1️⃣🔥 Buffalo Chicken Pasta (One-Skillet)
Ingredients
- 12 oz pasta (rotini, penne, or elbow)
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 tbsp olive oil or butter
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- Salt & black pepper, to taste
Buffalo Sauce
- ½ cup buffalo sauce (Frank’s-style)
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half)
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella or Monterey Jack
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan
Optional Toppings
- Ranch or blue cheese drizzle
- Chopped green onions
- Fresh parsley
Instructions
- Cook pasta – Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Season chicken – Toss chicken with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Sear chicken – Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook 4–5 min until golden. Remove and set aside.
- Make buffalo cream sauce – Reduce heat to medium. Add buffalo sauce, chicken broth, and cream. Simmer 2–3 min.
- Make it cheesy – Stir in mozzarella and Parmesan until smooth.
- Combine – Add pasta and chicken. Toss until coated.
- Serve – Drizzle with ranch or blue cheese, garnish with parsley.
2️⃣🌮 Taco Pasta (One-Skillet)
Ingredients
- 12 oz pasta (elbow, rotini, or shells)
- 1 lb ground beef (or turkey)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 packet taco seasoning (or 2½ tbsp homemade)
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 cup tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
- ½ cup corn (optional)
- ½ cup diced bell peppers (optional)
- ¾ cup heavy cream or milk
- 1½ cups shredded cheddar or Mexican-blend cheese
- Salt & pepper, to taste
Optional Toppings
- Chopped green onions
- Cilantro
- Extra cheese
Instructions
- Cook pasta – Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain.
- Brown beef – Heat oil, cook beef until browned. Drain grease.
- Season – Add taco seasoning, cook 30 sec.
- Make sauce – Add broth, tomato sauce, corn, peppers. Simmer 5 min.
- Creamy + cheesy – Stir in cream and cheese until melted.
- Combine – Add pasta, toss until coated. Serve hot.
3️⃣🍔 Cheeseburger Pasta (One-Skillet)
Ingredients
- 12 oz elbow macaroni
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tbsp olive oil or butter
- 1 small onion, diced (optional)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 cup milk or half-and-half
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1½–2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup diced pickles (optional)
- Chopped parsley or green onions
Instructions
- Cook pasta – Boil macaroni in salted water until al dente. Drain.
- Brown beef – Heat oil, cook beef and onion until browned. Add garlic 30 sec.
- Build sauce – Add broth, milk, ketchup, mustard, paprika, salt & pepper. Simmer 3–4 min.
- Make it cheesy – Stir in cheddar until creamy.
- Combine – Add pasta and pickles. Toss. Serve hot, garnish.
Tips
- Extra cheesy 🧀: +½ cup cheese
- Bacon cheeseburger 🥓: add bacon bits
- Spicy 🌶️: jalapeños or hot sauce
- Creamier 🥛: milk → heavy cream
4️⃣🌶️ Cajun Chicken Pasta Skillet
Ingredients
Pasta & Chicken
- 12 oz pasta (rotini, penne, or elbow)
- 1 lb chicken breast, chunks
- 2 tbsp olive oil or butter
- 1½ tbsp Cajun seasoning
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika (optional)
- Salt & black pepper
Vegetables
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- ½ cup diced tomatoes
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Creamy Sauce
- 1½ cups heavy cream
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ¾ cup Parmesan
- ½ cup mozzarella
Garnish
- Green onions, parsley
Instructions
- Cook pasta – Boil until al dente. Drain.
- Season chicken – Toss with Cajun spice, garlic powder, paprika, salt & pepper.
- Sear chicken – Heat oil, cook chicken 4–5 min. Remove.
- Sauté veggies – Bell peppers & garlic, 2–3 min.
- Make sauce – Add broth & cream, simmer. Stir in Parmesan.
- Combine – Add pasta, chicken, tomatoes, mozzarella. Toss.
- Finish – Simmer 2–3 min. Garnish.
