Jalapeno Buffalo Chicken Casserole (Printable)
Spicy baked chicken with buffalo sauce, jalapeños, and melted cheeses for a bold comforting dinner.
# What You'll Need:
→ Proteins
01 - 4 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded (about 2 large breasts)
→ Vegetables
02 - 3 medium jalapeño peppers, seeded and diced
03 - 1 small red onion, diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1/2 cup celery, diced
→ Dairy
06 - 1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
07 - 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
08 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
→ Sauces & Dressings
09 - 3/4 cup buffalo wing sauce
10 - 1/2 cup ranch dressing
→ Seasonings
11 - 1/2 tsp kosher salt
12 - 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
→ Garnishes
13 - 2 tbsp sliced green onions
14 - 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish with nonstick spray or butter and set aside.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded chicken, diced jalapeños, red onion, minced garlic, and diced celery until evenly distributed.
03 - Add the softened cream cheese, buffalo wing sauce, ranch dressing, salt, and pepper to the chicken mixture. Stir thoroughly until all ingredients are coated and the mixture is creamy.
04 - Fold 1 cup of the cheddar cheese and 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese into the mixture, reserving the remaining cheese for the topping.
05 - Transfer the mixture to the prepared casserole dish and spread it into an even layer. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar and mozzarella cheeses evenly over the top.
06 - Bake uncovered for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the edges are bubbling and the cheese topping is melted and golden brown.
07 - Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with sliced green onions and chopped cilantro before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The cream cheese creates a velvety base that tames the buffalo heat without muting it, making it approachable even for cautious eaters.
- It reheats beautifully the next day, which means you get two meals worth of excitement from one effort.
- Everything mixes in a single bowl and bakes in one dish, so cleanup is almost nonexistent.
02 -
- Undercooked casserole will be soupy in the center, so wait until you see real bubbles at the edges before pulling it from the oven.
- Cold cream cheese is the enemy of a smooth filling, and I learned this the hard way after twenty minutes of furious stirring that still left white lumps throughout.
- Leftovers taste even better the next day once the flavors have had time to mingle and settle overnight in the fridge.
03 -
- Shred your own cheese from a block instead of using bags of pre shredded cheese, because the anti caking agents on bagged cheese prevent it from melting as smoothly.
- Taste the buffalo sauce before mixing it in, since heat levels vary wildly between brands and you want to know what you are committing to before the whole dish comes together.