Jalapeno Buffalo Chicken Casserole (Printable)

Tender chicken, jalapenos, and Buffalo sauce baked into a creamy, cheesy crowd-pleasing casserole.

# What you'll need:

→ Proteins

01 - 4 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or cubed

→ Vegetables

02 - 2–3 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

# How to make it:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray or butter.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté the diced onion, celery, and sliced jalapeños in a small amount of oil until softened, about 4–5 minutes. Add 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, sautéed vegetable mixture, half of the cheddar cheese, and half of the mozzarella cheese into the creamy base. Mix thoroughly until evenly distributed.
05 - Transfer the mixture into the prepared casserole dish and spread it into an even layer. Scatter the remaining cheddar and mozzarella cheeses uniformly over the top.
06 - Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes, until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden on top.
07 - Remove from the oven and, if desired, sprinkle blue cheese crumbles and sliced green onions over the surface.
08 - Allow the casserole to rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving. This helps the filling set for cleaner portions.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The cream cheese and sour cream base tames the Buffalo fire just enough so you can taste everything instead of just suffering through heat.
  • Rotisserie chicken makes this doable on any weeknight without turning on multiple burners.
  • It reheats beautifully the next day, maybe even better, when the flavors have had time to mingle overnight in the fridge.
02 -
  • Do not rush the cream cheese softening, cold lumps in the final dish are disappointing and impossible to fix once assembled.
  • Every Buffalo sauce brand has a different heat level, so taste yours before committing to the full half cup and adjust up or down.
03 -
  • Save a small handful of the Buffalo sauce to drizzle over the top right before serving for a concentrated punch of flavor that wakes up every bite.
  • If your jalapenos are mild, leave a few seeds in one pepper to kick up the heat without overpowering the dish.

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