Honey BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad (Print version)

Chilled pasta salad with honey BBQ glazed chicken, crisp vegetables, and creamy smoky dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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
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

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water until completely cooled. Set aside.
02 - In a bowl, combine chicken chunks with honey, BBQ sauce, olive oil, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Transfer to a skillet over medium heat and sauté 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 well combined.
04 - Add cooled pasta, chicken, cherry tomatoes, corn, red bell pepper, celery, and red onion to the bowl with the dressing. Toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
05 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld and develop.
06 - Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with chopped fresh chives or parsley if desired. Serve chilled.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It actually tastes better the next day when the flavors have gotten friendly with each other in the fridge.
  • You can make it hours ahead and forget about it until guests arrive, which is basically a superpower for entertaining.
  • Even picky eaters seem to find something they love in every forkful, whether it's the chicken, the vegetables, or just the creamy dressing.
02 -
  • Cool both the pasta and chicken completely before mixing with the dressing, or everything becomes warm and the mayonnaise breaks slightly, leaving you with a grainy texture instead of something silky.
  • Don't dress the salad more than a few hours before serving, or the pasta will absorb all the moisture and become mushy—if you need to make it early, keep the dressing separate and toss everything together thirty minutes before guests arrive.
03 -
  • Use a smoky BBQ sauce you actually love, since it's the star flavor—taste it on the chicken before you commit, because different brands vary wildly in sweetness and smoke level.
  • Don't skip the apple cider vinegar in the dressing, because it's the ingredient that prevents everything from tasting flat and heavy, even though you won't taste it specifically.
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