Things I Can't Say

Tips and Tales from an Introverted Mom

Buffalo Chicken Pasta: Easy Dinner Ideas

My favorite meals involve pasta. I could happily eat pasta every night, but that doesn’t exactly fit in with my resolution to lose weight. But I also know that if I try to completely eliminate my favorite food from my diet, I’ll fail miserably. Instead, I’m only making pasta maybe once a week and I watch how big of a portion I take.

This Buffalo Chicken Pasta recipe has been a favorite in my family for the last seven years. I can remember making it for my oldest two back when they were toddlers and they’d literally lick their plates clean. Back when it was cute for them to lick their plates clean, as opposed to now when they’d yell at whoever was licking their plate “TABLE MANNERS!”

What I like about this Buffalo Chicken pasta recipe is that it can be adapted depending on your tastes. This easy dinner recipe feeds my family of 5, leaving leftovers.

buffalo chicken pasta

Ingredients

  • 1 pound penne
  • 1 1/2 t salt
  • 1 1/2 t pepper
  • 1 1/2 t garlic powder
  • 1 1/2 paprika(see note below)
  • 1 pound chicken, diced
  • 2 T oil (or just 1 if you aren’t using celery)
  • 1 cup chopped celery(optional)
  • 2 T Frank’s hot sauce(plus extra if you wish, see note below)
  • 1 c mayo(can go low- or non-fat if you want)
  • 1/2 c ranch(use the good stuff here since it gives most of the flavor)
  • 3/4 c milk
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella or 1/2 cup blue cheese (optional, see note below)

Notes:

  • Paprika gives a nice, medium spice. If you prefer milder, add an extra 1 1/2 garlic powder instead. I’ve also made this with Cajun seasoning instead of paprika, which I think gives it more kick.
  • I’m the only one who actually eats the celery in this dish, so I usually don’t bother with it. It does add a little crunch and texture, but it’s not necessary.
  • You can add an additional tablespoon of Frank’s to the sauce if you like a lot of spice. Leave this out if you like it milder.
  • This pasta is amazing without any cheese on top at all, which is how I made it recently, figuring I was cutting at least some calories by not adding it. Use mozzarella if you want gooey and blue cheese if you want that chicken wing flavor.

Directions:

  • While pasta is cooking according to package directions, season chicken with the spices. I use a Ziploc bag to shake it all up and coat the chicken.
  • Heat 1 T oil over med-high heat and cook chicken (about 5 minutes or so, until completely cooked through)
  • Add 2 T  Frank’s hot sauce and cook for one minute.
  • If you are adding celery to your dish: remove chicken from skillet, heat the other tablespoon of oil, add celery and cook for about 2 minutes. Then return chicken to the skillet.
  • Combine mayo, ranch, and milk and mix in a small bowl. It will be lumpy. This is where you can also add another tablespoon of Frank’s if you’d like your pasta spicier.
  • Add the sauce to the skillet with the chicken and celery. Cook a few minutes, until heated.
  • Pour sauce over prepared pasta and stir to combine.
  • Top with mozzarella or blue cheese crumbles if desired.

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Comments

  2. I am a sucker for anything with the word buffalo in front of it. I love pasta, I love spice, and I love chicken. All three of these together make my perfect meal. Frank’s Red Hot Sauce is always in my cabinet! This recipe sounds beyond yummy.

  6. I like, I like. I also have some Paparika that I need to use so I’m defiantly going to try this.  I’m pinning to a board. 

  15. This looks yummy! I’m always looking for new easy dishes to make for my family. I work very long hours and when I come home I just want to relax. This will make it on my menu sometime soon. Thanks for sharing. 

  19. I’m totally pinning this so I can try it out on my toddler. He loves spicy foods, but is also SO picky sometimes (especially when it comes to chicken.) This sounds so great.

  20. Easy dinners and pasta are two well-loved things in this house. We are totally trying this because I need new ideas for the kitchen!

    • My oldest doesn’t like red sauce on anything. He doesn’t even eat pizza. I don’t think he’s allergic to tomatoes, but I do think he has a food sensitivity there, so I don’t push him. It’s why I have to come up with other sauces!

  29. I love a great pasta dish that is easy to make. My fam might like this, but not sure. Seems I am always changing up recipes to suit my 4 year old. UGH!

  30. I’ve never head of Bufalo Chicken Pasta, seems easy to make though and I know my husband would like it. 

  32. I love pasta. I love easy dinners. And I love leftovers (so I don’t have to cook as often).

    So this is totally something I want to try.

  39. I just made this. Amazing. I used 4 tablespoons of Franks Red Hot instead of 2 and added extra Cajun seasoning to make it spicier.

    It’s fabulous. I licked the sauce off the pan it was so good. Thanks for sharing!!

  42. I know I saw this when you first posted. Why didn’t I comment? I swear I’m in a fog! 

    Anyway, this looks SO good. But I’m a spicy stuff wimp. My husband, however, would probably love it. So maybe I’ll make it toned down a drop and he can add more sauce as needed. Or maybe I’ll just make it for him and be nice. ;D

    • You could probably do the chicken in a slow cooker. I haven’t had much luck doing pasta in the slow cooker, but if you have, you can probably adapt. What I like about this one is that it really doesn’t take any longer than it takes to boil the water and cook the pasta, so I haven’t looked for a way to make it any easier. 😉

  50. Is this something that I could make ahead, put in a pan and warm up in the oven later? I’m thinking of taking it to someone as a meal….but wasn’t sure with the mayo in it if that would be a good way to make this meal.

    • I’ve taken it as a meal to someone before and they really enjoyed it. Also, we eat the leftovers the next day and they are still good. I will say that the sauce(due to the mayo) has a different consistency when reheating than when served immediately. But, it’s still good.

  51. I’ve made this a few times now and it’s always a hit! I always have these ingredients on hand so this makes for an easy meal to throw together in a pinch! Thank You!