Jalapeno Buffalo Chicken Casserole (Printable)

Spicy buffalo chicken baked with jalapeños, cream cheese, and melted cheddar for a bold comforting dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meats

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 & Eggs

06 - 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
07 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
08 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature

→ Sauces & Condiments

09 - 3/4 cup buffalo wing sauce (gluten-free if needed)
10 - 1/2 cup ranch dressing (or blue cheese 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 chopped fresh cilantro

# Method:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish with nonstick spray or butter.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, toss together 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 black pepper to the chicken mixture. Stir thoroughly until all ingredients are coated and the mixture is creamy.
04 - Gently 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 into the prepared casserole dish, spreading it into an even layer. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar and mozzarella cheeses evenly across the top.
06 - Bake uncovered for 30 to 35 minutes, until the edges are bubbling and the cheese topping is melted and golden brown.
07 - Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for 5 minutes. Scatter sliced green onions and chopped cilantro over the top before serving.

# Insider Tips:

01 -
  • It takes the messy glory of buffalo wings and turns it into something you can eat with a fork while sitting on the couch.
  • The cream cheese makes everything impossibly rich and the jalapeños cut through with just enough fire to keep you going back for another bite.
  • You probably have most of the ingredients sitting in your kitchen right now.
02 -
  • Do not skip softening the cream cheese because cold cream cheese will leave you with ugly white lumps that never fully incorporate no matter how hard you stir.
  • If you want real heat keep the jalapeño seeds in and consider adding a shake of cayenne but taste your buffalo sauce first because some brands bring more fire than you expect.
03 -
  • Shred your chicken while it is still warm because cold chicken shreds into uneven chunks instead of the tender pulled texture you want.
  • Broil the top for the last two minutes if you want those crispy cheese edges that make people fight over the corner pieces.

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