This buffalo chicken casserole recipe is a must try for those busy nights where you want a healthy, homecooked meal, but without too much hassle!
Buffalo chicken cauliflower casserole is a great way to use up leftover cooked chicken or even other meats like turkey.
This recipe also takes advantage of cauliflower as a healthy substitute. It doesn’t fully have the same texture, but offers a good flavor and healthy nutrients. Topped up with cheese this dish will be sure to please everyone!
This delicious casserole makes the perfect meal to make for dinner, or even meal prepping for the week ahead.
What’s a great comfort food?
It can be hard to decide on a dish that will please everyone in the family, yet still be pretty healthy and hearty. That’s why this recipe is so great because it uses cauliflower instead of potatoes for a healthy alternative and tops it with cheese for an irresistible combination!
Even if you’re not usually a fan of cauliflower, this dish will change your mind. The best part about trying new foods like this one is that there really are no wrong answers when it comes to cooking. As long as you enjoy what you eat then that’s all that matters.
If you’re looking for a delicious baked chicken and cauliflower recipe, then you’re going to want to try out this buffalo chicken cauliflower casserole recipe ASAP!
I’ve personally never been much for cooking (or baking unless a specific craving hits). However, since I live on my own now, it’s become essential to learn a few tricks of the trade if I want to live off of anything other than takeout. Honestly, I’ve surprised myself with how healthy I’ve actually stuck to eating since moving into my own place!
It’s been a goal of mine to try some new foods and recipes, but I’m also all about easy and quick recipes. Pinterest has been my best friend as I’ve been finding some yummy recipes that fit the bill. It literally only calls for a few ingredients!
This recipe was my first time making a casserole, and my first time ever cooking with cauliflower rice, and I would consider it a success!
Who is this recipe for?
I would recommend this recipe to anyone wanting a healthier alternative to your typical casserole, and for someone trying to incorporate more good foods into their diet. This was so delicious that I have been making it once a week ever since!
This recipe is great for just yourself if you want to keep some leftovers for busy days. It’s also great to serve up for family and friends coming to dinner.
I’m not a huge meat eater, and usually stick to eating chicken, so when I was looking for easy casseroles, I was also looking specifically for casserole recipes with chicken, and luckily there are many options!
Related: Spaghetti Casserole
When I found this casserole, it sounded delicious, but also different from anything I had tried before. After making it a couple times now, I am still very pleased with the result!
I have been trying to eat less “junky” foods and more whole foods so I try to make recipes similar to this one that can be thrown together quickly, and can make for delicious leftovers. This casserole is full of protein and has so much flavor!
The next time you are cooking chicken, you could also make sure to save some leftovers for this recipe because it will be worth it!
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Ingredients for Buffalo Chicken
1.5 lbs cooked chicken breast or chicken thighs cut into small pieces (if you don’t want to cook a chicken, you can use a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. You can also use shredded chicken)
5 cups riced cauliflower (I used frozen, but you can also use fresh cauliflower florets)
1/2 cup creamy buffalo sauce
8 ounces cream cheese
8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese (sharp cheddar cheese works well for this) You can also use mozzarella cheese.
How to Make Buffalo Chicken
First, preheat your oven to 375°F.
Then in a large bowl, combine your chicken, cauliflower, buffalo sauce, and cream cheese. Put in about half of your shredded cheese.
Spread into a your casserole dish and top it off with the rest of your remaining cheese.
Next, cover the casserole with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Put the foil on loosely, or puncture some holes in the top to allow steam to release.
Finally, remove the foil and bake for a final 10 minutes until the cheese is golden brown.
Notes:
Feel free to garnish with toppings like green onions.
For some extra flavoring, you can season with garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, or cayenne pepper.
If you want a bit more crunch in the casserole. you can include some other ingredients like crispy bacon, and red pepper.
You can add something like a side salad to this meal, however this really is a complete meal on its own, so don’t worry if you don’t want to make something else with this easy chicken casserole.
What is Buffalo Sauce?
Buffalo sauce is a tangy, spicy, and buttery sauce typically made from hot sauce, melted butter, and vinegar. It is named after the city of Buffalo, New York, where it originated.
The sauce is commonly used as a coating or dip for chicken wings, but it can also be used as a condiment for sandwiches, burgers, and other dishes.
You can also create a buffalo chicken dip.
Buffalo sauce can vary in heat and flavor depending on the type and amount of hot sauce used, as well as the addition of other ingredients such as garlic, Worcestershire sauce, or honey.
A Little Story:
In full transparency, I had a bit less cauliflower than stated in the recipe. As I was trying to break apart the frozen cauliflower, one of the bags somehow opened and spilled half of the bag of cauliflower all over the floor (cue the facepalm emoji).
It tasted wonderful even with a bit of the ingredients missing though, so no worries!
This casserole required a lot of cheese and cream cheese which is definitely a way to win my heart, so I was so excited to try this!
Honestly, if you’re looking for the best casseroles for company visiting, I feel like you can easily add this one to your list. It took next to no time to make, and it was so good!
I loved the bite of the buffalo sauce that was combined with the cream cheese! It also has just a bit of spice, but nothing too overwhelming.
Easy chicken casseroles are such a great way to keep your company or family fed without having to put in hours worth of effort. I found that this recipe had few dishes to wash too, which is always a win in my books!
This casserole is keto friendly, low carb friendly and is gluten free which is fantastic as well, so everyone can have the chance to enjoy it!
If you love healthy casserole recipes, be sure to give this one a try! I’d love to know if you decide to make this delicious chicken and cauliflower casserole or not.
I can’t wait for the next time our family is looking for dinner ideas so that I can pull this one back out!
What exactly is a casserole?
Technically, a casserole is simply a large baking dish. Traditionally, casseroles are defined as a one-dish meal made of ingredients that are cooked and baked together.
They can include meat, fish, poultry, canned soup and vegetables. Most casseroles require very little preparation time and even less cooking time.
They can be a great option for a busy weeknight dinner. It can also be an option as part of your favorite holiday menu.
Is a lasagna a casserole?
Yes, and no. Lasagna is certainly a food that could be classified under the casserole umbrella, but it doesn’t have to be. A lasagna can also be classified as a pasta dish, depending on what exactly is inside it.
Can you freeze this spicy casserole?
Freezing your favorite casseroles can be a great option to have a healthy meal on hand when time gets tight, or for nights where you really don’t feel like creating a healthy, home cooked meal.
Casseroles that have sauces in them will freeze best if you leave the sauce out of the recipe and add it to your casserole once it has thawed. You can also place your frozen casserole in the fridge, and then bake it up right before serving.
The only time you want to freeze casseroles with sauces is if they are going to be baked immediately. Casseroles filled with liquids won’t freeze well. This is because the liquid will separate and become a weird gelatinous texture once frozen.
This casserole dish is a great thing to make during the week since it’s a simple dish to create, yet is so delicious. The creamy casserole is also a great option for a family dinner for any night of the week, but it can also be used for holidays and other fun days like for after a football game for example. Since it’s a low carb casserole with simple ingredients,
Enjoy this creamy buffalo chicken recipe as an easy weeknight dinner recipe. I’m sure that after trying it once, it’ll become one of your favorite recipes to make!
