{"id":35813,"date":"2022-01-06T21:27:09","date_gmt":"2022-01-07T02:27:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.slimmingeats.com\/blog\/?p=35813"},"modified":"2023-04-06T10:40:26","modified_gmt":"2023-04-06T15:40:26","slug":"buffalo-chicken-pasta-bake","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slimmingeats.com\/blog\/buffalo-chicken-pasta-bake","title":{"rendered":"Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A delicious Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake that is super easy to make, combining chicken in hot sauce with pasta, topped with a cheesy creamy topping. It will become a staple on your meal plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Buffalo Chicken Pasta with Creamy Cheesy Topping<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you love spicy food, you will love Buffalo Chicken - a popular American recipe that combines chicken wings or drumsticks usually deep fried, marinated in a spicy hot sauce with butter and as you can imagine packs quite the calories too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My take on the dish makes a more filling meal by turning into a pasta bake with an amazing creamy cheesy topping that is just divine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This recipe is also found in the Slimming Eats Made Simple cookbook as one of the 15 bonus blog favourites. You can get it from all Major Retailers including Amazon<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Chicken for Buffalo Chicken <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Traditional recipes use wings or drumsticks and most definitely skin on. I prefer to use chicken thighs for this pasta bake as they stay nice and tender and add lots of flavour to the dish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you prefer lighter meat, then chicken breast can be used also, you could even use some ground chicken or turkey as an alternative if you prefer too.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Which hot sauce is best for Buffalo Chicken?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Well that's pretty easy - it's got to be Frank's Red Hot Sauce, but really any hot sauce will do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the UK it should be available at most grocery stores. See stockists here<\/strong><\/a> - but as an alternative any brand of hot sauce will do. Just be aware that some are much hotter than others. So you may want to add a little bit at a time and keep tasting until it's your desired heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adjusting the Heat<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you don't like food too hot, then I recommend starting with a smaller amount of hot sauce taste and you can adjust until you get to a level you are comfortable with. The same goes for those who prefer more spicy food. You can add more heat if you like. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you like food really spicy, then a pinch of cayenne added when cooking the chicken will increase the spice level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cheesy Topping for Pasta Bakes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This pasta bake has a yummy creamy topping made from light Cream cheese, stock, some seasonings and little starch which adds immense flavour that is just heavenly. I recommend making sure you use cream cheese (like Philadelphia). I do no recommend quark which is completely different and will ruin the creamy topping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the melted cheese I use either a combo of cheddar and mozzarella or occasionally I will opt for some Marbled Cheese instead, both excellent melting cheeses. Use cheese that you grate yourself rather than pre-grated. If you have ever wondered why pre-grated cheese sometimes just sits on top and doesn't melt as good, it's because it's coated in a starch to prevent it from sticking together. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Sides for Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I like to pair this with a simple salad, you can pick your own favourite salad items. Usually I will make it in a big bowl which I serve in the middle of the table with the pasta bake for us all to dig in and help ourselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is some suggestions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n