This BBQ chicken pasta recipe is perfect when you need a quick and tasty dinner. With its delicious smoky barbecue flavor and quick preparation time, it’s sure to become a family favorite!
Chunks of chicken, crisp bacon, sweet corn, and tender pasta coated in a cheesy tangy BBQ sauce. What’s not to love?
I am a big fan of easy one-skillet meals, not only because they’re easy, but because I don’t love washing lots of pots and pans! Who does?
It’s been years since I first made this barbecue chicken pasta. The recipe got lost in one of my many spiral notebooks, and I recently rediscovered it.
My whole family loved it, just like they did the first time! What’s not to love about an easy pasta recipe that’s loaded with cooked chicken, bacon, and barbecue sauce, then finished off with melty cheese?
HOW TO MAKE ONE POT BBQ CHICKEN PASTA
- PREP – Dice the onion. Cut the chicken into one-inch cubes.
- SAUTE CHICKEN – Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the chicken cubes – no need to cook them completely, just brown them. Add the garlic and saute for about a minute.
Add the flour and stir till the chicken pieces are all coated. - COOK PASTA – Stir in the bouillon, water, diced tomatoes, pasta, salt, pepper, paprika, and corn. Boil, then turn the heat down to low. Cover and simmer until pasta is tender, stirring occasionally. It should take 13-16 minutes.
- FINISH – Stir in about 3/4 cup of the cheese, the barbeque sauce, and the bacon bits. Heat through.
- SERVE – Serve the pasta hot, garnishing with the remaining grated cheese and green onions if desired.
Leftover pasta can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. You can simply reheat the leftovers in the microwave.
VARIATIONS:
- I like to use rotini pasta because it holds onto the sauce in all those ridges, but you can use penne pasta or any small dry pasta of your choice.
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper for a bit of heat.
- For a lower-fat dish, use turkey bacon and low-fat cheddar cheese.
- To add a boost of protein and fiber, stir in a can of drained black beans.
- For creamy pasta, you can stir in some sour cream or cream cheese with the barbeque sauce.
- Instead of dicing and cooking chicken breast, you can use leftover chicken or shredded rotisserie chicken.
MORE HEARTY PASTA RECIPES:
- Pepperoni Pizza Casserole
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
- One Pot Chicken and Broccoli Pasta
- Cheesy Beef Taco Pasta
- One Pan Creamy Chicken and Gnocchi
- Homemade Chili Mac
- Hamburger Mac and Cheese
BBQ Chicken Pasta Recipe
The whole family will fall in love with this tasty pasta dish. It's hearty, packed with smoky flavor, and made all in one pan!
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 Tbsp all purpose flour
- 1 Tbsp low sodium chicken bouillon
- 2 cups water
- 1 15 oz can diced tomatoes
- 12 oz dry pasta (rotini)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1/2 cup barbeque sauce
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 1/4 cup crispy bacon bits (4 slices)
Instructions
- Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces. Dice the onion.
- Brown the chicken cubes with the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and saute for a minute.
- Add the flour and stir till the chicken is well coated.
- Stir in the bouillon, water, diced tomatoes, pasta, salt, pepper, paprika, and corn.
- Bring to a boil, then turn the heat down to low. Cover and simmer for 13-16 minutes or until pasta is tender, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in the BBQ sauce, 3/4 cup of the cheese, and the bacon. Stir until the cheese melts.
- Garnish with the remaining 1/4 cup of grated cheese.
Notes
-You can use 2 cups of chicken broth or chicken stock in place of the water and bouillon.
-We like Sweet Baby Rays, but you can use your favorite bbq sauce, either store-bought or homemade.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 558Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 83mgSodium: 801mgCarbohydrates: 68gFiber: 5gSugar: 13gProtein: 39g
This one pot BBQ chicken pasta is the perfect recipe for a busy weeknight. It calls for simple ingredients, but the flavor is anything but boring!
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