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Buffalo Chicken Pasta
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5 from 1 vote

Buffalo Chicken Pasta

This buffalo chicken pasta recipe combines the signature flavor of buffalo wings with pasta coated in a flavorful, creamy sauce for an easy dinner that's ready in just about 30 minutes.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword buffalo chicken pasta
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 568kcal

Ingredients

  • ½ pound fettuccine noodles
  • 2 tablespoons butter divided
  • ½ tablespoon olive oil or canola oil
  • 6 ounces skinless and boneless chicken breasts
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt divided
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ leek white and light green parts only, diced
  • 2 garlic cloves pressed or minced
  • 1 carrots peeled and diced
  • ½ celery rib diced
  • ¾ cups chicken stock
  • ¾ cups heavy cream
  • 2 ½ tablespoons Frank's RedHot Buffalo Wings Sauce or to taste
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese plus more for serving
  • chopped parsley for garnish

Instructions

  • Cook fettuccine noodles according to package directions, reserving ½ cup pasta water, drain, and set aside.
  • While the pasta cooks, melt 1 tablespoon butter with 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Season the chicken breasts with 1 teaspoon kosher salt and black pepper. Cook the chicken breasts for 7 minutes, turn, and cook for another 5-7 minutes or until the chicken is browned and their juices run clear. Remove the chicken from the skillet, cover with foil, and set aside to rest.
  • In the same skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of butter. Add the leeks and cook for about 3 minutes or until they soften. Add the garlic, carrots, and celery. Season with the remaining kosher salt and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently.
  • Add the chicken stock, then bring the sauce to a boil while scraping the cooked flavor bits from the skillet. Reduce the heat to a rolling simmer and cook until the stock is reduced by half, leaving about 1 cup. Add the heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium and cook for 5-7 minutes or until the sauce thickens. Stir in the buffalo sauce and Parmesan cheese, then cook for another minute. Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter until it melts and the sauce is glossy.
  • While the sauce cooks, slice or shred the chicken into thin strips. Add the chicken and fettuccine noodles to the sauce and toss to coat. Cook for another 1-2 minutes and season with more salt if desired. If the sauce is too thick, add the reserved pasta water 1 tablespoon at a time until it’s the desired consistency. Garnish with parsley and serve with additional Parmesan cheese.

Notes

Try this recipe with a different type of hearty noodle such as spaghetti, rotini, rigatoni, or penne pasta.
Garnish the pasta with a few crumbles of blue cheese instead of Parmesan cheese. Or, why not both?
If you live on the wild side and like your food extra hot and spicy, add more buffalo wing sauce to taste or add a few shots of Tabasco.
Use half and half or whipping cream instead of heavy cream. Or, try mixing in a few tablespoons of softened cream cheese.