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    Home » Slow Cooker » Chicken Recipes

    Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Pasta

    February 26, 2023 by Ryan Allen 2 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This zesty dish combines the bold flavor of buffalo chicken with creamy, cheesy goodness for an unbeatable combination! Enjoy Crock Pot Buffalo chicken Pasta when you're looking for a dish that's tangy, spicy, hearty, and easy to prepare!

    Pin This Recipe For Later!

    A wooden spoon holding crock pot buffalo chicken pasta.

    Buffalo sauce is a tangy and spicy condiment made from hot peppers, vinegar, butter, and other spices. It has a unique flavor that blends the boldness of pepper with zesty acidic notes from the vinegar. It's perfect for adding an extra kick to anything you're cooking.

    While this tangy, zesty sauce is most popular to use on buffalo wings, it can easily be used to make crock pot buffalo chicken pasta! All you need are a few simple ingredients and your slow cooker!

    Simply whisk together a seasoned sauce containing canned chicken soup, ranch seasoning, Italian seasoning, and other spices. Add in pieces of diced chicken breast and let it cook until tender. Then, stir in the sour cream, ranch dressing, and cheese to elevate the sauce to a creamy consistency. Toss in the pasta until coated, and you have buffalo chicken pasta that's ready to eat!

    Why You’ll Love This Recipe

    • The herb flavor of ranch combined with the bold flavor of buffalo chicken gives a zesty pop of flavor that will keep you coming back for more.
    • Buffalo chicken pasta is easy to prepare and cook. All of the ingredients get added to the crock pot to combine and develop flavors.
    • This a great recipe when you need to make a delicious dinner for a party or game day party.
    • The leftovers taste even better the next day and are great for lunches or meal prep.

    Ingredients You’ll Need

    • Chicken Breast - You'll need boneless skinless chicken breast diced into pieces to add satisfying protein to the dish.
    • Yellow Onion - Adds a bold onion flavor to the dish that compliments the rest of the flavors.
    • Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup - Gives the chicken a rich, creamy base to cook in while adding lots of flavors.
    • Ranch Seasoning - The bold herb flavors of ranch pair well with the spicy, tangy buffalo sauce.
    • Spices - A mix of black pepper, salt, paprika, garlic, powder, and Italian seasoning enhances the flavors of the chicken, pasta, and creamy sauce.
    • Buffalo Sauce - Made with tangy vinegar and hot peppers, buffalo sauce adds a zesty kick to this crock pot dish.
    • Sour Cream & Ranch Dressing - Added after the chicken is cooked, these two ingredients provide flavor and a creamy texture.
    • Shredded Cheese - A mix of cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese work together to give the dish a creamy and cheesy texture and taste.
    • Penne Pasta - You'll need cooked pasta to add to the chicken. We enjoy penne because of its shape and texture, but you can substitute most pasta shapes.

    How To Make Buffalo Chicken Pasta Chicken In The Crock Pot

    Mix the sauce ingredients: Add the chicken soup, ranch seasoning, black pepper, salt, paprika, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and buffalo sauce into the bottom of a 6-quart crock pot. Use a whisk to combine the ingredients fully.

    Prepare and add the chicken: Trim any excess fat off of the chicken breast, then pat dry with paper towels. Dice into one-inch pieces, then add them to the bottom of the crock pot with the sauce and toss to coat fully.

    Cover and cook: Add the lid to the top and cook on HIGH for 2½ - 3½ hours or on LOW for 5 - 6 hours.

    Add the sour cream and cheese: Once the chicken is cooked, stir in the sour cream, ranch dressing, and shredded cheese. Cover with the lid and cook for an additional 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

    Add in the pasta: While waiting for the cheese to melt. Cook the pasta according to the box instructions. Drain fully, then add to the chicken and sauce. Stir until completely coated and serve while hot. Enjoy!

    Overhead look at buffalo chicken pasta in a slow cooker.

    Recipe Tips

    • When preparing the chicken, make sure you cut it into even pieces. This helps the chicken to cook evenly and prevents some pieces from being overcooked while others are undercooked.
    • Do not add the sour cream or ranch dressing until the end, as these can separate when they are slow-cooked too long in the heat.
    • To make sure the pasta doesn't get mushy, add it in near the end of cooking time or after you turn off the crock pot.
    • For more heat, add additional buffalo sauce or cayenne pepper to the dish.

    Variations

    • Use other cuts of meat: You can substitute boneless skinless chicken thighs for the chicken breasts if desired. Other cuts of white meat, such as turkey and pork can also be used.
    • Substitute different pastas: Most types of pasta will work in this crock pot recipe, such as shells, rigatoni, rotini, and macaroni.
    • Add more vegetables: To add a little more nutrition to the dish, you can add some diced bell peppers, celery, and carrots.
    • Topping ideas: Sprinkle top with crumbled bleu cheese, sliced green onions, or fresh parsley for more flavor.
    A bowl of buffalo chicken pasta.

    Storing & Freezing

    Storing: Once the pasta is cooled, leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

    Reheating: To reheat, place pasta in a skillet on medium heat and stir until heated through. Or, warm leftovers in the crock pot on LOW setting with a bit of water or chicken broth.

    Freezing: The crock pot buffalo chicken pasta can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Place cooled pasta in an airtight, freezer-safe container and store it in the freezer. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

    FAQ

    Is it better to cook chicken on high or low in the crockpot?

    While you can cook on high, it's always better to cook on low as it produces a very tender and moist chicken that grabs onto flavor well.

    What is the best type of pasta to use for buffalo chicken pasta?

    You want to make sure the pasta is a shape that holds the creamy sauce well. Penne works great, as well as shells, elbows, and rotini.

    Can the pasta be cooked inside the crock pot?

    For this recipe, it is recommended that the pasta is cooked BEFORE adding it to the crock pot. This will ensure that it does not get too mushy from being cooked long and slowly.

    Two bowls of crock pot buffalo chicken pasta.

    More Crock Pot Chicken Dinner Recipes

    • Crock Pot Chicken and Rice Casserole
    • Crock Pot Chicken and Broccoli
    • Crockpot Chicken Potatoes and Green Beans
    • Crock Pot Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuits
    • Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings
    • Crock Pot Chicken Enchilada Casserole

    SHARE IT & RATE IT

    I would love it if you would leave a 5 Star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below. Then follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest! Share your favorite recipes or ask questions in my Facebook Group.

    A wooden spoon holding crock pot buffalo chicken pasta.

    Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Pasta

    This zesty dish combines the bold flavor of buffalo chicken with creamy, cheesy goodness for an unbeatable combination! Enjoy Crock Pot Buffalo chicken Pasta when you're looking for a dish that's tangy, spicy, hearty, and easy to prepare!
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 3 hrs
    Total Time 3 hrs 10 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Calories 694 kcal

    Equipment

    • My Favorite Slow Cooker
    • Slow Cooker Liners

    Ingredients
      

    • 1½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts (3 chicken breasts cut into 1-inch chunks)
    • 1 medium yellow onion (diced)
    • 2 (10.5 oz) cans condensed cream of chicken soup
    • 1 oz ranch seasoning (1 packet)
    • 1 tsp black pepper
    • ½ tsp salt
    • ½ tsp paprika
    • ½ tsp garlic powder
    • ½ tsp Italian Seasoning
    • ¾ cup Buffalo sauce
    • 2 cups sour cream
    • ¼ cup ranch dressing
    • ½ cup cheddar cheese (shredded)
    • ½ cup mozzarella cheese (shredded)
    • 1 lb penne pasta (cooked)

    Instructions
     

    • In a 6-quart slow cooker, add chicken soup, ranch seasoning, black pepper, salt, paprika, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and buffalo sauce. Mix until well combined.
    • Add chunks of chicken to the sauce and mix until coated.
    • Cover and cook on high for 2½ - 3½ hours or on low for 5 - 6 hours.
    • Stir in the sour cream, ranch dressing, and cheese. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted. Then, stir in cooked penne pasta.
    • Serve while hot and enjoy!

    Notes

    • When using frozen chicken breast or chicken thighs as a substitute, it's important to note that you'll need to increase your cooking time by approximately 30 to 60 minutes.
    • You can substitute 1 lb of your favorite pasta for the penne pasta.
    • If you prefer a milder taste, begin with ¼ cup of buffalo sauce and gradually increase the amount by ¼ cup increments towards the end until you achieve your desired level of spiciness.
    • After cooling the pasta, you can store any remaining portions in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 694kcalCarbohydrates: 66gProtein: 41gFat: 29gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 137mgSodium: 1841mgPotassium: 742mgFiber: 3gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 691IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 224mgIron: 2mg

    *All nutrition information provided is automatically calculated and is an estimate and will vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact numbers on your ingredients, I would recommend calculating them with your prefered nutrition calculator.

    Keyword Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Pasta
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    Comments

    1. Hayley

      March 01, 2023 at 9:51 am

      5 stars
      Turned out perfect. Only used 1/4c of buffalo sauce so there was just a hint of the flavor without it being too spicy/over powering.

      Reply
      • Ryan Allen

        March 01, 2023 at 9:53 am

        I am so glad you liked it.

        Reply

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