Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Casserole (Print Version)
Bubbly buffalo chicken pasta bake with ranch, cream cheese, and melted cheddar. A crowd-pleasing comfort food.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 3 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded (rotisserie or poached)
→ Casserole Base
02 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
03 - 1 cup ranch dressing
04 - 1/2 cup buffalo wing sauce, adjust to taste
05 - 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
06 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
07 - 8 oz cooked pasta shells or rotini
→ Topping
08 - 1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles, optional
09 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
10 - 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs, optional
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish with nonstick spray or butter.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, ranch dressing, and buffalo wing sauce. Stir until completely smooth and creamy.
03 - Fold the shredded chicken, cooked pasta, 1 1/2 cups of cheddar cheese, and 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese into the sauce mixture. Mix until evenly distributed.
04 - Transfer the mixture into the prepared casserole dish, spreading it into an even layer. Top with the remaining cheddar and mozzarella cheeses.
05 - If desired, sprinkle blue cheese crumbles and panko breadcrumbs over the top for extra flavor and crunch.
06 - Bake uncovered for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden on top.
07 - Remove from the oven and garnish with thinly sliced green onions. Serve hot with celery sticks, tortilla chips, or a crisp green salad.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It combines the addictive pull of buffalo chicken dip with enough substance to count as an actual dinner.
- Everything gets mixed in one bowl and baked in one dish so cleanup is almost nonexistent.
02 -
- Undercooked pasta in the casserole is fine but overcooked pasta will turn to mush after 35 minutes in the oven.
- Letting the casserole rest for five minutes before scooping helps it hold its shape instead of spreading into a cheesy puddle on the plate.
03 -
- Taste the buffalo sauce mixture before adding the chicken because every brand has a different heat level and you deserve to know what you are committing to.
- Shredding your own cheese from a block melts significantly better than pre shredded bags which are coated in anti caking powder.