Creamy Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Pasta Shells Recipe
Creamy Buffalo Chicken Jumbo Shells combine tender shredded chicken with spicy buffalo sauce and creamy cheeses, all stuffed into jumbo pasta shells and baked to bubbly perfection. This flavorful dish balances heat with cooling ranch dressing and is perfect for a comforting dinner or party appetizer.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta Shells
- 12 jumbo pasta shells
Filling
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
- 1/2 cup buffalo sauce
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 cup ranch dressing
- 1/4 cup green onions, chopped (plus extra for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the stuffed shells.
- Cook Pasta Shells: Boil the jumbo pasta shells according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside to cool slightly for stuffing.
- Make Filling: In a large bowl, combine shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, ricotta cheese, shredded mozzarella, softened cream cheese, and garlic powder. Stir thoroughly until the mixture is creamy and well blended.
- Add Ranch Dressing: Fold in the ranch dressing gently to balance the spicy heat from the buffalo sauce, creating a smooth and flavorful filling.
- Stuff Shells: Carefully fill each cooked jumbo shell with the creamy buffalo chicken mixture, ensuring each shell is generously filled but not overstuffed.
- Arrange in Baking Dish: Grease a baking dish lightly and arrange the stuffed shells evenly without crowding to allow even heating.
- Bake: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes, or until the filling is heated through and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven, garnish with extra shredded mozzarella or chopped green onions for a fresh finish, and serve warm.
Notes
- If you prefer less heat, reduce the buffalo sauce quantity or increase ranch dressing in the filling.
- Use cooked rotisserie chicken for a quick shortcut.
- For extra cheesiness, sprinkle additional mozzarella on top before baking.
- Substitute gluten-free jumbo shells to make this recipe gluten-free.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 3 days and can be reheated in the oven or microwave.
Keywords: Buffalo Chicken, Stuffed Pasta Shells, Creamy Buffalo Chicken, Baked Buffalo Chicken Recipe, Spicy Chicken Pasta
