Description

This One Pot Buffalo Chicken Pasta is a creamy, flavorful dish that combines tender chicken, penne pasta, and a tangy buffalo cheese sauce all cooked together in one skillet. Easy to make and perfect for busy weeknights, this recipe delivers bold buffalo flavors with the richness of cream cheese, cheddar, and mozzarella, making it a family-friendly meal that requires minimal cleanup.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Chicken

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast

For the Sauce

½ cup blue cheese dressing (or ranch)
2 tablespoons butter (divided)
½ cup yellow onion, diced
1 stick celery, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
14.5 oz diced tomatoes (undrained)
4 cups chicken broth
1 lb penne pasta
½ cup buffalo sauce
8 oz cream cheese, softened and cubed
1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
2 tablespoons cold butter (optional)

Instructions

Cook the Chicken: Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the diced boneless skinless chicken breast and cook until no longer pink, ensuring it is cooked through for safe consumption.
Sauté Vegetables: Push the cooked chicken to one side of the skillet and add the remaining tablespoon of butter. Add diced yellow onion, diced celery, and minced garlic, sautéing until the vegetables are soft and fragrant.
Add Liquids and Pasta: Stir in the undrained diced tomatoes, chicken broth, penne pasta, buffalo sauce, and softened cubed cream cheese until everything is well combined and creamy.
Simmer the Pasta: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and cover the skillet. Let it simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the pasta is tender and has absorbed much of the liquid, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
Melt the Cheeses: Once the pasta is cooked, mix in shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheeses. Stir until the cheeses melt fully and the sauce is creamy and well combined. Optionally, stir in red pepper flakes and cold butter for added richness and a slight kick.

Notes

Use rotisserie chicken or leftover cooked chicken for an even quicker version.
If you prefer less heat, substitute buffalo sauce with a mild wing sauce or additional ranch/blue cheese dressing.
Optional red pepper flakes add extra spiciness if desired.
The cream cheese should be softened to help it melt smoothly into the sauce.
Stir occasionally while simmering to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the skillet.
For a thicker sauce, add shredded cheese gradually until desired consistency is reached.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Buffalo chicken pasta, one pot pasta, creamy buffalo sauce, easy dinner, chicken pasta recipe