Description
This creamy and spicy Buffalo Chicken Pasta combines tender penne with a rich buffalo sauce-infused cream sauce, shredded rotisserie chicken, and tangy blue cheese for a deliciously satisfying meal. Perfect for those who love the bold flavors of buffalo wings in a comforting pasta dish.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Pasta
- 12 ounces penne pasta
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup Buffalo Wing sauce (e.g., Frank's Red Hot)
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 3 ounces cream cheese, softened
Add-ins
- 3 to 4 cups chopped cooked chicken (from rotisserie chicken)
- 1 cup crumbled blue cheese
- 2 green onions, sliced
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, then add the penne pasta. Cook according to the package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta well but do not rinse it. Transfer the pasta to a large mixing bowl and set aside to retain heat.
- Prepare Sauce Base: In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Add Cream and Buffalo Sauce: Pour in the heavy cream, buffalo wing sauce, and sprinkle in the pepper. Stir to combine and warm the mixture over medium heat.
- Melt Cream Cheese: Cut the softened cream cheese into small pieces and add to the saucepan. Whisk continuously until the cream cheese is fully melted, and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Pour the warm buffalo cream sauce over the cooked pasta. Add the chopped rotisserie chicken, crumbled blue cheese, and sliced green onions. Stir gently to ensure everything is evenly coated.
- Serve: Serve the Buffalo Chicken Pasta immediately while hot, optionally with extra blue cheese or green onions for garnish.
Notes
- You can adjust the amount of buffalo sauce to make the dish milder or spicier to taste.
- Using rotisserie chicken speeds up preparation, but leftover cooked chicken or grilled chicken also works well.
- For a lower-fat version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream and use reduced-fat cream cheese.
- Serve with celery sticks or a fresh green salad to complement the spicy, rich flavors.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
