Jalapeno Buffalo Chicken Casserole (Printable)
Spicy buffalo chicken baked with jalapeños, cream cheese, and melted cheddar into a bubbly golden casserole.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 4 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded (about 2 large breasts)
→ Vegetables
02 - 3 medium jalapeños, seeded and diced
03 - 1 small red onion, diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1/2 cup celery, diced
→ Dairy & Eggs
06 - 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
07 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
08 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
→ Sauces & Condiments
09 - 3/4 cup buffalo wing sauce
10 - 1/2 cup ranch dressing
→ Pantry
11 - 1/2 tsp salt
12 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
→ Garnishes
13 - 2 tbsp sliced green onions
14 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
# Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish with nonstick spray or butter.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded chicken, diced jalapeños, red onion, minced garlic, and diced celery.
03 - Add softened cream cheese, buffalo wing sauce, ranch dressing, salt, and black pepper. Stir thoroughly until the mixture is well combined and creamy.
04 - Fold in 1 cup of the cheddar cheese and 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese into the mixture.
05 - Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared casserole dish. Top with the remaining 1/2 cup cheddar and 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese.
06 - Bake uncovered for 30 to 35 minutes, until the edges are bubbly and the cheese topping is golden brown.
07 - Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with sliced green onions and chopped fresh cilantro before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The cream cheese pulls everything together into something so rich you will forget it only took twenty minutes of actual effort.
- Jalapenos and buffalo sauce create a heat that builds slowly and keeps you going back for another forkful.
02 -
- Do not skip the resting time or the casserole will fall apart into a soupy mess on your serving spoon.
- Softened cream cheese is critical, microwave it in ten second bursts if you forgot to leave it out.
03 -
- Use two forks to shred the chicken while it is still warm, it pulls apart in half the time.
- Letting the casserole rest under foil for those five minutes actually makes it taste better as the flavors settle.