Zesty Buffalo Ranch Chicken Lasagna

Featured in Simple, Tasty Pasta for Every Day.

This inventive pasta dish takes the bold taste of buffalo chicken and stacks it between lasagna layers, with shredded rotisserie chicken, spicy sauce, and ranch seasoning making prep a breeze.

Emily Watson
Updated on Thu, 13 Mar 2025 05:20:35 GMT
A portion of creamy layered pasta garnished with green onions on a white dish, with the main baking dish showing in the background. Pin it
A portion of creamy layered pasta garnished with green onions on a white dish, with the main baking dish showing in the background. | thefamilycooks.com

Wanna hear about my ultimate comfort dish mashup? Say hello to Gooey Buffalo Ranch Chicken Lasagna! I whipped this up one lazy weekend when I couldn't pick between buffalo chicken dip or traditional lasagna. The outcome? Absolutely incredible! It's now the #1 requested dish I bring to gatherings, and would you believe my Italian nonna finally gave it her thumbs up (though she rolled her eyes at first about this weird twist!).

What Makes This Dish So Special

This ain't your grandma's lasagna! Every mouthful gives you that awesome mix of smooth ranch, kick-you-in-the-pants buffalo sauce, and stretchy melted cheese we all crave. It feels like wing night flavors tucked inside warm pasta sheets. And grabbing a store-bought rotisserie chicken makes this so darn easy to throw together. You wouldn't believe how many times this has come to my rescue when I've got no dinner plans!

What You'll Need

  • Pasta Sheets: Standard lasagna noodles do the job just fine—nothing fancy needed!
  • Rotisserie Chicken: My go-to trick for juicy, ready-to-use meat.
  • Buffalo Sauce: Pick whatever brand you enjoy—Frank's RedHot works great for me.
  • Ranch Seasoning: The dry mix in packets does wonders here.
  • Cheese Mix: We're loading up with three varieties because let's face it, cheese makes everything better!
  • Final Touches: These garnishes really make your dish pop with flavor and looks.

Creating Your Masterpiece

Cheese Masterpiece
We start by mixing up that amazing cheese combo—think of it as buffalo chicken dip and lasagna having a baby!
Noodle Know-how
Make sure to lay those noodles out flat after boiling—I found out what happens when you don't the messy way!
Stack It Up
This part's a blast, kinda like building the tastiest food tower you've ever seen.
Oven Work
The toughest bit is waiting while your house fills up with smells that'll drive you crazy.
Last Bits
Don't skip the toppings—they aren't just pretty, they make everything taste way better!

Insider Tricks

After cooking this a million times, I've picked up some secrets! Don't skip the foil covering—it keeps everything super juicy. And please grate your cheese yourself! Yeah, it takes extra time, but those bags of pre-shredded stuff just don't melt right. You'll thank me later!

Round Out Your Dinner

We always pair this with a giant, fresh salad to cut through all that rich cheesiness. And if you're going all out? Some buttery garlic bread on the side works wonders for scooping up any sauce left on your plate. My little ones always beg for extra ranch and buffalo drizzles on top of their portions!

Storing Leftovers

If you somehow don't finish it all in one sitting (hardly ever happens at my place!), it tastes fantastic the next day. I swear the flavors get even better overnight! A quick zap works when you're rushed, but warming it in the oven really brings back that stretchy cheese pull we all love.

A casserole dish filled with cheesy, chicken lasagna topped with green onions. Pin it
A casserole dish filled with cheesy, chicken lasagna topped with green onions. | thefamilycooks.com

Tasty Variations

You can switch this up so many ways! Sometimes I throw in blue cheese dressing for that classic wing taste. Tossing in some cooked spinach makes me feel like I'm being a bit healthier. And for folks who can't handle spicy stuff, swapping in BBQ sauce works amazingly well!

Common Questions

You can totally use leftover chicken if you've got some—this dish is all about making life easier! Wanna prep ahead? No problem—just put it all together and stick it in the fridge until baking time. And don't stress if buffalo sauce isn't your thing—try BBQ for a gentler but still yummy alternative!

A creamy chicken lasagna, topped with melted cheese and garnished with chopped green onions, is served in a white baking dish. Pin it
A creamy chicken lasagna, topped with melted cheese and garnished with chopped green onions, is served in a white baking dish. | thefamilycooks.com

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I adjust the spice level?

Absolutely! Go with a mild buffalo sauce or cut back on the amount for a gentler kick. If you want more heat, try a hotter sauce or toss in some cayenne. Don't worry about too much fire - the cream cheese works wonders to cool things down.

→ Can I make this ahead of time?

You can put everything together up to a day before and keep it covered in the fridge. When you're ready to cook, add about 10-15 extra minutes if it's coming straight from cold. Let it sit out while your oven gets hot.

→ Can I use different cheese?

The mix of cheddar and mozzarella gives you the best melt and taste, but you can swap in some Monterey Jack or provolone if you want. Just try to keep some mild and some sharp cheese in your mix for the best flavor punch.

→ Do I need to cook the noodles first?

You'll need to cook them until they're still a bit firm. The sauce doesn't have enough liquid to properly cook no-boil noodles, so this step can't be skipped if you want the right texture.

→ Why let it rest before serving?

Taking a little break after baking helps everything firm up so you can get nice clean slices. It also means you won't burn your mouth on super hot filling that runs all over your plate.

Conclusion

This inventive pasta dish takes the bold taste of buffalo chicken and stacks it between lasagna layers, with shredded rotisserie chicken, spicy sauce, and ranch seasoning making prep a breeze.

Buffalo Chicken Pasta Layers

A unique pasta bake blending buffalo chicken flavors between pasta sheets, topped with cream cheese and a duo of melted cheeses, all enhanced with ranch flavoring.

Prep Time
20 Minutes
Cook Time
55 Minutes
Total Time
75 Minutes

Category: Pasta

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: American

Yield: 9 Servings (9 servings)

Dietary: ~

Ingredients

01 Cooked lasagna noodles (12 oz), still somewhat firm.
02 Pulled rotisserie chicken (3 1/2 cups).
03 One packet of ranch seasoning mix.
04 Softened cream cheese (24 oz).
05 Hot sauce or buffalo sauce (1 cup).
06 Milk (1/2 cup).
07 Shredded cheddar (2 cups).
08 Shredded mozzarella (2 cups).

Instructions

Step 01

Stir together the softened cream cheese, hot sauce, ranch packet, milk, and 1 1/2 cups each of the mozzarella and cheddar until smooth and well blended.

Step 02

Put 1/4 of your cheese mixture at the bottom of a greased 9x13 dish. Add noodles on top, making sure they overlap for full coverage.

Step 03

Add another 1/4 of cheese mix, then half the shredded chicken. Follow with more noodles, then cheese mix, then remaining chicken. Finish with last noodles and cheese mix.

Step 04

Scatter leftover cheese across the top. Cover the dish with foil.

Step 05

Pop in a 375°F oven for 45 minutes with foil on, then 10 more minutes uncovered until it bubbles. Let it cool for 8-10 minutes before cutting.

Notes

  1. You can make this earlier and store in fridge until ready to bake.
  2. Try adding green onions, blue cheese or extra ranch on top if you want.

Tools You'll Need

  • Baking dish (9x13 size).
  • Stand mixer.
  • Foil for covering.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Contains dairy products.
  • Has gluten.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 580
  • Total Fat: 32 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 35 g
  • Protein: 28 g