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Buffalo Chicken Casserole - A Cozy, Crowd-Pleasing Classic

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • Cooked shredded chicken (about 4 cups; rotisserie works great)
  • Buffalo wing sauce (3/4 to 1 cup, such as Frank’s RedHot)
  • Cream cheese (8 ounces, softened)
  • Ranch dressing (1/2 cup; or use blue cheese dressing if you prefer)
  • Shredded cheese (2 cups; cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a blend)
  • Celery (2 ribs, finely diced)
  • Green onions (4, sliced; plus extra for garnish)
  • Cooked starch (choose one: 4 cups cooked rice, 12 ounces cooked pasta, or 1 1/2 pounds diced cooked potatoes)
  • Butter (2 tablespoons)
  • Garlic powder (1 teaspoon)
  • Onion powder (1 teaspoon)
  • Black pepper (1/2 teaspoon)
  • Salt (to taste; you may not need much due to sauces and cheese)
  • Optional toppings: crumbled blue cheese, crushed ranch-flavored chips or panko, extra buffalo sauce, fresh parsley

Method
 

  1. Heat the oven. Preheat to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with a little butter or nonstick spray.
  2. Soften the cream cheese. In a medium bowl, microwave cream cheese in short bursts until easily stirrable, about 20–30 seconds. This helps it blend smoothly into the sauce.
  3. Make the buffalo ranch sauce. Whisk in buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Taste and adjust with more buffalo sauce for heat or ranch for creaminess.
  4. Prep the base. In a large mixing bowl, combine shredded chicken, diced celery, half of the green onions, and your cooked starch of choice. Rice gives a creamy, spoonable casserole; pasta adds heartiness; potatoes make it more like a cheesy buffalo bake.
  5. Combine with sauce. Pour the buffalo ranch sauce over the chicken mixture and fold until everything is evenly coated. If it seems dry, add a splash of milk or an extra spoonful of ranch.
  6. Add cheese. Stir in 1 cup of the shredded cheese. Spread the mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish.
  7. Top and crisp. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top. If you like a crunchy finish, toss crushed chips or panko with melted butter and scatter over the cheese.
  8. Bake. Bake for 20–25 minutes, until hot and bubbling around the edges and the cheese is melted and lightly browned. If needed, broil for 1–2 minutes for extra color.
  9. Finish and serve. Let it rest for 5–10 minutes to set. Garnish with remaining green onions, a drizzle of buffalo sauce, and crumbled blue cheese if you like. Serve with a crisp side salad or steamed veggies.