BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad
Whenever you're in the mood for a smoky and flavorful dish, this BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad combines tender chicken, smoky barbecue sauce, and creamy pasta, making it the perfect balance of savory and satisfying for any gathering or meal.
Servings 8
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
- 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 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp 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
- Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 4-6 minutes on each side until golden brown. Once cooked, remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
- In the same skillet, add chopped onions and jalapeños. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently, until they soften and become fragrant.
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of water, following the package directions but stopping one minute shy of the suggested time. Drain the pasta and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process.
- In a large bowl, mix together the BBQ sauce, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper to make the dressing.
- Chop the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces and add it to the bowl with the dressing. Add the sautéed onions and jalapeños, along with chopped bell peppers, corn, black beans, and cilantro. Toss everything together until well combined, and serve.
Notes
Serving: For food safety, avoid leaving chicken pasta salad out at room temperature for more than 2 hours, as it can spoil and become unsafe to eat.
Storing: Leftover chicken pasta salad can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Be sure to refrigerate promptly to maintain freshness.
Freezing: While you can freeze chicken pasta salad, it’s best to freeze the sauce separately to preserve texture and make reheating easier. When ready to serve, simply thaw the components and mix them.