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Buffalo Chicken Pasta

Buffalo Chicken Pasta delivers the tangy punch of hot wing sauce wrapped in a rich, cheesy sauce over tender rigatoni. Seasoned shredded chicken and a blend of Neufchâtel, sour cream, and sharp Cheddar create a velvety coating with balanced heat and ranch-savory notes. It’s a cozy weeknight dinner that feels game-day festive.

  • Prep5 mins
  • Cook20 mins
  • Serves4
  • DifficultyEasy
Buffalo Chicken Pasta

easyChef Pro health score

Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Buffalo Chicken Pasta, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.

37 Health Score
Glycemic ImpactFair
52 / 100
Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
Nutritional DensityPoor
3 / 100
Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
Energy DensityFair
52 / 100
Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
2 / 4
Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.

How it scores for each health goal

The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.

19
Heart Health
67
Metabolic
31
Digestive
21
Inflammatory
39
Performance
33
General Wellness
  1. 1

    Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.

  2. 2

    Cook the rigatoni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet slightly firm, about 12 minutes.

  3. 3

    Drain the rigatoni and set it aside.

  4. 4

    Season the chicken with ranch dressing mix, salt, pepper, and garlic powder, then set aside.

  5. 5

    Meanwhile, in a large saucepan over low heat, combine Neufchatel cheese, sour cream, and Buffalo wing sauce.

  6. 6

    Cook, stirring constantly, until well combined, about 3 minutes.

  7. 7

    Add the Cheddar cheese and stir until melted.

  8. 8

    Add the pasta and chicken and continue cooking until evenly mixed and heated through.

About This Recipe

Buffalo Chicken Pasta is made with 10 ingredients and serves 4. It takes about 25 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Buffalo Wing Sauce, Diced Fully Cooked Chicken Breast, and Garlic Powder. Each serving provides about 697.33 kcal, and is a good source of protein.

Recipe Questions

What is Buffalo Chicken Pasta made of?
The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Buffalo Wing Sauce, Diced Fully Cooked Chicken Breast, Garlic Powder, Neufchâtel Cheese. The full list of 10 is above.
How long does it take to make Buffalo Chicken Pasta?
About 25 mins in total: 5 mins to prepare and 20 mins to cook.
How many calories are in one serving?
One serving provides about 697.33 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
Is Buffalo Chicken Pasta easy to make?
This recipe is rated easy, with 10 ingredients and 8 steps.
Is Buffalo Chicken Pasta healthy?
Buffalo Chicken Pasta has an easyChef Pro health score of 37/100. Per serving, it provides 697.33 calories and 39.21 g of protein, or 78% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 1408.36 mg (61% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 18.01 g (90% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk, Wheat, Gluten and Garlic, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.

How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products

easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.

The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.

Your health goal also matters. easyChef Pro evaluates recipes and products across six health areas and adjusts their importance for your selected goal. This means the same food may be a better fit for one health goal than another.

For recipes, changing an ingredient, quantity or serving size changes the nutrition and may change the score. Remix the recipe in easyChef Pro to calculate fresh nutrition and scores for the version you actually make. Product scores are based on the nutrition and serving information associated with that specific product.

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