Description
This Jalapeño Buffalo Chicken Casserole is a flavorful, spicy baked dish combining tender shredded chicken, a medley of vegetables, and a creamy buffalo sauce enhanced with coconut cream and ranch. Perfect for a hearty weeknight dinner or game day meal, it delivers a spicy kick with a smooth, creamy texture and a crispy top layer when baked to perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Vegetables
- 2 pounds chicken breast, cooked and shredded
- 20 ounces frozen cauliflower rice
- 2 small jalapeños, finely diced, plus more for topping if desired
- 1 small white or yellow onion, diced
- 1 red pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup shredded or finely diced carrots
Sauces and Seasonings
- 1/2 cup canned coconut cream (the thick part at the top of the can)
- 1/2 cup buffalo sauce
- 1/4 cup ranch dressing
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Optional Garnishes
- Green onion, chopped
- Extra jalapeños, sliced
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Combine Base Ingredients: In a large casserole dish, add the cooked and shredded chicken along with all the vegetables including frozen cauliflower rice, diced jalapeños, onion, red pepper, and carrots.
- Prepare Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the minced garlic, salt, black pepper, coconut cream, buffalo sauce, and ranch dressing until smooth and well combined.
- Mix Sauce with Ingredients: Pour the sauce mixture evenly over the chicken and vegetables in the casserole dish. Use two forks or tongs to thoroughly combine the sauce into the chicken and vegetables. Smooth the mixture into an even layer within the dish.
- Bake: Place the casserole dish into the preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes. For a crispier top, bake slightly longer while monitoring for desired texture.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven. Drizzle extra buffalo or ranch sauce on top if desired and garnish with green onion and additional jalapeños for added flavor and presentation.
Notes
- You can adjust the number of jalapeños to control the spiciness level to your preference.
- Using canned coconut cream adds richness and creaminess while keeping the dish dairy-free.
- For a milder version, substitute buffalo sauce with a milder wing sauce or hot sauce of choice.
- Make sure chicken is fully cooked and shredded before assembling casserole.
- This casserole can be prepared ahead, assembled, refrigerated, and baked later as needed.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Jalapeño, Buffalo Chicken, Casserole, Spicy, Baked, Low Carb, Gluten Free, Chicken Dinner
