Description
Get ready to experience a flavor explosion with this Buffalo Garlic Chicken Bites & Ranch Cajun Alfredo Twisted Pasta! It’s the perfect comfort food fusion: juicy, spicy buffalo chicken meets creamy, Cajun-spiced Alfredo sauce — all wrapped around tender rotini pasta. Whether you’re looking for quick dinner ideas, bold food ideas for game night, or an easy recipe to impress your friends, this dish brings the heat and the cream in perfect balance. This is the ultimate combo of bold, tangy, creamy, and satisfying — ideal for anyone craving something out-of-the-box but easy to make.
Ingredients
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts (cut into cubes)
1 ½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp smoked paprika
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp butter
2 cloves garlic (minced)
⅓ cup buffalo sauce
2 tbsp butter (for sauce)
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
2 cloves garlic (minced)
1 ¼ cups heavy cream
¼ cup milk
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp ranch dressing
1 tsp Cajun seasoning
Salt and black pepper to taste
10 oz rotini pasta
¼ cup reserved pasta water (optional)
Fresh celery sticks (optional)
Extra ranch or blue cheese (optional)
Chopped parsley (optional garnish)
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add rotini and cook until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving ¼ cup of the pasta water.
2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Season chicken with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook chicken until golden and cooked through, about 6–8 minutes.
3. Push chicken to one side of the skillet. Add butter and minced garlic. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant, then stir in buffalo sauce and coat the chicken. Remove from heat and set aside.
4. In a separate saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour to make a roux. Cook for 1 minute, then add garlic.
5. Slowly whisk in heavy cream and milk. Let it simmer for 3–4 minutes until slightly thickened.
6. Add Parmesan cheese, ranch dressing, and Cajun seasoning. Stir until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
7. Add cooked pasta to the Alfredo sauce and stir to coat. If sauce is too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water.
8. Plate the pasta, top with buffalo chicken bites, garnish with parsley, and serve with celery and extra ranch if desired.
Notes
Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese to ensure your Alfredo sauce melts smoothly and avoids clumping.
Let the cooked chicken rest for a couple of minutes before tossing with buffalo sauce to keep it juicy.
To reheat leftovers, add a splash of milk or cream to keep the sauce creamy and prevent drying out.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approx. 1½ cups
- Calories: 690
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 1050mg
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 140mg
Keywords: buffalo pasta, twisted pasta, spicy chicken pasta, Alfredo buffalo, easy dinner