Creamy One-Pot Buffalo Chicken Pasta
A quick and easy one-pot pasta dish combining tender chicken, spicy buffalo sauce, and creamy cheese for a comforting and flavorful dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced
- 8 ounces (225 grams) medium shell or penne pasta
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) buffalo sauce
- 3 cups (720 ml) chicken broth
- 4 ounces (115 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (100 grams) shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 tablespoons butter
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Optional garnish: chopped green onions or fresh parsley
Instructions
- Dice 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts into 1-inch chunks and season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced chicken and cook for 5–6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned but not fully cooked. Remove chicken and set aside.
- In the same pan, add minced garlic and onion powder. Stir for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in chicken broth and buffalo sauce. Stir to combine, then add uncooked pasta, ensuring it is mostly submerged. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 12–15 minutes, stirring occasionally until pasta is tender. Add more broth if needed to prevent sticking.
- Return the partially cooked chicken to the pot. Add softened cream cheese in chunks and stir gently until melted and sauce is creamy.
- Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the mixture and stir until melted and combined. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Remove from heat and let rest for a couple of minutes to thicken the sauce. Garnish with chopped green onions or parsley if desired. Serve warm.
Notes
Do not overcrowd the pan when sautéing chicken to ensure browning. Soften cream cheese before adding to avoid clumping. Stir frequently during simmering to prevent pasta from sticking. Sauce thickens as it cools; add broth or milk to loosen if too thick.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1.5 cups per s
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 900
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 35
Keywords: buffalo chicken pasta, one-pot pasta, creamy buffalo chicken, easy dinner, quick pasta recipe, spicy chicken pasta