• Ree's Life
  • Food and Recipes
  • Home and Life
  • Holiday
  • Beauty
  • Style
  • News and Entertainment
  • Giveaways
  • Subscribe
  • New: Ree's Best Family Meals
  • The Pioneer Woman Products
  • About The Pioneer Woman
  • Newsletter
  • Follow
Opt-Out IconYour Privacy Choices
Privacy NoticeTerms Of Use
Skip to Content
sign in
Subscribe
Search
Logo
sign in
Subscribe
Search
Logo
  • Ree's LifeDown
  • ShoppingDown
  • Easy RecipesDown
  • OccasionsDown
  • HomeDown
  • Just For FunDown
  • My RecipesMy Recipes
  • NewsletterNewsletter
  • Opt-Out IconYour Privacy Choices
  • Privacy NoticeTerms Of Use
x
tiktok
facebook
instagram
pinterest
sign in
Subscribe
  • Ree's Life
  • Shopping
  • Easy Recipes
  • Occasions
  • Home
  • Just For Fun
  • More
  1. Food and Cooking
  2. Recipes
  3. Buffalo Chicken Pasta

Buffalo Chicken Pasta

This 30-minute meal brings the heat!

By Ree DrummondPublished: Aug 7, 2024
Star FillStar FillStar FillStarStar
3
3 Ratings
Arrow Circle Down IconJump to recipe
the pioneer woman's buffalo chicken pasta recipe
Antonis Achilleos
Yields:
4 - 6 serving(s)
Prep Time:
10 mins
Total Time:
30 mins

One thing you should know about me is that I love Buffalo chicken recipes. Buffalo sauce is a weakness of mine in every doggone form: Buffalo wings, Buffalo chicken meatballs, Buffalo chicken dip, Buffalo chicken salad. I can go on, but I won't.

This Buffalo chicken pasta is a more recent addition to my Buffalo chicken obsession. It's the kind of dish you want to curl up with on a fall day when there's a football game on the TV. It's spicy, creamy, saucy, and a great way to lean into those game day food cravings while enjoying a totally dinner-appropriate 30-minute meal. Win-win!

Feel free to add more Buffalo sauce if you're into the spice, and don't skip the blue cheese and celery toppings—that would just be wrong. Any pasta shape can be used, but I especially love how the sauce grabs onto the spirals of rotini.

Serve this pasta recipe to friends or serve it to your family... as long as your family can handle a little heat! I think I'll go have a bowl now.

Can you use chicken breasts instead of thighs?

Yes, if you don't have thighs or they're just not your thing, 1 1/2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breast can be used. Chicken breast tends to cook quicker than chicken thighs, so keep an eye on it.

What can you use instead of beer in Buffalo chicken pasta

I love the depth of flavor beer gives the dish, but you can use chicken both instead. The recipe calls for 1/4 cup, which is used to deglaze the pan, so it isn't much.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Ingredients

  • Kosher salt, to taste 

  • 12 oz.

    rotini (spiral) pasta

  • 2/3 cup

    all-purpose flour

  • 2 Tbsp.

    salted butter

  • 2 Tbsp.

    olive oil

  • 1 1/2 lb.

    boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cubed into bite-size pieces

  • Black pepper, to taste

  • 2

    celery stalks, sliced thin, plus leaves for topping

  • 3

    garlic cloves, minced

  • 1

    small white onion, diced

  • 4 oz.

    (1/4 c.) light lager beer

  • 1 cup

    heavy cream

  • 1/3 cup

    Buffalo-style hot sauce, such as Frank's Red Hot, plus more to taste

  • 1/2 cup

    crumbled blue cheese (about 2 oz.), for topping

Directions

    1. Step 1Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions, drain, and set aside.  
    2. Step 2Meanwhile, place the flour in a shallow dish. Heat the butter and oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  
    3. Step 3Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Lightly dredge the chicken in the flour, shaking off any excess, and add it to the skillet. Brown the chicken, turning occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the chicken to a plate, and set aside. 
    4. Step 4Reserve some of the chopped celery for topping, and add the rest to the skillet, along with the garlic and onion. Cook over medium-high heat until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the beer and deglaze the pan, scraping the bottom with a wooden spoon to release all the flavorful bits. Add the heavy cream and hot sauce, and bring to a simmer.  
    5. Step 5Add the reserved chicken and pasta to the skillet. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper, and continue to cook until the sauce thickens and everything has come together, 1 to 2 minutes. Taste and adjust the spice level as needed.  
    6. Step 6Serve the pasta topped with the blue cheese, reserved sliced celery, and celery leaves.
Love this recipe? Try one of these next!
  • Buffalo Chicken Dip
  • Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
  • Buffalo Wings
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Readers Also Read

the pioneer woman's turkey brine recipe

Ree's Signature Turkey Brine

the pioneer woman's creamy mashed potatoes recipe

Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes

pecan pie

Ree's Classic Pecan Pie

how long to cook a turkey

How Long to Cook a Turkey in the Oven

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
pioneer woman thanksgiving dressing

Classic Thanksgiving Dressing

the pioneer woman's roasted thanksgiving turkey recipe

The Only Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe You Need

the pioneer woman's easy to peel eggs recipe

This Hard-Boiled Egg Method Makes for Easy Peeling

best thanksgiving sides

Thanksgiving Side Dishes to Serve With Your Feast

the pioneer woman's chocolate peanut butter pie recipe

Serve Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie for Dessert

the pioneer woman's macaroni and cheese recipe

Ree's Mac And Cheese Is The Ultimate Comfort Food

high protein thanksgiving recipes giblet gravy

Turn Giblets Into the Best Gravy On The Table

the pioneer woman's green bean casserole recipe

The Best Green Bean Casserole You'll Ever Try

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Logo
x
tiktok
facebook
instagram
pinterest
SubscribeAbout The Pioneer WomanOther Hearst SubscriptionsNewsletter
A Part of Hearst Digital Media

A Part of Hearst Digital Media

We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back.

©2025 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Privacy NoticeCA Notice at CollectionYour CA Privacy Rights/Shine the LightDAA Industry Opt OutTerms of UseSitemap
Opt-Out IconYour Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads