Buffalo Chicken Pasta With Ranch

This Buffalo Ranch Chicken Pasta was an instant hit at my house! My family loves all things buffalo…wings, these Buffalo Chicken Rice Bowls, and even Buffalo Chicken Tacos!

So when I combined “buffalo” with pasta…and CHEESE–everyone went crazy! It’s buffalo chicken cheesy goodness! You can use mild buffalo sauce like this one to keep it super kid-friendly 🙂

• Chicken, cheesy, buffalo deliciousness!
• Can be made in about 30 minutes.
• You can use rotisserie chicken to make it even quicker–perfect for weeknights!
• Leftovers are fantastic the next day (if you have any leftovers!)

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this Buffalo Chicken Pasta Recipe:

Buffalo Sauce: My two favorite brands are Sweet Baby Ray’s and Franks. They both have kid-friendly mild versions, too! But feel free to use your favorite brand.

Ranch Seasoning: Hidden Valley Ranch packets are my favorite.

Shredded Cheese: I like a combo of sharp cheddar and mozzarella cheese in this pasta, but use whatever you have on hand!

Here are some quick visual instructions. Remember that full instructions with the exact ingredients will be in the recipe card below!

Step 1: Cook your chicken, then toss with ranch dressing. Set aside.

Step 2: Make the sauce by cooking onion and garlic. Sprinkle in the flour (that will thicken the sauce). Then, stir in buffalo sauce, chicken broth, half and half, Parmesan cheese, and seasonings. Cook until slightly thickened.

Step 3: Stir in pasta, chicken, and cheese. Toss until cheese is melted and pasta is well-coated with the sauce.

⭐️ CONFIDENCE TIP ⭐️

• Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days ( my favorite storage containers).

• Reheating: Reheat leftovers in the microwave or in a pan until warmed through. Add a splash of chicken stock/cream/half and half to get the pasta back to a creamy texture.

• Freezing: I do not recommend freezing this dish.

Here are a few additions you can try:

• Celery: Buffalo and celery are a natural pairing! For added crunch, add a few chopped stalks of celery in with your onion and garlic.

• Cream Cheese or Heavy Cream: Make your pasta EXTRA CREAMY by stirring in 1/2 cup of heavy cream or 4 oz. of softened cream cheese to the sauce before you add in the pasta.

Here are a few substitutions you can make:

• Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken thighs work well, too. For a super shortcut, used diced rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken.

• Pasta: Switch up your pasta shapes! My favorite kind of pasta for this dish are rotini, penne, shells, and bowtie pasta — they soak up the creamy sauce so well!

• Ranch Dressing: Blue cheese dressing also works, of course!

• Heavy Cream: For extra creamy pasta, substitute heavy cream for the half and half.

You can go wrong with the best garlic bread and a nice, simple arugula salad or tossed salad to go along with this cheesy pasta dish!

My two favorite brands are Sweet Baby Ray’s and Franks. They both have kid-friendly mild versions, too!

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TOOLS FOR THIS RECIPE

Check out all of my kitchen essentials in my Amazon store!

My favorite large pasta pan: This thing is a workhorse! It’s huge and great for tossing pasta!

The best garlic chopper: I use this thing pretty much every day!

Pasta pot with strainer: Super handy and great quality.

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