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This easy buffalo chicken pasta recipe is a 25-minute, easy dinner that the whole family will love! Tender pasta noodles tossed in a creamy, cheesy sauce with classic flavor of buffalo wings. This delicious gluten free pasta dish hits the spot on busy weeknights!
What Makes This Buffalo Pasta Recipe Great
If you’ve been following along, you’ll know my fondness for buffalo chicken dishes (and easy pasta recipes), and this new recipe is no different! This easy Buffalo Chicken Pasta features gluten-free pasta coated in a creamy, cottage cheese buffalo sauce, creating an irresistibly cheesy pasta dish. It’s pretty much pasta tossed in your favorite buffalo chicken dip! This dish also happens to be high in protein thanks to the cottage cheese.
What’s more, this creamy buffalo chicken pasta can be prepared in just 25 minutes, making it perfect for a quick and easy weeknight dinner. While I used gluten-free pasta, you can easily substitute it with your preferred noodles. Serve alongside a side salad or roasted veggies to complete your meal and savor this effortless buffalo chicken pasta recipe!
Ingredient Notes
- gluten free penne pasta: I like Jovial Foods brand. You can use another kind of pasta if desired. I recommend short pasta like rotini, rigatoni, elbow, or penne. You can substitute regular pasta if not gluten-free.
- butter
- gluten free 1:1 flour: I like King Arthur baking measure for measure flour!
- unsweetened almond milk: Or regular low-fat milk.
- sea salt
- black pepper
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- ground mustard
- cottage cheese
- Shredded cheese: I used mild cheddar cheese. You can use sharp cheddar or medium if desired. I like to hand shred the cheese vs buying it pre-shredded. I find it melts better!
- Frank’s Red Hot: Or preferred hot sauce or buffalo sauce.
- cooked shredded chicken: I use rotisserie chicken. You can use freshly cooked boneless skinless chicken breast or leftover chicken.
- optional toppings: Garnish with crumbled blue cheese, diced green onions, a drizzle of ranch dressing, or blue cheese dressing.
How To Make Buffalo Chicken Pasta
Step 1
Whip the cottage cheese in a blender until smooth. Set aside.
Step 2
Boil a large pot of water and cook pasta according to package directions and drain. Melt the butter in a deep, large skillet over medium heat. Add the gluten-free flour and whisk to form a roux.
Step 3
Slowly pour in the milk and continue whisking over medium heat. Add in the salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and mustard powder.
Step 4
Continue whisking until it bubbles and thickens, about 5 mins. Turn off the heat.
Step 5
Stir in ½ cup of the shredded cheddar, the whipped cottage cheese, and hot sauce.
Step 6
Whisk until smooth.
Step 7
Add in the cooked chicken (I used rotisserie) and cooked pasta.
Step 8
Stir and top with remaining cheese. Cover to let it melt, or pop it in a 425-degree oven for 3-4 mins to melt.
Serve warm and garnish the top of the pasta with green onions, blue cheese crumbles, and/or ranch dressing, and enjoy!
Expert Tips & Tricks
Pasta: You can use another type of pasta if desired. I recommend short pasta like rotini, rigatoni, elbow, or penne. You can substitute regular pasta if not gluten-free.
Spice level: This dish is medium spice level as-is. If you prefer for it to be milk, use ½ the amount of Frank’s Red hot. If you like it spicier, feel free to add more hot sauce or extra buffalo sauce.
Serving: Serve this buffalo chicken pasta dish with a side salad and/or some roasted vegetables and enjoy!
Make-ahead: This is a great make-ahead meal and it is perfect for meal prep! You can always transfer the pasta to a casserole dish before melting the cheese on top. That way, it can be stored in the fridge in the same dish.
Storage: Store leftover buffalo chicken pasta in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, add the leftover pasta to a skillet with a little chicken broth or butter to break it up. To microwave, add a little butter to a microwave-safe bowl with the pasta and reheat for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through to break up any clumps.
More Buffalo Chicken Recipes
Instant Pot Keto Buffalo Chicken Dip
Healthy Buffalo Chicken Casserole
Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Pasta Recipe (Gluten Free)
Equipment
- large deep skillet
Ingredients
- 12 oz gluten free penne pasta, I like Jovial Foods brand
- 3 tbsp butter
- 3 tbsp gluten free 1:1 flour, I like King Arthur baking brand
- 2 cups unsweetened almond milk, or regular low-fat milk
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp ground mustard
- 1.5 cups cottage cheese, blended until smooth
- 1 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup Frank's Red Hot , or preferred hot sauce or buffalo sauce
- 2.5 cups cooked shredded chicken , I use rotisserie chicken
- Optional toppings: bleu cheese crumbles, diced green onions, drizzle of ranch
Instructions
- Whip the cottage cheese in a blender until smooth. Set aside.
- Cook pasta according to package directions and drain.
- Melt the butter in a large deep skillet over medium heat. Add the gluten free flour and whisk to form a roux.
- Slowly pour in the milk and continue whisking over medium heat. Add in the salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and mustard powder. Continue whisking until it bubbles and thickens, about 5 mins. Turn off the heat.
- Stir in ½ cup of the shredded cheddar, the whipped cottage cheese, and hot sauce. Whisk until smooth. Add in the cooked chicken (I used rotisserie) and cooked pasta.
- Stir and top with remaining cheese. Cover to let it melt, or pop in a 425 degree oven for 3-4 mins to melt.
- Serve topped with green onions, blue cheese crumbles, and/or ranch dressing and enjoy!
Notes
Expert Tips
- Pasta: You can use another type of pasta if desired. I recommend short pasta like rotini, rigatoni, elbow, or penne. You can substitute regular pasta if not gluten-free.
- Spice level: Buffalo sauce is usually available in mild, medium, and hot. Choose your favorite based on your spice preferences.
Serving Tips
Serve this buffalo chicken pasta dish with a side salad and/or some crusty bread and enjoy!Storage Tips
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, add the leftover pasta to a skillet with a little chicken broth or butter to break it up. To microwave, add a little butter to a microwave-safe bowl with the pasta and reheat for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through to break up any clumps.Nutrition
All nutrition facts are an estimate and automatically calculated. While I fact check them using My Fitness Pal, please note that they may not always be 100% accurate and depend on ingredients used. Weigh your total and divide by the number of servings for the most accurate grams per serving size.
Loved it ! Great quick family dinner !