Jalapeno Buffalo Chicken Casserole (Printable)
Spicy buffalo chicken baked with jalapenos, cream cheese, and melted cheddar in a hearty gluten-free casserole.
# What You'll Need:
→ Proteins
01 - 4 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or cubed
→ Vegetables
02 - 2 to 3 jalapeño peppers, sliced (seeds removed for less heat)
03 - 1 medium onion, diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 cup celery, diced
→ Dairy & Sauces
06 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
07 - 1 cup sour cream
08 - 1/2 cup Buffalo wing sauce
09 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
10 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
→ Toppings
11 - 1/4 cup blue cheese crumbles (optional)
12 - 2 green onions, sliced (for garnish)
→ Seasonings
13 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
14 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
15 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish with oil or cooking spray.
02 - In a skillet over medium heat, sauté the diced onion, celery, and sliced jalapeños in a small amount of oil until softened, about 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 additional minute until fragrant.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream, Buffalo wing sauce, salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika. Stir until smooth and fully incorporated.
04 - Fold the shredded chicken and sautéed vegetables into the creamy sauce base. Add half of the cheddar cheese and half of the mozzarella cheese, then mix until evenly distributed.
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 25 to 30 minutes, until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden on top.
07 - Remove from the oven and scatter blue cheese crumbles and sliced green onions over the top, if desired.
08 - Allow the casserole to rest for 5 minutes before serving to let the filling set.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It tastes like you spent hours on it, but the oven does almost all the work after a quick stovetop saute.
- The creamy, spicy, cheesy combination is the kind of thing that disappears at parties before anything else does.
02 -
- Do not skip softening the cream cheese first, because cold cream cheese will leave you with unpleasant lumps that never fully incorporate.
- If your Buffalo sauce is very salty, taste the mixture before adding the full half teaspoon of salt, since you can always add more but you cannot take it away.
03 -
- Wear gloves when slicing jalapenos, because the oils linger on your fingers long after washing and you will regret it the next time you touch your eyes.
- Shred your own cheese from a block rather than using pre shredded bags, because the anti caking agents on pre shredded cheese prevent it from melting as smoothly.