Description
Dive into Buffalo Chicken Casserole, where spicy meets creamy in a dish that’ll have your taste buds dancing. Packed with zesty buffalo sauce, tender chicken, and cheesy goodness, this crowd-pleasing meal delivers comfort straight to your dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 3 cups cooked and shredded chicken
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
Dairy and Cheese:
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup ranch dressing
- 2 tablespoons butter
Seasonings and Extras:
- ½ cup buffalo wing sauce
- ½ cup diced celery
- ¼ cup sliced green onions
- ½ cup bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Boil 1 pound elbow macaroni in salted water for 8-10 minutes until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- Shred 3 cups of cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces using two forks.
- Whisk 8 ounces softened cream cheese and 1 cup ranch dressing in a large mixing bowl until completely smooth.
- Add ½ cup buffalo wing sauce, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper to the cream cheese mixture. Stir thoroughly.
- Fold in your shredded chicken, ½ cup diced celery, and ¼ cup sliced green onions until everything is evenly coated.
- Mix 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese into the chicken mixture.
- Gently combine the cooked macaroni with the chicken mixture until well integrated.
- Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish and transfer the entire mixture, spreading it evenly across the surface.
- Scatter the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the top of the casserole.
- Melt 2 tablespoons of butter and mix with ½ cup bread crumbs in a separate small bowl.
- Sprinkle the buttered bread crumbs across the cheese layer.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Bake for 22 minutes until the cheese melts completely and the edges turn golden brown.
- Allow the casserole to cool and set for 7 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Use freshly cooked chicken for the best flavor and texture, avoiding pre-packaged rotisserie chicken which can be too dry.
- Adjust buffalo sauce quantity based on personal spice preference, starting with less and adding more to taste.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular pasta with gluten-free macaroni and use gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- If watching calories, substitute low-fat cream cheese and ranch dressing to make the casserole lighter without sacrificing taste.
- Prep Time: 20-25 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 506 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 1010 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg