Description
Hearty buffalo chicken ranch pasta recipe brings zesty comfort to weeknight dinners. Spicy, creamy, and packed with bold flavors, this dish satisfies craving diners with its simple yet irresistible ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340 g) pasta (penne, rotini, or favorite shape)
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken (rotisserie chicken works great)
- 1 cup buffalo sauce
- ½ cup ranch dressing
- ½ cup cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tsp smoked paprika (optional)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Chopped green onions (optional)
- Crumbled blue cheese (optional)
- Extra buffalo sauce for drizzling (optional)
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Boil water with generous salt, cook pasta until al dente. Drain while maintaining warmth for sauce integration.
- Sauce Foundation: Heat skillet with olive oil, sauté minced garlic briefly. Whisk buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, and cream cheese into a smooth, velvety mixture.
- Protein and Cheese Fusion: Incorporate shredded chicken into sauce, then blend cheddar and mozzarella cheeses until completely melted and integrated.
- Final Assembly: Combine pasta with sauce, tossing thoroughly to ensure complete coating. Season with smoked paprika, salt, and pepper for depth of flavor.
- Plating and Garnish: Transfer to serving dishes, top with green onions, crumbled blue cheese, and optional buffalo sauce drizzle for enhanced visual appeal and taste complexity.
Notes
- Manage Pasta Texture: Cook pasta just until al dente to prevent mushiness, ensuring it maintains a slight bite when mixed with creamy sauce.
- Balance Spice Levels: Adjust buffalo sauce quantity based on heat preference, starting with less and gradually increasing for personalized zestiness.
- Prevent Sauce Separation: Maintain low-medium heat while incorporating cream cheese and dressings to create smooth, stable sauce without curdling.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Add cheese gradually and stir continuously to achieve uniform melting and prevent clumping or grainy texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 617
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 1300 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 46 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg