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Dump-and-Bake Buffalo Chicken Pasta
5 from 2 votes

Dump-and-Bake Buffalo Chicken Pasta

A zesty and cheesy buffalo chicken pasta recipe that bakes in a single dish!

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
Additional Time
5 mins
Total Time
1 hr
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 441 kcal
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • ¾ cup ranch dressing plus extra for serving, or blue cheese dressing
  • ¾ cup buffalo sauce plus extra for serving (I use Frank's RedHot Buffalo Wings sauce or Frank's RedHot Mild Buffalo Wings sauce
  • 1 teaspoon chives dried
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
  • ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon dried dill weed
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • Pinch crushed red pepper flakes optional
  • 2 cups rotisserie chicken or other diced cooked chicken, diced
  • 1 (16 ounce) penne pasta uncooked, package
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) diced tomatoes drained, petite, canned
  • 1 talk celery finely diced
  • ½ cup cheddar cheese shredded
  • ½ cup mozzarella cheese shredded
  • chive fresh chopped herbs; sliced; for garnish
  • parsley
  • green onion

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking dish or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. In the prepared baking dish (or in a separate large bowl), whisk together the chicken broth, salad dressing, buffalo sauce, chives, parsley, garlic powder, dill, onion powder, and red pepper flakes. Stir in the chicken, uncooked pasta, diced tomatoes, and celery. Make sure that all of the ingredients are evenly distributed in the pan. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 40 minutes.
  3. Uncover; stir gently with a fork. At this point you should check the pasta to make sure that it is al dente (firm but just about finished cooking). If it’s still too hard, cover the dish and return to the oven until pasta is al dente. Then move on to the next step.
  4. Sprinkle the cheese over the top. Place the dish back in the oven (uncovered), just until the cheese melts, about 5 minutes. Let rest for about 5 minutes.
  5. Garnish with chopped fresh herbs and sliced green onions. Drizzle each serving with additional salad dressing and buffalo sauce.

Notes

  • Total cooking time will vary depending on the type of pan that you use and on your individual oven. A glass or ceramic casserole dish will take longer than a metal pan, for instance. To know when your casserole is done, taste a bite of the pasta (the noodles should be tender).
  • Be careful not to overbake the casserole or the pasta will become mushy.
  • For a more mild, family-friendly pasta bake, use mild buffalo sauce. You can also replace some of the buffalo sauce with extra chicken broth. For instance, use just ½ cup of buffalo sauce and ½ cup of Ranch dressing, and instead increase the chicken broth to 3 ½ cups. This will yield a more mild-flavored sauce for the pasta. You can always give individual servings more flavor at the end by drizzling on extra buffalo sauce and Ranch dressing.
  • If you want to cook your own chicken to use in this dish, you'll need to start with about 1 lb. of raw boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs. Boil the chicken for about 10-15 minutes, then shred or dice to use in the casserole.
  • If starting with low-sodium chicken broth, you will likely need to add some salt to the sauce before baking. The pasta needs at least a little bit of salt to absorb as it cooks for flavor.
  • Garnish the finished dish with fresh herbs (such as fresh parsley or fresh chives), with sliced green onion, and with a drizzle of both salad dressing and buffalo hot sauce.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1/8 of the pasta bake Calories 441kcal (22%) Carbohydrates 49g (16%) Protein 23g (46%) Fat 16g (25%) Saturated Fat 4g (20%) Polyunsaturated Fat 7g (41%) Monounsaturated Fat 4g (20%) Cholesterol 50mg (17%) Sodium 1412mg (59%) Potassium 446mg (9%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 5g (10%) Vitamin A 693IU (14%) Vitamin C 9mg (10%) Calcium 139mg (14%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8 people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 441

% Daily Value*

Serving 1/8 of the pasta bake
Calories 441kcal 22%
Carbohydrates 49g 16%
Protein 23g 46%
Fat 16g 25%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Polyunsaturated Fat 7g 41%
Monounsaturated Fat 4g 20%
Cholesterol 50mg 17%
Sodium 1412mg 59%
Potassium 446mg 9%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 5g 10%
Vitamin A 693IU 14%
Vitamin C 9mg 10%
Calcium 139mg 14%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.