Description
Fast, bold, and satisfying—these Easy Buffalo Garlic Chicken Bites bring spicy buffalo heat balanced by creamy garlic sauce and tender rotini. Perfect for easy dinner, weeknight dinner, high-protein meal, spicy chicken, pasta recipe, game day appetizer, and dinner ideas in about 30 minutes.
Ingredients
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-size cubes
2 cups rotini pasta
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp garlic powder
3 cloves garlic, minced
to taste salt and black pepper
1 cup buffalo sauce
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tbsp unsalted butter
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
4 celery sticks, for serving
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook rotini until al dente; reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, drain, and set aside.
2. Pat chicken dry; season with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Sear chicken 5–7 minutes until browned and cooked through; remove to a plate.
4. In the same skillet, melt butter over medium. Sauté minced garlic 30 seconds, then add buffalo sauce. Reduce heat and stir in heavy cream; simmer 2–3 minutes.
5. Return chicken and toss to coat. Add pasta; loosen with a splash of reserved pasta water if needed.
6. Garnish with parsley and serve with celery sticks.
Notes
Add dairy off high heat to prevent separation and keep the sauce silky.
Reserve pasta water—it’s liquid gold for adjusting sauce consistency.
Don’t overcrowd the skillet; sear in batches for best browning and flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 990 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
Keywords: easy dinner, weeknight dinner, buffalo chicken, garlic chicken, spicy chicken, pasta recipe, game day, high-protein, dinner ideas, easy recipe