One Pan Buffalo Chicken Pasta

This creamy one-pan buffalo chicken pasta is an easy dinner made with tender chicken, penne, buffalo sauce, cream cheese and blue cheese dressing. It comes together in about 50 minutes, and everything cooks in the same skillet, including the pasta, so there is no separate pot to boil and far fewer dishes waiting after dinner.

I love this one when we are craving buffalo chicken but want something more filling than wings or dip. It has all of that tangy, slightly spicy flavor tucked into a creamy pasta dinner that is simple enough for a regular weeknight.

The sauce is rich and smooth without feeling overly heavy, and you can easily swap in ranch if your family is not sold on blue cheese. Add green onions and blue cheese crumbles on top, or keep it simple and serve it straight from the skillet.

Is This the Right Recipe for You?

• You want a full buffalo chicken dinner: It has the tangy, slightly spicy flavor of buffalo wings, but in a creamy pasta that feels more filling.
• Expect a creamy, saucy pasta: Cream cheese and blue cheese dressing create a smooth sauce rather than a lighter tomato- or broth-based pasta.
• Expect some buffalo heat: The spice level depends on the sauce you use, but this isn’t a completely mild pasta.
• You only need one skillet: The chicken and uncooked pasta cook together, so there is no separate pot of water and cleanup stays manageable.
• It is best for blue cheese or ranch fans: The dressing helps balance the buffalo sauce. You can use ranch if blue cheese is not popular at your table.
• Plan on about 50 minutes: It is easy enough for a weeknight, but it is not a super-fast 20-minute dinner.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Chicken breast: Cut the chicken into evenly sized 1-inch pieces so it browns and finishes cooking at about the same time. Boneless chicken thighs can also be used.
• Penne pasta: A short, sturdy pasta works best because it can simmer directly in the sauce without becoming too delicate. Rigatoni, ziti or fusilli are good alternatives, although the cooking time may vary slightly.
• Chicken broth: The broth provides the liquid needed to cook the pasta and adds more flavor than water. Do not reduce the amount, since the pasta needs enough liquid to soften.
• Buffalo sauce: Use prepared buffalo wing sauce rather than plain hot sauce. Buffalo sauce already contains the rich, tangy flavor associated with buffalo wings.
• Cream cheese: This melts into the cooking liquid and gives the buffalo pasta sauce its smooth, creamy texture. Full-fat or light cream cheese will both work.
• Blue cheese dressing: The dressing adds tanginess and mellows some of the heat from the buffalo sauce. 
• Green onions and blue cheese crumbles: These optional toppings add freshness, texture and a stronger blue cheese flavor to the finished pasta.

How to Make One-Pan Buffalo Chicken Pasta

This easy one-pot buffalo chicken pasta comes together in one large skillet. Brown the chicken first, then simmer the uncooked pasta directly in the broth and buffalo sauce before stirring in the creamy ingredients at the end.

Expert Tips

• Use a wide 12-inch skillet or sauté pan. The pasta needs enough room to cook evenly, and a pan with a fitted lid helps hold in the steam while it simmers.
• Soften the cream cheese before you start. Softened cream cheese melts into the hot pasta much more easily and gives you a smoother sauce.
• Adjust if there is extra liquid at the end. One-pan pasta can cook a little differently depending on your pan and stovetop. If the pasta is tender but the skillet still looks too liquidy, simmer uncovered for another minute or two before adding the cream cheese.
• Prep the chicken and onion ahead of time. Both can be chopped earlier in the day and refrigerated, which makes the hands-on portion of dinner especially quick.

Variations and Substitutions

• Use ranch instead of blue cheese dressing. This gives the pasta a milder, more familiar buffalo-ranch flavor while keeping the sauce creamy.
• Add celery for a classic buffalo-wing touch. Stir finely diced celery in at the end for fresh crunch, or sprinkle it over individual servings.
• Make it extra cheesy. Stir in a handful of shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack after the cream cheese melts for a cheesier buffalo chicken pasta.
• Add vegetables. Stir baby spinach into the finished pasta until wilted, or add finely chopped bell pepper with the onion at the beginning.
• Use cooked shredded chicken. Skip browning the chicken and add about 3 cups of cooked chicken toward the end of the pasta cooking time, just long enough to heat through.
• Turn up the buffalo flavor. Add extra buffalo sauce to the finished pasta or drizzle it over individual servings so everyone can adjust the heat to their preference.
• Add a crunchy topping. Sprinkle crushed crackers or toasted breadcrumbs over the pasta just before serving for some contrast with the creamy sauce.

What to Serve with Buffalo Chicken Pasta

Since this pasta is creamy and rich, fresh salads and simply seasoned vegetables make especially good sides.

• Broccoli Crunch Salad adds a cool, crisp contrast to the spicy buffalo sauce.
• Crispy Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower is an easy vegetable side with browned edges and light lemon-garlic flavor.
• Air Fryer Green Beans are quick, crisp and simple enough not to compete with the pasta.
• Easy Dinner Rolls are useful for scooping up any creamy buffalo sauce left on the plate.

You can also serve the pasta with raw celery and carrot sticks for a simple nod to a traditional plate of buffalo wings.

Storage, Freezing and Reheating

• Refrigerator: Store leftover buffalo chicken pasta in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• Freezing: You can freeze the pasta, but the cream cheese sauce may be slightly less smooth once thawed. Freeze in an airtight container for up to 2 months and thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
• Reheating: Reheat gently in the microwave or in a covered skillet over low heat. Add a splash of chicken broth or milk to loosen the sauce as the pasta warms.
• Best texture: The pasta absorbs more sauce as it sits, so leftovers will be thicker than the freshly made dish.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is buffalo chicken pasta made of?

Buffalo chicken pasta is made with chicken, pasta, buffalo sauce and creamy ingredients such as cream cheese and blue cheese dressing. This one-pan version also uses chicken broth, onion and garlic, with green onions and blue cheese crumbles for serving.

Is buffalo chicken pasta spicy?

Buffalo chicken pasta is moderately spicy, but the heat level depends mostly on the buffalo sauce you use. Choose a mild buffalo sauce for less heat, or add extra sauce to individual servings if you prefer it spicier.

Can I use ranch instead of blue cheese dressing?

Yes, ranch dressing can be substituted for the blue cheese dressing in the same amount. It gives the pasta a milder buffalo-ranch flavor while still adding the creamy, tangy element that balances the buffalo sauce.

Can I use cooked or rotisserie chicken?

Yes, cooked or rotisserie chicken can be used instead of raw chicken. Skip the browning step and stir about 3 cups of shredded or chopped cooked chicken into the skillet during the last few minutes of pasta cooking so it heats through without becoming dry.

What is the difference between buffalo sauce and hot sauce?

Buffalo sauce is typically a cayenne-based hot sauce combined with ingredients that make it richer and milder, while plain hot sauce is thinner and more sharply spicy. For this recipe, use prepared buffalo wing sauce for the intended creamy, tangy buffalo flavor.

More Recipes Like This

These easy skillet and one-pot dinners offer the same combination of flavorful chicken, creamy sauces and fewer dishes to wash.

• One Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta combines chicken, penne and bold Cajun seasoning in a creamy one-pot dinner.
• One Pot Chicken Enchilada Pasta has a smoky enchilada sauce and cheese-based finish with everything cooked in one pan.
• One Pot Creamy Jalapeño Popper Chicken Pasta is another bold chicken pasta with cream cheese, jalapeños and bacon.
• One Pot Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta offers a brighter, milder sauce with lemon and baby kale.
• Creamy Cajun Chicken Orzo is a creamy one-pan dinner made with chicken thighs, peppers and Cajun seasoning.

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