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!

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.

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

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

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