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BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad

BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad made with Dreamfields rotini pasta

4 from 1 review

 

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 box (13.25 oz) Dreamfields rotini pasta (uncooked)
  • 2 Tbsp avocado oil (or olive oil)
  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced
  • 2 tsp cumin
  • 2 tsp paprika
  • 1 cup diced red onion (or white onion)
  • 2 cups diced bell pepper (red, orange or yellow)
  • 1.5 cups fresh or frozen corn kernals
  • 1.5 cups cherry tomatoes, quartered
  • 1 cup no-salt-added black beans, drained
  • 2/3 cup BBQ sauce
  • 2 medium avocado (approx 1 pound)
  • 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice (1 medium lime)
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • fresh cilantro to garnish, optional

Instructions

  1. Cook Dreamfields pasta according to package directions. 
  2. While Dreamfields pasta is cooking, heat avocado oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. 
  3. Add diced chicken, cumin, paprika, onion, and peppers and cook 5-6 minutes, stirring frequently.
  4. Add corn, tomatoes, and black beans and cook an additional 5-6 minutes until chicken is cooked to 165 degrees F (stack several cubes of chicken and pierce with a thermometer to register temperature).
  5. Transfer chicken mixture to a large bowl. Add BBQ sauce and mix well. 
  6. Stir in cooked, drained pasta and stir to combine. 
  7. In a small bowl, scoop avocado out of shell, remove pit and mash with a fork. Add lime juice and salt and stir to combine. 
  8. After chicken and pasta mixture cools at least 20 minutes (or just before serving), stir guacamole into pasta mixture. 
  9. Garnish with fresh cilantro if desired. 
  10. Optional: Mix some minced fresh cilantro into guacamole before adding to pasta mixture and drizzle with additional bbq sauce if desired.

Notes

This BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad is perfect for everything from dinner on a hot night to a summer picnic or cookout. It’s packed with protein, fiber, and vegetables and can be made ahead of time!