Description
A creamy, spicy, and cheesy baked casserole made with no-boil noodles. Buffalo chicken, sharp cheddar, and ranch dressing come together in this one-dish comfort food masterpiece.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken (rotisserie or any cooked chicken)
- 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni (no-boil preferred)
- 2 1/2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup Frank’s RedHot Original Sauce
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (divided)
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded (divided)
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: green onions, blue cheese crumbles for topping
Instructions
- Preheat: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Make Sauce: In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, chicken broth, hot sauce, ranch dressing, softened cream cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper until mostly smooth.
- Add Pasta & Chicken: Stir in the uncooked elbow macaroni and shredded chicken until combined.
- Add Cheese: Mix in 1 1/2 cups of the cheddar cheese and 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese.
- Bake Covered: Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Stir & Top: Remove the foil and give the casserole a good stir (this ensures even cooking). Top with the remaining cheddar and mozzarella cheese.
- Bake Uncovered: Bake uncovered for another 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly on top.
- Rest: Remove from the oven and let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. The sauce will thicken as it sits.
Notes
Make Ahead: Assemble the casserole the night before. Cover and refrigerate. Add 5-10 minutes to the covered bake time if starting from cold.
Slow Cooker Method: Mix everything in a slow cooker and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours.
Reheating: Leftovers reheat best on the stovetop with a splash of milk to bring back the creamy texture.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Category: Dinner, Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 95mg