Name: Creamy Spicy Buffalo Chicken Pasta – Simple One Pot Comfort Food
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 400g (14oz) Chicken Breast, cubed: Protein base for buffalo flavor; 250g (9oz) Penne Pasta: Tubular shape for sauce adhesion; 2 Tbsp (30ml) Olive Oil: For sautéing; 1 Medium Onion (≈150g / 5.3oz), diced: Aromatic base; 2 Garlic Cloves, minced: Savory flavor; 1 cup (240ml) Low-Fat Milk: Sauce base; ½ cup (120ml) Heavy Cream: Adds richness; ½ cup (120ml) Greek Yogurt: Tang and creaminess; ¾ cup (180ml) Buffalo Sauce: Core buffalo flavor; ½ cup (50g) Cheddar Cheese, grated: Cheesy flavor; ¼ cup (25g) Parmesan Cheese, grated: Umami depth; 1 tsp (5g) Smoked Paprika: Smoky note; ½ tsp (2.5g) Cayenne Pepper: Adds heat; ½ tsp (2.5g) Salt: Seasoning; ¼ tsp (1.2g) Black Pepper: Warmth; 2 Tbsp (30g) Cilantro, chopped: Fresh garnish; 1 Tbsp (15g) Green Onions, sliced: Mild onion flavor; 1 Lime, wedges: Zesty finish

Description

This Creamy Spicy Buffalo Chicken Pasta is a quick and easy one-pot meal delivering the flavors of buffalo wings with pasta in a creamy sauce. It’s perfect for a weeknight dinner or game-day feast.

Ingredients

Scale

400g (14oz) Chicken Breast, cubed: Protein base for buffalo flavor
250g (9oz) Penne Pasta: Tubular shape for sauce adhesion
2 Tbsp (30ml) Olive Oil: For sautéing
1 Medium Onion (≈150g / 5.3oz), diced: Aromatic base
2 Garlic Cloves, minced: Savory flavor
1 cup (240ml) Low-Fat Milk: Sauce base
½ cup (120ml) Heavy Cream: Adds richness
½ cup (120ml) Greek Yogurt: Tang and creaminess
¾ cup (180ml) Buffalo Sauce: Core buffalo flavor
½ cup (50g) Cheddar Cheese, grated: Cheesy flavor
¼ cup (25g) Parmesan Cheese, grated: Umami depth
1 tsp (5g) Smoked Paprika: Smoky note
½ tsp (2.5g) Cayenne Pepper: Adds heat
½ tsp (2.5g) Salt: Seasoning
¼ tsp (1.2g) Black Pepper: Warmth
2 Tbsp (30g) Cilantro, chopped: Fresh garnish
1 Tbsp (15g) Green Onions, sliced: Mild onion flavor
1 Lime, wedges: Zesty finish

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Sear Chicken: Brown chicken cubes in olive oil, season with salt and pepper, then set aside.
Sauté Aromatics: Cook diced onion until translucent, then add minced garlic and sauté briefly.
Toast Pasta & Spices: Add uncooked pasta, smoked paprika, cayenne, and salt/pepper to the pot; toast for 1 minute.
Create Sauce: Add milk, cream, and buffalo sauce; simmer until pasta is al dente and sauce thickens.
Combine & Finish: Return chicken to pot; stir in yogurt, cheddar, and parmesan until melted and smooth.
Rest & Serve: Let rest for 2 minutes; plate, garnish with cilantro and green onions, and serve with lime wedges.

Notes

For a richer sauce, use whole milk. Adjust cayenne pepper to control spice level. Toasting the pasta enhances its flavor and sauce absorption.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Pasta
Method: One-Pot
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 650 kcal
Sugar: 15 g
Sodium: 800 mg
Fat: 30 g
Saturated Fat: 15 g
Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 60 g
Fiber: 5 g
Protein: 40 g
Cholesterol: 100 mg