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.
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake
Equipment
- casserole dish
Ingredients
- 4 cups whole wheat penne pasta cooked
- 2 cups shredded chicken cooked
- ½ cup plain greek yogurt
- 3 tablespoon ranch seasoning mix or 1 packet of ranch seasoning mix
- ⅓ 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!
Angela Shumate says
My husband loves this for dinner. Reheats well and will be on repeat at our house.
Hannah says
This is one of my go to recipes for meal prepping! It comes together super fast and gives all the spicy comfort food vibes!
Emily says
A meal prep staple for me! high in protein, flavorful and everyone loves it.
Tiffany DeHaan says
Another go-to recipe for me! Easy. Delicious. Boom.
Jan Garner says
I think I MAY like this better than the chicken bacon ranch but, it's hard to say! I tend to have to make two batches- one for me with a little more heat and just a touch for my son and husband. We all love it!
Bri G says
Soooo easy and simple! I substituted the Greek yogurt for sour cream and still turned out amazing. Definitely in our meal rotation!
Laura says
This is one of my husband’s favorite weeknight recipes! So easy, definitely one of our favorites!
Amy says
This was absolutely delicious!!! Whole family loved and super easy to make too!!!
Loren says
I substituted plant-based chicken and it was very good! So easy and will definitely make it again!
Amy says
Should pasta be cooked before going into the casserole dish? Thanks!
Jordan Smith says
Yes! Cook the pasta before baking in the oven.
Sara says
We LOVED this recipe! Perfect Sunday night meal paired with Sunday Night football. Delicious, protein packed, and my boyfriend didn’t even realize it was “healthy” which is a huge plus around here. Will be making this one again for sure.
Chelsea says
This recipe is AMAZING! my family makes hot sauce so I substituted Franks for my families and it was OUTSTANDING and super easy. I should've doubled the recipe.
MEGAN K says
My family loves this recipe! I usually swap the Greek yogurt for half a block of cream cheese though and add an extra 1/4 cup of Buffalo sauce for some more sauce!
Jessica Salazar says
This is actually my favorite, but I found this recipe actually from Bad Athletics, did they steal it from you?!
Alison L. says
Question - how hot is this? I’m a complete wimp when it comes to spice/hotness. I love barbecue sauce, but can really only do VERY mild Buffalo sauce. Could I swap bbq sauce for the hot sauce? From a flavor perspective, I think it goes, but not sure if I’m messing up the recipe. Or should I use less hot sauce?
Jordan Smith says
I would say it's mild and not too spicy! If you make with buffalo sauce and it's too spicy, you could serve with plain greek yogurt as a way to "cool" it down. Or you can swap for a milder buffalo sauce or BBQ sauce!