Description
Spicy Ranch Buffalo Pasta Bake delivers a kickin’ comfort meal that brings zesty buffalo chicken vibes straight to your dinner table. Creamy pasta mixed with tangy ranch and hot sauce creates a crowd-pleasing dish perfect for game nights and family gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 cup cooked chicken, shredded
- 8 oz penne pasta
Base Sauce:
- 1 cup buffalo sauce
- 1 cup ranch dressing
- 1 cup shredded cheese
Garnish:
- ½ cup celery, chopped
- ¼ cup green onions, sliced
Instructions
- Warm your oven to 350F, creating the perfect environment for your buffalo pasta bake.
- Cook 8 oz of penne pasta in boiling water until perfectly al dente, then drain thoroughly.
- Shred 1 cup of cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces for maximum flavor distribution.
- Grab a spacious mixing bowl and combine your drained pasta, shredded chicken, 1 cup buffalo sauce, and 1 cup ranch dressing.
- Dice ½ cup celery and slice ¼ cup green onions, then fold them gently into your pasta mixture.
- Transfer the entire mixture to a baking dish, spreading it evenly with a spatula.
- Sprinkle 1 cup shredded cheese across the top, ensuring complete coverage.
- Slide the baking dish into the preheated 350F oven for 25-30 minutes until cheese melts completely and edges turn golden brown.
- Remove from oven and allow the dish to rest for 3-5 minutes, letting flavors settle and cheese set slightly.
Notes
- Make sure to cook the pasta al dente so it doesn’t turn mushy during baking, as it will continue to cook in the sauce.
- Choose a high-quality buffalo sauce with good heat balance to enhance the overall flavor profile of the dish.
- For a lighter version, swap regular ranch for Greek yogurt ranch and use low-fat cheese to reduce calories without sacrificing taste.
- Consider adding crumbled blue cheese on top for an extra tangy kick that complements the buffalo sauce perfectly.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg