Buffalo Chicken Crockpot Pasta {with Cottage Cheese}
A creamy, decadent buffalo chicken pasta that can be made all in one vessel - the crockpot! It's a super simple, well-balanced, and delicious dinner - with only 6 ingredients. High in protein so it's filling and satisfying - and you won't even be able to tell there is cottage cheese in it.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. chicken breast
- 3/4 cup Frank's Red Hot Buffalo Sauce, or any buffalo sauce
- 1 1/2 cups lower sodium cottage cheese, 2% milkfat or higher
- 2 red and/or orange bell peppers, diced
- 2-3 carrots, diced small optional
- 2-3 celery stalks, diced small
- 1 lb. Barilla Protein Plus rotini noodles
- 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack or Mexican Blend cheese sub with any kind of cheese you want
- 1 bunch of green onions, diced (optional)
- Salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste
Instructions
- Assemble ingredients and equipment. Dice red bell peppers (carrots and celery optional). Chop green onions and set aside.
- Place chicken breast into crockpot and season with salt, pepper and garlic powder.
- Pour cottage cheese and buffalo sauce into a blender, blend until smooth.
- Cover the chicken with the red peppers, diced celery and other veggies then pour over the sauce.
- Cook on low for 4 hours or until the chicken can be easily shredded. Use a hand mixer or two forks to shred the chicken. You can also add in the celery with the noodles if you prefer more crunch!
- After the chicken is shredded, add the box of pasta. Give it a stir.
- Cover the crockpot and cook on low for another 30 minutes or on high for 15 minutes. Check the pasta halfway through. Add chicken broth or more hot sauce and seasonings if needed.
- Once the pasta has cooked, turn the crockpot to warm. Stir in the cheese and combine- making sure all the sauce on the bottom gets mixed in. Add more liquid (water or chicken broth) if it seems too dry for your preference. Portion into a bowl and garnish with green onions.
Notes
- Greek yogurt is a great substitute for the cottage cheese.
- Bleu cheese or cheddar cheese would be delicious as well.
- If you prefer a thicker, creamier pasta, be careful adding additional liquid (like water or chicken broth).
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 6 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 562 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 9.3g | 12% |
| Saturated Fat 2.1g | 10% |
| Cholesterol 21mg | 7% |
| Sodium 1304mg | 57% |
| Total Carbohydrate 97.8g | 36% |
| Dietary Fiber 10.4g | 37% |
| Total Sugars 7.1g | |
| Protein 48.1g | |
| Vitamin D 1mcg | 5% |
| Calcium 131mg | 10% |
| Iron 5mg | 27% |
| Potassium 169mg | 4% |