Honey BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad (Print version)

Tender glazed chicken with pasta, fresh veggies, and smoky creamy dressing

# Required ingredients:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, cut into bite-sized chunks
02 - 1/3 cup honey
03 - 1/3 cup smoky BBQ sauce
04 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
05 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
07 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Pasta

08 - 12 ounces rotini or penne pasta

→ Vegetables

09 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
10 - 1 cup corn kernels, fresh or thawed
11 - 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
12 - 1/2 cup celery, thinly sliced
13 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped

→ Dressing

14 - 3/4 cup mayonnaise
15 - 1/4 cup sour cream
16 - 2 tablespoons BBQ sauce
17 - 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
18 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
19 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
20 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Garnish

21 - 2 tablespoons fresh chives or parsley, chopped

# How to make it:

01 - Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water until completely cooled. Set aside.
02 - While pasta cooks, toss chicken chunks with honey, BBQ sauce, olive oil, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Sauté in a skillet over medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes until heated through and glazed. Allow to cool completely.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, BBQ sauce, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until smooth and combined.
04 - Add cooled pasta, chicken, cherry tomatoes, corn, red bell pepper, celery, and red onion to the bowl with dressing. Toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
05 - Taste the salad and adjust salt, pepper, and other seasonings as needed to achieve desired flavor balance.
06 - Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and develop. Garnish with fresh chives or parsley if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The honey-BBQ glaze on the chicken gives you that restaurant-quality taste without needing any special equipment or techniques.
  • You can prep everything ahead and just toss it together an hour before guests arrive, which means less stress and more time enjoying the gathering.
  • It works as a main dish at casual dinners or a crowd-pleaser at potlucks where you never know what else will show up.
02 -
  • Don't skip cooling the chicken and pasta before mixing, because if they're warm when they hit that creamy dressing, the whole salad gets warm and the flavors never develop properly.
  • The dressing thickens as it sits, so if it seems too thick when you serve it the next day, whisk in a tablespoon or two of milk to loosen it back up.
03 -
  • Taste the dressing before you add the pasta and vegetables so you catch any seasoning issues early, because fixing it after mixing is awkward.
  • Keep a little dressing separate when you're bringing this to a potluck, because the pasta keeps absorbing it and you might need to freshen it up right before serving.
Return