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Tired of the same-old same-old? Change up your weeknight meals with this family favorite dish, BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe. It’s incredibly flavorful, creamy, and mayo-free. It’s the perfect dinner for a hot summer night!
Easy BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad
A plain pasta salad can be boring and bland until you try this simple chicken pasta salad recipe. It’s your favorite vegetables, pasta and cooked chicken glazed in an incredible homemade barbecue dressing for an explosion of flavors.
Don’t worry, this BBQ salad dressing only took a few seconds to make. I just added some onion, garlic, spices, vinegar, citrus, and oil and the result is a thick dressing that tastes like a BBQ chip! You could even opt for a store bought barbecue vinaigrette but I prefer the homemade version since it’s fresh and free of any extras.
Pasta salad is the perfect potluck side dish – and this one doesn’t need to be refrigerated. And if you’re looking for other easy side dishes, check out my Italian Pasta Salad and my Three Bean Salad too!
Ingredients Needed
- Pasta: I’m using Rotini Pasta cooked and drained according to package directions but any posta shape works
- Corn: kernels frozen and thawed or fresh or cut off a cooked cob
- Chicken: Use rotisserie chicken or make pulled spicy chicken – or you can even use my instant pot shredded chicken
- Cilantro: I love adding cilantro to most dishes since it smells delicious and adds so much flavor! But if you’re not a cilantro lover, leave it out, or use Italian parsley.
- Barbecue sauce: you can’t complete this pasta salad dressing without the BBQ sauce. Your favorite BBQ sauce works best in this recipe. I’ve also made this with sugar-free barbecue sauce and it was delicious!
- Onion: a finely diced red onion
- Garlic: you can use either garlic paste or 1 garlic clove that’s crushed
- Paprika: smoked paprika makes all the difference in this dressing. Don’t skip this one
- Vinegar: red wine vinegar is an essential ingredient to make barbecue vinaigrette
- Oil: Olive oil to give our salad dressing some texture
How to make chicken pasta salad
- Stir together cooled pasta, onion, corn, tomatoes, chicken, and cilantro in a large bowl.
- Make the dressing: add all dressing ingredients to a jar or sealed container. Seal and shake well to combine.
- Pour dressing over pasta salad and toss to combine.
- Serve and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Add cooked bacon for an extra flavor boost
- Save time by using rotisserie chicken!
- Add any vegetables you like to this – adding red bell peppers would be great!
- We love using sugar-free barbecue sauce but use your favorite brand.
FAQs
Up to 2 days when stored tightly in the refrigerator.
This chicken pasta salad lasts for about 2 days.
BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad
Ingredients
For the salad:
- ½ lb. Rotini Pasta cooked and drained according to package directions
- ¾ cup red onion diced
- 1 cup corn kernels frozen and thawed or fresh, cut off a cooked cob
- 1 cup halved grape or cherry tomatoes
- 2 cups shredded chicken I used rotisserie
- 2 tablespoons cilantro or to taste
- BBQ sauce dressing recipe follows
For the dressing:
- ¼ cup your favorite barbecue sauce
- ½ teaspoon finely diced red onion
- 1 teaspoon garlic paste or 1 garlic clove crushed
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- Juice of 1 lime
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Stir together cooled pasta, onion, corn, tomatoes, chicken, and cilantro in a large bowl.
- Make the dressing: add all dressing ingredients to a jar or sealed container. Seal and shake well to combine. Pour over pasta salad and toss to combine.
- Serve within 2 days. Store tightly covered in refrigerator.
Recipe Notes
- Add any vegetables you like to this – bell peppers would be great!
- We love using sugar-free barbecue sauce but use your favorite brand.
Mmmm I just made this, and the taste tests were delicious! Can’t wait for dinner now ?
Looks delicious! Would make a great side for a July 4th cookout. 🙂
I’m into it. Pasta salad on its own can be somewhat bland so I love how you’ve added a little zip with the BBQ flavor.
Sounds like a great meal for a hot summer night, especially with the Lipton tea!
This salad is perfect for summer parties and potlucks! Your photos are especially gorgeous here! Really beautiful and they just pop!
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