Get ready to fall in love with BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad! This vibrant, hearty dish takes tender chicken, smoky BBQ sauce, and a rainbow of fresh veggies, then tosses them with creamy pasta shells for a crowd-pleasing salad that works beautifully for picnics, potlucks, or quick weeknight dinners. Trust me—once you taste all these bold flavors mingling together, you’ll want to make this again and again.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Super Flavorful: Each bite of BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad bursts with a harmony of tangy, smoky, creamy, and fresh flavors that just keep you coming back for more.
- Meal Prep Friendly: This salad actually gets tastier as it sits, making it the perfect make-ahead lunch, picnic star, or easy weeknight dinner.
- Colorful & Crowd-Pleasing: With tender chicken, sweet corn, and bright bell peppers, it’s as gorgeous on the table as it is delicious—and everyone always asks for seconds!
- Easily Customizable: Swap in your favorite veggies, try a spicier BBQ sauce, or make it vegetarian—the choice is yours!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Each ingredient in this BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad brings its own little burst of flavor, texture, or color. It’s a handful of humble pantry staples plus a few fresh additions—nothing complicated, but every choice matters!
- Vegetable oil: To sear the chicken perfectly without sticking, and add shine to your sautéed veggies.
- Boneless, skinless chicken breast: Lean, protein-packed, and ideal for soaking up that smoky BBQ flavor.
- Red onion: Adds sharpness and a hint of sweetness after quick sautéing.
- Jalapeño pepper: De-seeded for a gentle kick, but feel free to leave some seeds in if you love spice!
- Pasta shells: I love shell pasta because every nook cradles that creamy, tangy dressing—use your favorite short pasta if you’d like.
- BBQ sauce: Sweet, smoky, and sticky—pick your favorite brand or style for a totally custom vibe.
- Mayonnaise: For luscious creaminess that mellows out the BBQ tang.
- Kosher salt and coarse ground black pepper: Essential for pulling all those bright flavors together.
- Red bell pepper: Juicy, sweet, and colorful, it pops against the creamy pasta.
- Orange bell pepper: Adds a little extra sweetness and another fun burst of color.
- Corn: Sweet, crisp little kernels that bring a touch of summer to every forkful.
- Black beans: Plump, hearty, and filling—they add a protein boost and fabulous color contrast.
- Minced fresh cilantro: Sprinkled in at the end for a bright, herby finish (skip if you’re not a cilantro fan, no hard feelings!).
Variations
BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad is just begging to be personalized! Adapt it to what’s in your fridge or pantry, or change it up to suit any diet or taste—there’s no wrong way to enjoy this summery salad.
- Vegetarian Option: Skip the chicken and use extra beans, grilled tofu, or roasted cauliflower for a veggie-packed salad everyone can love.
- Lighter Dressing: Swap some (or all) of the mayo for Greek yogurt to cut the richness and add extra protein.
- Cheesy Upgrade: Toss in cubes of sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack, or pepper jack for a creamy, melty twist.
- Make it Spicy: Use a spicy BBQ sauce or add more jalapeño for a bigger kick—sriracha or chipotle also work wonders!
How to Make BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad
Step 1: Sear the Chicken
Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high, then add your chicken breasts. Let them sear for about 4–6 minutes per side until they’re beautifully golden and cooked through. This quick sear locks in all those delicious juices and gives your chicken that irresistible “grilled” taste—even on the stovetop!
Step 2: Sauté the Veggies
Remove the chicken and, right in the same skillet, toss in the chopped red onion and minced jalapeño. Sauté for 2–3 minutes, stirring often, until they’re soft and aromatic (and just starting to caramelize around the edges). This quick step mellows the onion’s sharpness and deepens the flavors beautifully.
Step 3: Cook the Pasta
While your veggies are sizzling, bring a big pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta shells just one minute shy of the box directions—the pasta should be tender but not mushy, so it can stand up to all that dressing. Drain and rinse briefly under cold water to cool and stop the cooking.
Step 4: Make the Dressing
In your largest salad bowl, whisk together the BBQ sauce, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper. Give it a good stir—this is where the creamy meets the smoky, and it’s about to tie all those flavors together!
Step 5: Chop & Combine
Chop the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces. Add it to your bowl with the dressing, then toss in the sautéed onions and jalapeños, diced bell peppers, corn, black beans, and fresh cilantro. Add the cooked pasta and toss everything gently (but thoroughly)—every shell should glisten with that zesty, creamy dressing. Your BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad is ready to enjoy!
Pro Tips for Making BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad
- BBQ Sauce Selection: Try a bold, smoky BBQ sauce if you want that classic “grilled” kick, or go sweet and tangy for a Southern twist—the sauce truly sets the flavor tone for your salad.
- Pasta Perfection: Cook your shells until just al dente, then rinse briefly; this keeps them from getting soggy and lets them soak up the sauce as they chill.
- Chill Before Serving: Give your BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad at least 30 minutes in the fridge before serving—this gives everything time to mingle and build even more flavor.
- Fresh Add-Ins: Don’t be afraid to toss in chopped avocado, a squeeze of lime, or extra cilantro for even brighter color and taste right before serving.
How to Serve BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad
Garnishes
Top your BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad with a generous handful of fresh cilantro, a sprinkle of sliced green onions, or even a dusting of smoked paprika to amp up the color. If you love a little creaminess, a sprinkle of crumbled feta or cheddar is also fabulous.
Side Dishes
This bold, satisfying salad is practically a meal on its own, but it’s perfect alongside buttery cornbread, crunchy coleslaw, or a simple green salad for a true picnic experience. For something extra hearty, try it with grilled veggies or warm sourdough bread.
Creative Ways to Present
Show off those vibrant colors by serving the pasta salad in a wide, shallow platter or glass bowl. For parties, dish it up in individual mason jars or small bowls and top each with a sprig of cilantro. Or, stuff the salad into halved bell peppers for a super fun, edible serving vessel!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep your BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad fresh by storing it in a sealed container in the refrigerator. It’ll stay delicious for up to 3 days, and the flavors somehow get even better after a night in the fridge—just give it a gentle stir before re-serving.
Freezing
While you can freeze the cooked chicken and some individual components, the assembled pasta salad doesn’t freeze well—the creamy dressing tends to separate, and veggies lose their crunch. For best results, enjoy it fresh or chilled from the fridge!
Reheating
BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad is meant to be served chilled or at room temperature, so there’s no need to reheat. If you prefer, leave it out of the fridge for about 15–20 minutes before serving to let the flavors shine and the texture soften a bit.
FAQs
-
Can I use rotisserie chicken or leftover grilled chicken in BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad?
Absolutely! Rotisserie chicken or leftover grilled chicken makes this recipe even quicker. Just shred or chop the cooked chicken, warm gently if you like, and toss it in with the rest of your salad ingredients for the ultimate shortcut.
-
What’s the best type of BBQ sauce for this recipe?
Choose your favorite! A classic hickory or smoky-sweet BBQ sauce is always a winner in BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad, but spicy or Carolina-style sauces can offer a real twist. Go with one you already love—the flavor shines through!
-
Can I make BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad gluten-free?
Yes, just substitute the regular pasta shells with your favorite gluten-free pasta. All other ingredients are naturally gluten-free, so it’s an easy swap (just make sure your BBQ sauce is certified gluten-free, too).
-
How far in advance can I make BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad?
You can prepare it up to a day in advance! In fact, the flavors meld together even more after a few hours in the fridge, making this a perfect make-ahead option for parties or busy weeks.
Final Thoughts
If you’re craving a meal that’s a total celebration of summer flavors, give this BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad a try! It’s the kind of easy, irresistible recipe you’ll want to share with friends and family—just don’t be surprised when it disappears faster than you expected. I can’t wait for you to dig in!
Print
BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 people 1x
- Category: Stovetop
- Method: Stovetop
Description
This BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad is a delightful combination of tender chicken, flavorful vegetables, and a creamy barbecue dressing, creating a satisfying dish perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Chicken:
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
Salad:
- 1 red onion, chopped
- 1/2 jalapeno peppers, de-seeded, de-veined, and minced
- 1 pound small pasta shells
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse ground pepper
- 1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
- 1 orange bell pepper, seeded and diced
- 1 cup corn
- 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Cook Chicken: Heat vegetable oil in a skillet, cook chicken for 4-6 minutes per side, then remove and set aside.
- Sauté Vegetables: In the same skillet, sauté onions and jalapenos until softened.
- Cook Pasta: Boil pasta until just shy of package directions, then drain and rinse.
- Prepare Dressing: Mix BBQ sauce, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
- Combine Ingredients: Chop chicken, toss with dressing, add in sautéed vegetables, bell peppers, corn, black beans, and cilantro. Mix well.
