This 20-minute BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad is one of my heartier, more satisfying pasta salad recipes. It’s packed with fresh summer veggies and tender grilled chicken, all tossed in a light, tangy dressing with a hint of sweet barbecue flavour. Enjoy this easy, delicious dish at your next picnic or summer barbecue – it’s perfect for serving a crowd.
The Perfect Side for Your Summer BBQ
We got a beautiful, shiny new barbecue this year and all I want to do is stock the fridge with cold salads like this creamy Italian potato salad and BBQ bacon potato salad. Grilled meats and cold salads are the ultimate summer combination, am I right?
To celebrate the fresh produce from my garden and local farmer’s markets, I created this BBQ chicken pasta salad. I used some of our favourites: corn on the cob (off the cob), cherry tomatoes (the girls’ favourite!), and zucchini. I also paired it with the classic fusilli and grilled chicken.
And guys!? This pasta salad tastes SO good for how easy it is. It’s hearty, smoky, and flavorful, everything you want in a summer dish.
Ingredients for BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad
- Fusilli pasta: I love using fusilli because the sauce gets trapped in all the spirals, but any short pasta like rotini or penne works too.
- Chicken breasts: Go for boneless, skinless breasts. You can also use chicken thighs if you prefer.
- Cherry tomatoes: These little guys are so sweet and juicy! Grape tomatoes are a great substitute.
- Corn cobs: Fresh is best, but you can totally use canned or frozen corn if that’s what you have on hand.
- Zucchini: One medium zucchini is all you need. Yellow squash would also be delicious.
- Barbecue sauce: Use your favorite brand! Something smoky and a little sweet works best here.
- Cider: This adds a nice tang to balance the sweetness. Apple cider vinegar is a good alternative.
- Honey: Just a touch for some extra sweetness. You can swap this for maple syrup if you like.
Tips and Tricks for Making this BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad:
- This pasta salad is great at room temperature or chilled, so you can whip it up just before guests arrive or make it the day before and let it hang out in the fridge.
- This salad is naturally dairy-free. You can easily make this pasta salad gluten-free by using gluten-free pasta or vegetarian by omitting the chicken.
- If you love cheese as much as we do, you may want to throw some in for good measure! It’s just as good with or without 🙂
What to Serve with BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad
This BBQ chicken pasta salad is a perfect side dish for all your summer favorites. Grill up some BBQ grilled turkey burgers or a juicy grilled pork tenderloin with a simple marinade. You also can’t go wrong with some air fryer hot dogs (the kids always love this!)! Serve it all up with fresh fruit, OR maybe this creamy fruit salad for dessert. So easy and so delicious!
How to Store BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad
You can store this chicken pasta salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad FAQs
Yes, you can easily prep this pasta salad the day before! If you let the pasta salad hang out in the fridge for at least half an hour (or even overnight), all the flavors will get to know each other and taste even better.
To avoid mushy or sticky pasta, I like to cook it for one minute less than the package directions suggest. This will give it a nice al dente bite. As soon as you drain the pasta, rinse it with cold water. This little trick stops it from cooking any further. Another tip is to toss it with about a teaspoon of olive oil, which will keep the noodles from sticking together.
This salad is super versatile, so feel free to toss in any other summer veggies you have on hand. I love adding chopped red bell peppers for a sweet crunch, red onion for a little zest, and some creamy avocado. If you want to bulk it up, a can of black beans or chickpeas would be great for some extra fiber and protein!
If you make this BBQ chicken pasta salad, be sure to leave a rating and comment below to let me know how it turned out!
BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad with Tomatoes, Zucchini and Corn
written by Ashley Fehr
Ingredients
- 1 340g box Fusilli pasta
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and sliced
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 cobs of corn, cooked and corn removed from cob
- 2 small zucchini, quartered lengthwise and sliced
- 2-3 tablespoons fresh chives
- 2-3 tablespoons fresh parsley
- ¾ cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons barbecue sauce
- 2 tablespoons cider or red wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons liquid honey
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Pinch of pepper
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and toss with oil to prevent sticking. Cool.
- In a large bowl, combine pasta, chicken, tomatoes, corn, zucchini, chives and parsley.
- Whisk together oil, barbecue sauce, vinegar, honey, salt and pepper and drizzle over salad. Add more or less herbs, salt or pepper to taste if desired.
- Serve room temperature or refrigerate until ready to eat (up to 24 hours in advance).
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction says
Love all the veggies in this salad! What a perfect summer dish!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Jessica!
Kelly Senyei @ Just a Taste says
Looks delicious, Ashley! A perfect quick and easy dish for summer barbecues 🙂
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Kelly!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
I’m struggling with wanting to turn on the oven, too…it’s been 90 degrees here the past few days! I’m not complaining, but I want ALL the pasta salads! This bbq chicken version looks SO good, Ashley! I’ve never had a pasta salad with that flavor before, and I’m loving the fresh veggies in here too!
Ashley Fehr says
I had never either, but I love the touch of flavor a little barbecue sauce adds to the dressing! Thanks Gayle!
Sherrie L. Scharbrough says
I look forward to each one of your posts. They are mostly easy uncomplcated and quick to make. Thank you for allowing me to be a small part of your recipes.
Ashley Fehr says
Thank you so much for your kind words Sherrie! It means a lot to me that you are enjoying them 🙂