Buffalo chicken pasta bake

Name: Buffalo chicken pasta bake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 2 cups whole wheat high fiber pasta; 10 oz about 2 cups cooked shredded chicken; 6 oz softened light cream cheese; 1/4 cup light ranch dressing; 1/2 cup franks hot sauce; 2/3 cup reduced fat shredded cheese

By Drizzle August 30, 2015

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I love all things buffalo chicken! My buffalo chicken pasta bake is a simple dish that is spicy and delicious.

I love this pasta bake, it is a family favorite in my house, and you all know I am a huge buffalo chicken fan. This spicy pasta bake is a simple dish the whole family can enjoy. With just a few simple ingredients this dish is so easy to make. Makes 6 servings in a 9×13 casserole dish, each serving is about 1 heaping cup, 8 points on WW.

Ingredients used

Chicken
Pasta
Cream cheese
Ranch dressing
Franks hot sauce
Shredded cheese

SHREDDED CHICKEN

I like to make my shredded chicken in the crockpot. I typically make a batch a week and store it in the fridge, it will last up to 4 days and I am always making chicken recipes. You can also make a huge batch and freeze it for easy use later on. I add some chicken broth to my crockpot, about 1-2 cups depending on how many chicken breast you are cooking. I have even just used water sometimes if I have been out of broth. Add the boneless skinless chicken breast to the crockpot and cook on high for 3-4 hours. I then use a couple of forks to shred it up, if it is not shredding easily then it needs some more time in the crockpot. You can also use an electric mixer to shred the chicken.

If you don’t have time to make up a batch of shredded chicken you can use any chicken for this recipe, grill some up on the BBQ and cut into cubes, buy a pre-made rotisserie chicken and cut up into small pieces.

WHAT PASTA SHOULD I USE?

I like using penne or rotini pasta for this dish but honestly, any pasta will work. If you are following the purple program be sure to use whole wheat pasta to keep the points low.

TOO SPICY…

If you are not a fan of too much spice then try adding in less Franks hot sauce, the recipe calls for 1/2 cup, you could use 1/4 cup of Franks and a 1/4 of water.

I have a recipe for a lightened-up ranch dressing that you could use in this recipe. This might help lower the overall calories and points. The ranch recipe is a big hit with my followers and is so simple to make.

STORING AND REHEATING

You can store any leftovers in the fridge in a sealed container for 2-3 days. Leftovers are just as delicious the next day. This dish freezes very well, you could even prep if and freeze it before baking if you wish.

To reheat previously cooked let thaw (if frozen) and bake in the oven at 350F for about 15 minutes, or if you have an air fryer that will work too.

Cut the servings equally into 6 pieces. I prefer to use a 9×13 casserole dish but you could use a smaller 9×9 and have a thicker pasta bake.