Description
Creamy Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Shells combine tender jumbo pasta shells with a flavorful mixture of shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, and creamy cheeses. This easy 30-minute recipe delivers a spicy, cheesy comfort dish perfect for weeknight dinners, with a delicious ranch dressing twist to balance the heat.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta Shells
- 12 jumbo pasta shells
Buffalo Chicken 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
Garnish
- 1/4 cup green onions, chopped
- Additional shredded mozzarella cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to get it ready for baking the stuffed shells evenly.
- Cook Pasta Shells: Boil the jumbo pasta shells according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside to cool slightly so they are easy to handle.
- Prepare Filling: In a large bowl, combine shredded cooked chicken, buffalo sauce, ricotta cheese, shredded mozzarella, softened cream cheese, and garlic powder. Stir until the mixture is well blended and creamy.
- Add Ranch Dressing: Fold in the ranch dressing gently to balance the spicy buffalo sauce with a cool and creamy flavor.
- Stuff Shells: Carefully fill each cooked jumbo pasta shell with the buffalo chicken and cheese mixture, ensuring they are well-filled but not overstuffed.
- Arrange Shells: Place the stuffed shells in a greased baking dish in a single layer without overcrowding, allowing even baking.
- Bake: Cover the dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes, or until heated through and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven and garnish with extra shredded mozzarella cheese or chopped green onions for a fresh and colorful finish before serving.
Notes
- You can prepare these stuffed shells in advance and refrigerate them for up to 24 hours before baking. Just add a few extra minutes to the baking time if baking from cold.
- For a milder dish, reduce the amount of buffalo sauce or substitute with a milder wing sauce.
- Use gluten-free pasta shells for a gluten-free version.
- The recipe is quick and great for meal prep, perfect for busy weeknights.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 stuffed shells
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
Keywords: Buffalo chicken stuffed shells, creamy buffalo pasta, easy baked stuffed shells, buffalo chicken dinner, cheesy chicken shells
