BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe
A flavorful and hearty BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad combining tender grilled chicken, colorful veggies, and a creamy BBQ yogurt dressing. Perfect as a nutritious lunch, side dish, or light dinner that’s quick to prepare and easy to customize.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Boiling, Mixing, Chilling
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked pasta (such as rotini or penne)
- 1 ½ cups shredded grilled chicken
- 1 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup corn (fresh, frozen, or canned)
- ½ cup diced red onion
- ½ cup chopped celery
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Dressing
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup BBQ sauce
- 2 tablespoons light mayo (optional, for added creaminess)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool the pasta and stop the cooking process.
- Prepare the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, BBQ sauce, and light mayo (if using) until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooked pasta, shredded grilled chicken, black beans, corn, red onion, celery, and cilantro. Toss gently to mix all the ingredients evenly.
- Add the Dressing: Pour the BBQ yogurt dressing over the salad and stir until all components are well coated to ensure every bite is flavorful.
- Chill Before Serving: Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld and to serve chilled.
- Serve and Enjoy: Give the salad a final stir before serving. Optionally garnish with extra fresh cilantro. Serve as a hearty lunch, a tasty side dish, or a light dinner.
Notes
- The light mayo is optional and can be omitted for a lighter or tangier salad.
- Use fresh corn when in season for the best flavor, or frozen/canned corn as convenient alternatives.
- Chilling the salad helps the flavors to meld but can also be enjoyed immediately if preferred.
- Substitute grilled chicken with smoked or rotisserie chicken for convenience.
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free pasta varieties.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
Keywords: BBQ chicken pasta salad, grilled chicken salad, pasta salad recipe, healthy BBQ salad, easy summer salad
Find it online: https://cookwithruby.com/bbq-chicken-pasta-salad-recipe/
