Spicy & Savory Buffalo Chicken Pasta Recipe

Are you a fan of bold and spicy flavors? If so, you're in for a treat with our Spicy & Savory Buffalo Chicken Pasta. This dish guarantees to take your taste buds on an adventure with its tender, juicy chicken that has been slow-cooked to perfection and then tossed in a rich, creamy buffalo sauce that packs a serious punch of flavor. We've added just the right amount of cool and tangy blue cheese crumbles to balance the spiciness, resulting in a dish that will leave you craving more. Don't miss out on this flavor-packed meal!

Detailed Recipe

Ingredients:

The Chicken:

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cooked and shredded

The Sauce:

2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ cup all-purpose flour
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup hot sauce (such as FFrank'sRedHot)
½ cup heavy cream
¼ cup crumbled blue cheese
1 clove garlic, minced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

The Pasta:

12 ounces dried pasta (such as penne, rigatoni, or rotini)

The Toppings (Optional):

Chopped green onions
Extra crumbled blue cheese
Celery sticks
Carrot sticks

Instructions:

Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions for al dente. Drain and reserve about ½ cup of the pasta cooking water.
Make the Sauce: Melt the butter and olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in the chicken broth, whisking constantly until the sauce thickens. Reduce heat and simmer for 3 minutes.
Spice it Up! Whisk in the hot sauce and the heavy cream. Bring to a low simmer and cook for 2 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Incorporate the Blue Cheese: Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the crumbled blue cheese, letting it melt into the sauce.
Combine & Toss: Add the cooked, shredded chicken and the cooked pasta to the pan with the sauce. Toss everything together until well combined. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash or two of the reserved pasta cooking water to thin it out to your desired consistency.
Serve & Enjoy! Transfer the Buffalo Chicken Pasta to serving plates and garnish with chopped green onions, extra crumbled blue cheese, and celery and carrot sticks for dipping, if desired.

Tips

Spice Level: Adjust the amount of hot sauce to your desired level of spiciness.
Chicken Tip: You can cook the chicken in various ways - bake, poach, grill, or even use leftover rotisserie chicken.
Make it Vegetarian: For a vegetarian option, substitute cooked and shredded tofu or tempeh for the chicken.
Leftovers: Leftover Spicy & Savory Buffalo Chicken Pasta can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a skillet or microwave until warmed through.