Buffalo chicken stuffed shells are jumbo pasta shells stuffed with cheesy chicken and wing sauce, it’s the perfect fusion meal!
This buffalo chicken stuffed shells recipe will be a new favorite to add to your weekly menu rotation. We like enjoying this with fruit salad, air fryer broccoli, and pineapple delight for dessert!
Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Shells
Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Shells
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Why you’ll love this recipe!
📌 The perfect marriage of appetizer and dinner!
📌 Easy weeknight meal yet flavorful enough to serve for a dinner party.
📌 Simple enough to throw together for any occasion.
Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Shells Ingredients
- Pasta – Jumbo shells.
- Buffalo wing sauce – Your favorite brand and heat.
- Cheese – Ricotta cheese and shredded colby jack cheese.
- Egg – Large.
- Ranch – Powdered ranch seasoning and ranch dressing.
- Chicken – Chicken breast, cooked and shredded. (See how we make baked chicken ahead of time!).
- Garnish – Chopped scallions.
How do you make stuffed buffalo chicken shells? (step-by-step directions)
⭐ First, spread some of the wing sauce in the bottom of the baking dish.
⭐ Next, in a large bowl, mix the remaining wing sauce, ricotta cheese, egg, powdered ranch, chicken and shredded cheese until just combined.
⭐ Then, fill the cooked shells with the buffalo chicken mixture and place into the prepared baking dish. Cover with foil and bake. Remove the foil and top with the remaining shredded cheese. Continue baking uncovered.
⭐ Finally, top shells with a drizzle of hot sauce, ranch dressing and scallions before serving.
Scroll down to the printable recipe card toward the bottom of this article for ingredient measurements and detailed cooking instructions.
Preparation
Can buffalo chicken stuffed shells be made ahead of time?
Yes, you can actually stuff the shells and without baking them, store them covered in the fridge until they’re ready to go in the oven. We recommend leaving the shredded cheese off the top until just before baking.
What kind of buffalo wing sauce should I use?
This is entirely up to your preference. Choose a wing sauce that you love and make sure the heat is at the level you enjoy.
Make your own wing sauce or purchase a bottle at the store. We like to keep our sauce mild so the whole family can enjoy these!
What kind of chicken to use for buffalo chicken stuffed shells?
This recipe is a great way to use up leftover chicken. You can use chicken breast meat, chicken thigh meat or even grab a rotisserie chicken from the store and use that. You could even use canned chicken in a pinch!
Storage and leftovers
How long do buffalo chicken stuffed shells last?
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or oven.
Can buffalo chicken stuffed shells be frozen?
Yes, freeze the shells after they’ve been stuffed but before baking. Store them in an airtight freezer safe container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Either bake from frozen or thaw in the fridge and bake. Leave the shredded cheese off until just before baking.
Tips and tricks
✅ If you don’t have ranch seasoning on hand, you can substitute 1 tablespoon of ranch dressing into the buffalo chicken mixture. Or use our recipe for homemade ranch seasoning!
✅ Use whatever cheese you enjoy most! Mozzarella, colby jack, sharp cheddar or even pepperjack if you like a little extra heat.
✅ Adjust the heat of the dish by using mild, medium or hot wing sauce. You can also add more wing sauce to the dish if desired.
✅ More great add-ins would be chopped red onions, banana peppers or chopped celery!
✅ If you are a blue cheese lover, sprinkle some blue cheese crumbles on top as a garnish with the chopped scallions.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use different types of cheese in this recipe?
Absolutely! While the recipe calls for shredded colby jack cheese, you can experiment with other types such as mozzarella, sharp cheddar, or pepper jack for added flavor variation.
How do I know when the stuffed shells are fully cooked?
The stuffed shells should be ready when the cheese melted and bubbly. You can check for doneness by inserting a knife into the center of a stuffed shell; if it comes out hot and the filling is heated through, they are ready.
How can I prevent the shells from sticking to the baking dish?
To prevent the shells from sticking, make sure to grease the baking dish generously with cooking spray or butter before arranging the stuffed shells in it. Alternately, line your baking dish with parchment paper.
Can I make this dish in a slow cooker?
Yes, add the stuffed shells to the crock pot, cover and cook on low for about 4 – 5 hours or high for 2 – 3 hours. Add shredded cheese about 30 minutes before ready to serve.
What to enjoy with buffalo chicken stuffed shell casserole (serving suggestions)
This is a delicious weeknight meal and my entire family devours this easy dish. Serve it with some garlic bread, blue cheese dressing, and stuffed celery!
More awesome buffalo recipes
- Buffalo wings
- Buffalo chicken burgers
- Homemade buffalo sauce
- Buffalo chicken dip
- Buffalo chicken crispy tortilla
Delicious casseroles to try next
- Crockpot stuffed shells
- Stuffed pepper casserole
- Rotel pasta
- Meatball casserole
- Mexican cornbread casserole
- Taco casserole
- Chicken cordon bleu casserole
- Chicken bacon ranch casserole
- Tuna casserole
- See all our easy dinner casseroles
Tools we love
- Enameled cast iron pot – This is a great and super versatile pot that can be used in both the oven and on the stove top.
- Glass casserole dish with lid – I love this dish, it can go from freezer to oven!
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How to Make Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Shells
Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Shells
Ingredients
- 21 jumbo pasta shells prepared per package directions
- ⅝ cup buffalo wing sauce divided: ½ cup, 2 tablespoons
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon powdered ranch dressing mix
- 3 cups shredded cooked chicken breast
- 4 cups shredded colby jack cheese divided: 2 cups and 2 cups
- 1 cup ranch dressing
- optional toppings: green onion, scallion, parsley, blue cheese crumbles
Instructions
- Optional: line your 13x9" baking dish with parchment paper. Spread 2 tablespoons of the wing sauce over the bottom of the dish.
- In a large bowl, mix the ½ cup wing sauce, ricotta cheese, egg, powdered ranch, chicken and 2 cups of the shredded colby jack cheese until just combined.
- Stuff the shells with an equal amount of the filling, and place them into the baking dish in a single layer. Cover and bake in a 350℉ preheated oven for 30 minutes.
- Remove foil, top with remaining 2 cups of shredded cheese, and continue baking for another 5 - 7 minutes.
- Finish with by drizzling buffalo sauce and ranch dressing over top and garnishing with herbs and blue cheese crumbles, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
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Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Shells
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Beth says
These shells are absolutely delicious! Stuffing them with Buffalo chicken was a fantastic idea. It’s like game day eats for dinner!
Amanda says
What a fantastic idea! The buffalo chicken was such a tasty dish!
Erin says
It’s incredibly delicious! Can’t wait to make this again!
Katerina Petrovska says
These turned out spicy, cheesy, and absolutely mouthwatering. A perfect blend of tender pasta, creamy cheese, and that zesty buffalo chicken kick. Definitely a new favorite!!
Beti Micevska says
These buffalo chicken stuffed shells were a huge hit! Such a comforting dish with a delicious kick!
Janelle says
Dang, this was the pasta I didn’t know I needed. So tasty!!
Catalina says
The creamy cheese sauce tied everything together perfectly. This dish was a hit and has earned a spot in my favorite recipes list. Thanks for sharing!