Description

A creamy, spicy, and cheesy pasta dish that brings the flavor of buffalo wings to dinner time. Ready in under 30 minutes, this easy skillet meal is perfect for busy weeknights.

Ingredients

8 oz uncooked pasta (penne, rotini, or cavatappi)
1 lb (450g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 tbsp olive oil
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup Frank’s RedHot Original Sauce
1/3 cup ranch dressing
1/2 cup chicken broth (or reserved pasta water)
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
Green onions for garnish
Salt and pepper to taste

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Instructions

Cook Pasta: Boil the pasta in salted water according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain.
Cook Chicken: While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Cook for 5-7 minutes until golden and cooked through.
Make Sauce: Reduce heat to low. Add the softened cream cheese, hot sauce, ranch dressing, and chicken broth to the skillet. Whisk constantly until the cream cheese melts and the sauce is smooth.
Add Cheese: Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until melted and creamy.
Combine: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet. Toss to coat everything in the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water.
Serve: Garnish with sliced green onions and a drizzle of ranch. Serve hot.

Notes

Spice Level: Add cayenne pepper or extra hot sauce if you want more heat. For less heat, use more ranch and less hot sauce.

Protein Swap: Leftover rotisserie chicken works great and saves cooking time. Just add it to the sauce to warm through.

Storage: Leftovers keep in the fridge for 3 days. Reheat gently on the stove with a splash of milk to loosen the sauce.

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Category: Dinner
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bowl
Calories: 480
Sugar: 3g
Sodium: 950mg
Fat: 24g
Saturated Fat: 12g
Unsaturated Fat: 8g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 42g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 32g
Cholesterol: 95mg