Description
This Buffalo Chicken Casserole is a crowd-pleasing, easy-to-make dish that’s perfect for game day or a weeknight meal. It features tender chicken, penne pasta, a creamy buffalo sauce, and plenty of cheese, all topped with crispy bacon.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Produce
- 2 green onions, sliced (for garnish)
Protein
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 8 slices bacon
Pantry
- 8 ounces penne pasta (or your favorite variety)
- 1 cup buffalo wing sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Dairy
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup ranch dressing
- 3/4 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Cook Pasta: Preheat oven to 375°F. Cook pasta according to package directions.
- Make Buffalo Sauce Mixture: In a large bowl, combine buffalo wing sauce, cream cheese, ranch dressing, Greek yogurt, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.
- Cook Chicken: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and sear for 3-4 minutes per side. Add ½ cup water, cover, and cook until chicken reaches 165°F. Shred chicken.
- Cook Bacon: Cook bacon in a skillet until crispy. Drain and crumble.
- Assemble Casserole: In a 9×13 inch baking dish, spread shredded chicken and cooked pasta evenly. Pour buffalo sauce mixture over the chicken and pasta. Top with shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheese, then sprinkle with crumbled bacon.
- Bake: Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until bubbly and golden brown.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish with sliced green onions. Serve with extra buffalo sauce and ranch dressing, if desired.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of buffalo wing sauce to your spice preference.
- Use rotisserie chicken for a quicker and easier meal.
- Thick-cut bacon adds a nice texture and flavor to the casserole.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- For a lower-fat option, use reduced-fat cream cheese and Greek yogurt.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Serving
- Calories: 650kcal
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Fat: 40g
- Saturated Fat: 40g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 45g
- Cholesterol: 150mg
