Jalapeno Buffalo Chicken Casserole (Print Page)
Spicy, cheesy buffalo chicken bake with jalapeños and melted cheese. A bold comfort food dinner.
# What You 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
# Directions:
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 the 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, reserving the remainder for topping.
05 - Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared casserole dish. Top with the remaining cheddar and mozzarella cheeses.
06 - Bake uncovered for 30 to 35 minutes, until the edges are bubbly and the cheese topping is 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 -
- It takes five minutes of stirring and then the oven does all the heavy lifting while you put your feet up.
- The cream cheese and buffalo sauce combo creates a richness that tastes like you spent hours on something that barely took any effort at all.
02 -
- Do not rush the cream cheese softening because cold lumps in your casserole will haunt you at the dinner table.
- The casserole will look a bit soupy right out of the oven but it sets up beautifully as it rests, so trust the process and wait those five minutes.
03 -
- Shred your own cheese from a block instead of buying pre shredded because the anti caking powder on bagged cheese prevents it from melting into that smooth gorgeous layer you want on top.
- A thin layer of crushed pork rinds on top before baking adds a crunchy crust that takes this from great to absolutely legendary.