Easy Buffalo Chicken Baked Ziti
Buffalo chicken baked ziti combines the best of comfort food with a kick of spicy heat. It’s perfectly portioned for two and is the perfect balance of zesty buffalo sauce, chicken and cheesy pasta goodness.
Pasta is the ultimate comfort food and a quick option for dinner. Especially when it’s packed with creamy, cheesy goodness. This recipe, along with my macaroni and cheese for two, is a favorite at our table. Both dishes offer the rich, satisfying flavors you crave in comfort food. Baked buffalo chicken ziti is easy to make, full of flavor, and perfectly sized for two. Just like this simple, delicious pasta meat sauce recipe.
Why you will love this recipe
- Flavor! This dish is a bold zesty and comforting dinner.
- A great way to use up leftover chicken.
- Easy! You can make this recipe in a few simple steps and it can be made ahead of time.
What you will need
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Ingredients
- Cooked chicken breast
- Hot sauce such as Frank’s
- Ziti or penne pasta
- Unsalted butter
- Flour
- Milk
- Cheddar cheese
- Blue cheese
How to make buffalo chicken pasta baked ziti
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees f.
STEP 1: Cook the pasta al dente – according to the package instructions.
STEP 2: Make the cream sauce by making a paste of flour and melted butter; then gradually stir in the milk until thick – add cheese.
STEP 3: Combine the hot sauce with melted butter and mix with the chicken.
STEP 2: Add sauce to the bottom of a casserole dish.
STEP3: Add the remaining white sauce to the pasta, toss to coat.
STEP 2: Turn the pasta mixture into the casserole dish with the sauce, sprinkle with the remaining cheese and bake in a preheated 375 degree f oven for 35 to 40 minutes.
Make ahead instructions
This is an easy dish to make ahead of time. You can go ahead and assemble the entire recipe but don’t bake it until it’s time to serve. Another option is to mix the chicken and sauce and prepare the sauce. Store each in separate containers in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days. When it’s time to serve, cook the pasta and assemble the casserole.
How to store leftovers
If you have any extra servings of buffalo chicken baked ziti, storing leftovers is simple. Transfer the cooled dish into an airtight container and in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. To reheat it, pop it in the oven covered at 350 degress f until warm.
Are you looking to improve your overall kitchen organization and leftover handling? Check out these tips on Meal Planning for Two,
Recipe variations
Cheese – Blue cheese and cheddar compliment the hot sauce nicely, but you can change things up and use milder cheese, such as mozzarella or parmesan. You can also try getting creative with the cheese and cheese are good choice too. You can also get creative and try gruyere, or brie.
Add Vegetables – Make it more nutritious by adding some sauteed vegetables such as celery, bell peppers or broccoli.
Lasagna – Instead of ziti, turn it into lasagna. Spread the chicken coated in hot sauce and a little cheese onto cooked lasagna noodles and roll them up. Top with cream sauce and more cheese.
Gluten-Free – Use gluten-free pasta such as chickpea, lentil, or quinoa pasta.
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Cooking for Two Tips
Make cooking for two easy with these tips and tricks.
Serving suggestions
Buffalo chicken baked ziti tastes great with a salad like this crunchy kale salad or a simple 3 ingredients salad and don’t forget the garlic bread.
Tips
- If you prefer a milder dish, opt for a mild sauce or use only half of the amount of hot sauce.
- Cook the pasta al dente which will take about 8 minutes instead of 10, this will prevent your pasta from becoming mushy.
- Shred your own cheese for the best results, pre-shredded cheese doesn’t melt properly.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, instead of placing all the chicken and sauce into a baking dish, add it to the slow cooker and cook on low for an hour.
You can leave the chicken out completely and just serve the pasta with the sauce and cheese or you can substitute the chicken with buffalo cauliflower or bake tofu with buffalo sauce.
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Buffalo Chicken Baked Ziti
Ingredients
- 4 ounces uncooked pasta ziti or penne
- 6 ounces cooked chicken breast
- 1/4 cup hot sauce such as Frank's
- 1 1/2 tablespoons flour
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 1/8 cup blue cheese crumbled
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees f.
- Cook the pasta to al dente, rinse, drain and reserve a half cup of water, and set the pasta aside.
- Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Once it has melted, reduce the heat to low and add the flour, stir until it forms a paste.
- Gradually stir in the milk until the sauce has thickened; add half of the hot sauce and the cheeses while reserving a small portion of cheese for the top of the casserole. Turn the heat off.
- Melt the remaining butter and combine it with the hot sauce. In a mixing bowl, combine the hot sauce, butter and chicken. Add the pasta and sauce; toss to coat.
- Add a few tablespoons of sauce on the bottom of a small casserole dish and top it with the pasta, chicken mixture; add cheese and bake for 35 to 40 minutes until heated through.
