressing and seasoning mix
- 1 (12 oz) bottle Frank’s Original Red Hot Sauce
- ½ cup ranch dressing
- 1 (8 oz) block Monterey jack cheese shredded and divided
- 8 (8 oz) block cheddar cheese shredded and divided
- 1 (4 oz) container crumbled blue cheese divided
- 1 pound grilled and cubed chicken *
- 1 (16 oz) box rigatoni pasta cooked 2 minutes less than al denté
- Sliced green onions for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
- Place sour cream, cream cheese, and ranch seasoning mix into a large bowl, then use a hand mixer to beat until smooth.
- Beat in hot sauce, ranch dressing, 1/2 the Monterey-jack cheese, 1/2 the cheddar cheese, and 1/2 the blue cheese.
- Stir in the cubed chicken and pasta, then pour into the prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle with the remaining cheeses, cover with tin foil (spray with cooking spray to avoid sticking), and bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes.
- Uncover and bake an additional 5 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the center is hot.
- Garnish with green onions, serve, and enjoy!
- Take 5 seconds to rate this recipe below. We greatly appreciate it!
STORING
Room Temp:N/A
Refrigerator:3 Days
Freezer:2 Months
Reheat:Thaw, if frozen, then bake, covered until heated through
*Storage times may vary based on temperature and conditions
Notes
* I used Refrigerated Grilled Chicken Breast Strips that I found at my grocery store. I like the grilled flavor, but any cooked chicken will be fine such as rotisserie chicken or whatever leftover cooked chicken you have laying around.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
Buffalo Chicken Pasta
Amount Per Serving (1 scoop)
Calories 537 Calories from Fat 279
% Daily Value*
Fat 31g48%
Saturated Fat 16g100%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g
Monounsaturated Fat 8g
Cholesterol 108mg36%
Sodium 1578mg69%
Potassium 290mg8%
Carbohydrates 33g11%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 29g58%
Vitamin A 790IU16%
Vitamin C 0.2mg0%
Calcium 378mg38%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
*Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on products used.
Keywords: baked buffalo chicken pasta, buffalo chicken, buffalo chicken pasta, buffalo chicken pasta with blue cheese, buffalo chicken pasta with ranch, cheesy baked pasta, creamy buffalo chicken, easy pasta dinner, grilled buffalo chicken