Description

BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad is a vibrant, hearty dish that combines juicy chicken, smoky BBQ sauce, pasta, and fresh vegetables in a creamy, tangy dressing. Perfect for picnics, potlucks, or casual weeknight meals, this salad is sure to be a crowd-pleaser!

Ingredients

For the Main Ingredients:

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

1 pound (450 g) small pasta

1 cup (240 ml) barbecue sauce

1 cup (240 ml) mayonnaise

½ teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper

For the Vegetables & Legumes:

1 red onion, chopped

½ jalapeño pepper, deseeded, deveined, and minced

1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced

1 orange bell pepper, seeded and diced

1 cup corn kernels

1 can (425 g) black beans, rinsed and drained

¼ cup minced fresh cilantro

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Instructions

Cook the Chicken: Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 4–6 minutes per side, or until fully cooked and golden brown. Remove from the skillet and set aside to rest. Once cooled, cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
Sauté the Vegetables: In the same skillet, add the chopped red onion and minced jalapeño. Sauté for 2–3 minutes, stirring frequently, until softened. Remove from heat and set aside.
Cook the Pasta: Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling water for one minute less than the package instructions indicate. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process.
Prepare the Dressing: In a large mixing bowl, combine the barbecue sauce, mayonnaise, kosher salt, and ground black pepper. Stir until the dressing is smooth and well blended.
Combine the Ingredients: Add the cooked pasta, chicken, sautéed onion and jalapeño, diced red and orange bell peppers, corn, black beans, and cilantro to the bowl with the dressing. Toss everything together until well coated.
Serve: Transfer the salad to a serving dish and garnish with additional cilantro, if desired. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Notes

Marinate for Extra Flavor: For enhanced flavor, prepare the salad in advance and refrigerate for at least one hour before serving to allow the ingredients to meld and the flavors to develop.

Pasta Choices: Feel free to use your favorite type of pasta, such as rotini, penne, or fusilli, to add variety and texture to the salad.

Customize the Veggies: You can add other vegetables like cherry tomatoes, cucumber, or avocado for extra color and nutrition.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Salad
Method: Boiling, Sautéing, Mixing
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
Calories: 340
Sugar: 5g
Sodium: 550mg
Fat: 18g
Saturated Fat: 2g
Unsaturated Fat: 14g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 34g
Fiber: 7g
Protein: 22g
Cholesterol: 35mg