BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad 

This BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad is a vibrant and satisfying dish, perfect for summer gatherings, potlucks, or casual dinners. It combines tender chicken breast, colorful bell peppers, sweet corn, and black beans, all tossed in a creamy BBQ-mayo dressing. The salad is both hearty and refreshing, offering a delightful blend of flavors and textures.

Full Recipe:  

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

• 1 red onion, chopped

• 1/2 jalapeño pepper, deseeded, deveined, and minced

• 1 pound small pasta shells

• 1 cup BBQ sauce

• 1 cup mayonnaise

• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1/4 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper

• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced

• 1 orange bell pepper, seeded and diced

• 1 cup corn kernels (fresh or frozen)

• 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained

• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, minced

Directions

1. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

2. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 4–6 minutes on each side until browned and cooked through.

3. Remove the chicken from the skillet, add the chopped onion and minced jalapeño to the same pan, and sauté for 2–3 minutes until softened.

4. While the chicken is cooling, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.

5. Add the pasta shells and cook until al dente, about 8–10 minutes.

6. Drain the pasta and rinse with cold water until chilled.

7. In a large bowl, whisk together the BBQ sauce, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper.

8. Chop the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces and add it to the bowl along with the sautéed onion and jalapeño mixture.

9. Add the diced red and orange bell peppers, corn, black beans, and minced cilantro to the bowl.

10. Add the chilled pasta to the bowl and toss everything together until well combined.

11. Cover and refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld.

Nutritional Information (per serving)

• Calories: 607 kcal

• Carbohydrates: 73 g

• Protein: 18 g

• Fat: 27 g

• Saturated Fat: 7 g

• Cholesterol: 30 mg

• Sodium: 933 mg

• Potassium: 608 mg

• Fiber: 7 g

• Sugar: 17 g

• Vitamin A: 1130 IU

• Vitamin C: 43.2 mg

• Calcium: 49 mg

• Iron: 2.4 mg