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Large bowl of BBQ chicken pasta salad with shell pasta, black beans, red and orange bell peppers, corn, and cilantro tossed in creamy BBQ dressing

BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad

Easy BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad with a creamy BBQ mayo dressing, colorful vegetables, black beans, and juicy pan-seared chicken. A perfect crowd-pleasing dish for summer cookouts and family dinners.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 8 portions
Course: Dinner, Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 605

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 2 boneless skinless chicken breast halves patted dry before cooking
  • 1 red onion chopped
  • 0.5 jalapeño pepper de-seeded, de-veined, and minced
  • 1 lb small pasta shells
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 0.5 tsp kosher salt
  • 0.25 tsp coarse ground black pepper
  • 1 red bell pepper seeded and diced
  • 1 orange bell pepper seeded and diced
  • 1 cup corn fresh, canned, or thawed frozen
  • 15 oz canned black beans rinsed and drained
  • 0.25 cup fresh cilantro minced

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • Large pot
  • Large mixing bowl

Method
 

  1. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts and cook for 4 to 6 minutes per side until cooked through and golden brown. Internal temperature should reach 165 degrees F. Remove from pan and set aside to rest.
  2. Using the same skillet, add the chopped red onion and minced jalapeño. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring often, until softened and slightly golden. Remove from heat and let cool.
  3. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta shells one minute less than package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water until completely cool.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the BBQ sauce, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper until smooth.
  5. Chop rested chicken into bite-sized pieces. Add chicken, cooked onion and jalapeño, both diced bell peppers, corn, black beans, cilantro, and cooled pasta to the bowl. Toss everything together until evenly coated. Taste and adjust seasoning before serving.

Notes

For best results, let the salad chill in the fridge for at least one hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld. If it looks dry the next day, stir in a spoonful of mayo and a splash of BBQ sauce to freshen it up. Do not leave this salad at room temperature for more than 2 hours.