Description
Creamy buffalo chicken ranch pasta delivers a spicy, tangy sensation that elevates comfort food to new heights. Zesty buffalo sauce and cool ranch dressing combine with tender chicken and perfectly cooked pasta, creating a crowd-pleasing meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) pasta (penne, rotini, or your favorite shape)
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken (rotisserie chicken works great)
- 1 cup buffalo sauce
- ½ cup ranch dressing
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Dairy and Creamy Ingredients:
- ½ cup cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Optional Toppings:
- Chopped green onions
- Crumbled blue cheese
- Extra buffalo sauce for drizzling
Instructions
- Bring a generously salted water reservoir to a rolling boil and immerse the pasta, cooking until it reaches a perfect tender yet firm consistency. Carefully drain the pasta, preserving its warmth for the upcoming sauce fusion.
- Activate a spacious skillet with a gentle olive oil glaze. Introduce minced garlic, allowing its aromatic essence to permeate the cooking surface for a brief moment. Seamlessly integrate buffalo sauce, creamy ranch dressing, and velvety cream cheese, whisking until the mixture transforms into a harmonious, silky emulsion.
- Introduce shredded chicken into the luxurious sauce, ensuring each morsel becomes thoroughly enveloped. Gradually fold in sharp cheddar and melty mozzarella cheeses, stirring until they dissolve completely and create a rich, cohesive coating.
- Gently cascade the perfectly cooked pasta into the skillet, performing a delicate tossing motion to guarantee each strand becomes lavishly dressed. Enhance the flavor profile with a whisper of smoked paprika, then calibrate with precise salt and pepper seasoning.
- Artfully transfer the buffalo chicken ranch pasta into serving vessels. Elevate the presentation by garnishing with freshly sliced green onions, crumbling tangy blue cheese, or adding an optional dramatic drizzle of bold buffalo sauce for those craving extra zest.
Notes
- Enhance the pasta’s texture by slightly undercooking it, ensuring it remains perfectly al dente when mixed with the creamy sauce.
- Opt for rotisserie chicken or quickly sauté chicken breasts for a time-saving protein boost that adds extra flavor to the dish.
- Transform this recipe into a gluten-free option by using chickpea or gluten-free pasta, maintaining the same delicious buffalo chicken essence.
- Reduce the heat intensity by mixing mild buffalo sauce with regular hot sauce, creating a customizable spice level that suits different taste preferences.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 665
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 1150 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 66 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 97 mg