Description
Delightful BBQ chicken pasta salad brings summer picnics and backyard gatherings to life with zesty southwestern flavors. Fresh ingredients and tangy dressing create a perfect balance of comfort and excitement for your next casual meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 16 oz rotini pasta
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
Vegetables and Herbs:
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 red onion, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 2 green onions, sliced
Seasonings and Extras:
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup corn kernels
- 1/4 cup black beans
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat outdoor grill or indoor grill pan to medium-high heat around 400°F for chicken preparation.
- Season chicken breasts with garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper, ensuring even coating.
- Grill chicken for 6-7 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165°F, creating beautiful char marks.
- Remove chicken from grill, let rest for 5 minutes, then dice into bite-sized cubes.
- Cook rotini pasta in salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente, typically 8-10 minutes.
- Drain pasta and rinse with cold water to stop cooking process, then transfer to large mixing bowl.
- Chop red and green bell peppers, red onion, cilantro, and green onions while pasta cools.
- In separate bowl, whisk together BBQ sauce and mayonnaise to create creamy dressing.
- Add grilled chicken cubes, diced vegetables, corn kernels, and black beans to pasta.
- Pour BBQ-mayo dressing over pasta mixture, gently tossing to coat all ingredients evenly.
- Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top and fold gently to distribute.
- Refrigerate salad for 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld and develop.
- Garnish with additional fresh cilantro before serving chilled or at room temperature.
Notes
- Select bone-in chicken breasts for more flavor and juiciness during grilling process.
- Marinate chicken in BBQ sauce for 30 minutes before grilling to enhance taste and tenderness.
- Use gluten-free pasta and BBQ sauce for celiac or gluten-sensitive diets.
- Add extra protein by incorporating diced avocado or grilled tofu for vegetarian version.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg