Are you a fan of bold and spicy flavors? If so, you're in for a treat with our Spicy & Savory Buffalo Chicken Pasta. This dish guarantees to take your taste buds on an adventure with its tender, juicy chicken that has been slow-cooked to perfection and then tossed in a rich, creamy buffalo sauce that packs a serious punch of flavor. We've added just the right amount of cool and tangy blue cheese crumbles to balance the spiciness, resulting in a dish that will leave you craving more. Don't miss out on this flavor-packed meal!
Detailed Recipe
Ingredients:
The Chicken:
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cooked and shredded
The Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup hot sauce (such as FFrank'sRedHot)
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup crumbled blue cheese
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
The Pasta:
- 12 ounces dried pasta (such as penne, rigatoni, or rotini)
The Toppings (Optional):
- Chopped green onions
- Extra crumbled blue cheese
- Celery sticks
- Carrot sticks
Instructions:
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Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions for al dente. Drain and reserve about ½ cup of the pasta cooking water.
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Make the Sauce: Melt the butter and olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in the chicken broth, whisking constantly until the sauce thickens. Reduce heat and simmer for 3 minutes.
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Spice it Up! Whisk in the hot sauce and the heavy cream. Bring to a low simmer and cook for 2 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
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Incorporate the Blue Cheese: Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the crumbled blue cheese, letting it melt into the sauce.
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Combine & Toss: Add the cooked, shredded chicken and the cooked pasta to the pan with the sauce. Toss everything together until well combined. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash or two of the reserved pasta cooking water to thin it out to your desired consistency.
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Serve & Enjoy! Transfer the Buffalo Chicken Pasta to serving plates and garnish with chopped green onions, extra crumbled blue cheese, and celery and carrot sticks for dipping, if desired.
Tips
- Spice Level: Adjust the amount of hot sauce to your desired level of spiciness.
- Chicken Tip: You can cook the chicken in various ways - bake, poach, grill, or even use leftover rotisserie chicken.
- Make it Vegetarian: For a vegetarian option, substitute cooked and shredded tofu or tempeh for the chicken.
- Leftovers: Leftover Spicy & Savory Buffalo Chicken Pasta can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a skillet or microwave until warmed through.
