Description
This one-pot wonder marries the bold, tangy heat of buffalo wings with creamy, comforting pasta. Designed for busy families, this recipe creates a velvety, flavorful meal by simmering everything together in a single skillet. It is hearty, protein-packed, and perfectly seasoned with aromatic celery, onion, and garlic, making it a restaurant-quality meal that is simple enough for any weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cubed
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup yellow onion, finely diced
1 stalk celery, finely diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
14.5 oz diced tomatoes, undrained
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 lb penne pasta
1/2 cup buffalo hot sauce
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup blue cheese or ranch dressing
Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
In a large skillet or Dutch oven, melt 1 tablespoon of butter over medium-high heat and cook the cubed chicken until browned; remove and set aside.
In the same skillet, melt the remaining butter and sauté the onion and celery until softened.
Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
Stir in the diced tomatoes (with juice), chicken broth, and buffalo hot sauce, bringing the mixture to a simmer.
Add the penne pasta to the skillet, cover, and cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente and most of the liquid is absorbed.
Stir in the softened cream cheese until melted and smooth.
Fold in the cooked chicken and half of the shredded cheeses.
Top with remaining cheese and cover for 2 minutes to melt.
Drizzle with blue cheese or ranch dressing before serving.
Notes
Use leftover rotisserie chicken to reduce prep time further. If you prefer less heat, start with 1/4 cup of buffalo sauce and add more to taste. Keep the heat on medium to prevent the cream cheese from breaking.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 25
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Carbohydrates: 54g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 110mg