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Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake

This healthy buffalo chicken pasta bake is the BEST. It’s more delicious, more nutritious, and so easy to make!

Buffalo chicken pasta bake

This healthy buffalo chicken pasta bake is the BEST. It's creamy, has a kick to it, and totally delicious. It's more nutritious than standard pasta bakes, with 23 g of protein and less than 300 calories per serving. On top of that, it's quick and easy to make.

This will be your new favorite dinner recipe!

Why buffalo chicken?

Let's be real, buffalo chicken is SO good. It's one of my favorite flavor combinations and I don't think I've ever turned anything "buffalo chicken" related down!

Two fan favorites on my website are the Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip (perfect for game day) and Healthy Buffalo Chicken (perfect for meal prep). The Buffalo Chicken Sliders are quickly growing in popularity as well.

In an effort to keep creating buffalo chicken recipes, I present to you this healthy buffalo chicken pasta bake!

What ingredients do I need?

This recipe only has 7 ingredients!

  • penne pasta - The recipe calls for whole wheat penne pasta, but truly you can use whatever kind of noodles you want!
  • shredded chicken – Adding shredded chicken into the pasta will give off total buffalo chicken dip vibes (let's be real, we love those vibes). Plus it will add quite a bit of protein! There are a few options for how to get shredded chicken. You can buy a cooked rotisserie chicken and shred it, cook chicken breasts and shred them, or use canned shredded chicken. Each of these options will work great!
  • plain greek yogurt – This will help create a creamy sauce texture.
  • ranch seasoning mix – Ranch seasoning can either be bought in a bottle or in individual packets. It will add flavors to our sauce without having to use a bunch of spices.
  • Frank’s hot sauce – This hot sauce is KEY. It will add some awesome spice and flavor to the recipe!
  • mozzarella cheese – Adding some mozzarella to melt as the pasta cooks will create a creamy, cheesy pasta bake.
  • sharp cheddar cheese - Combining cheddar cheese with the mozzarella cheese is only going to add to the cheesy effect of this recipe!

Can I make substitutions to this recipe?

  • chicken – I use canned chicken because it’s it’s easier, quicker, and cheaper. However, if you have some leftover chicken breast you can shred yourself or want to use a rotisserie chicken, you can totally use those options instead!
  • cheese – Adding more cheese will make this better. I like to add mozzarella and cheddar, but you can use only one of them or another favorite to make this cheesier.
  • greek yogurt – To make this dairy free, choose a plant-based yogurt. For an even creamier texture, you can opt for cream cheese or sour cream.
  • Frank’s hot sauce – I do NOT recommend changing this ingredient! Frank’s is so good and and creates awesome flavor.

What equipment do I need for this recipe?

The only equipment you'll need for this recipe is a casserole dish. A 9 x 13 dish will work great!

What is the process?

This pasta bake is so quick and easy! Here's how to make it:

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Spray a 9 x 13 casserole dish with cooking spray and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, combine the greek yogurt, ranch seasoning, hot sauce, and half of both cheeses. Mix well.
  • Add the pasta and shredded chicken to the sauce mixture. Stir until chicken and paste are coated.
  • Pour the pasta mixture into the casserole dish. Sprinkle the remaining cheese evenly across the top of the pasta.
  • Bake for about 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
  • After cooking, top with green onions.
  • Enjoy!

How do I store it?

This buffalo chicken pasta bake is so tasty right when it comes out of the oven! If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container. Keep it in the fridge and use between 4-5 days.

Can I reheat it?

You can reheat this pasta bake in the microwave or oven.

  • For the microwave: Cook 2-3 minutes.
  • For the oven: Bake at 350 for about 15 minutes.

I like to add some extra cheese when I'm reheating this dish.

Looking for more recipes?

If you love buffalo chicken, try these buffalo chicken recipes:

Want the recipe?

If you try this recipe and love it, please rate it and me know your thoughts! I hope you enjoy this dinner recipe.

Print Recipe
4.98 from 194 votes

Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake

This healthy buffalo chicken pasta bake is the BEST. It's creamy with a little spice and whole lot of flavor! It's quick, easy, and will be your new favorite dinner recipe.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time15 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: buffalo chicken, healthy buffalo chicken, pasta, pasta bake
Servings: 6
Calories: 288kcal
Author: Jordan Smith

Equipment

  • casserole dish

Ingredients

  • 4 cups whole wheat penne pasta cooked
  • 2 cups shredded chicken cooked
  • ½ cup plain greek yogurt
  • 3 tbsp ranch seasoning mix or 1 packet of ranch seasoning mix
  • cup Frank's hot sauce
  • ½ cup mozzarella cheese
  • ½ cup sharp cheddar cheese

For Topping

  • ¼ cup green onions

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Spray a 9 x 13 casserole dish with cooking spray and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, combine the greek yogurt, ranch seasoning, hot sauce, and half of both cheeses. Mix well.
  • Add the pasta and shredded chicken to the sauce mixture. Stir until chicken and past are coated.
  • Pour the pasta mixture into the casserole dish. Sprinkle the remaining cheese evenly across the top of the pasta.
  • Bake for about 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
  • After cooking, top with green onions.
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 288kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 53mg | Sodium: 567mg | Potassium: 158mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 218IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 142mg | Iron: 1mg
Recipe Rating




Kim

Wednesday 18th of January 2023

This my go to lunch meal prep. It's so good and reheats well. My husband takes some as well and even adds more buffalo sauce.

Aimee

Friday 6th of January 2023

This was amazing! I made this for meal prep and ate it for lunch all week! Will definitely be on rotation in my kitchen! Thank you!

Angela

Monday 2nd of January 2023

Just a question…do you measure the pasta before or after you cook it?

Jordan Smith

Tuesday 3rd of January 2023

I cook the pasta and then measure!

Margot

Thursday 8th of December 2022

Dope!!

In case anyone’s wondering (like I was) about 8oz of dry pasta will give you approx 4cups cooked pasta

JG

Saturday 19th of November 2022

Easy, delicious, and the kids love it! Doesn’t get better than that!