Kick off cookout season with this easy BBQ Pasta Salad! It starts with a creamy BBQ dressing made with greek yogurt, then it’s tossed with protein pasta, black beans, sweet corn, crispy bacon, juicy tomatoes & sharp cheddar cheese. It’s loaded with bold, tangy, sweet & smoky BBQ flavor and 19g of protein and 7g of fiber in each serving! Equally as delicious as a side dish as it is a main meal, and perfect for hosting and meal prep alike.
We have officially made it to pasta salad summer, AKA the best time of the year! I love experimenting with different pasta salad combos, and I swear it’s the type of meal you just can never get sick of. In true Americana summer fashion, we are kicking off the season with a BBQ Pasta Salad. It’s complete with all the smoky sweet BBQ flavors, some fresh add-ins, and a shocking amount of protein and fiber.
This BBQ Pasta Salad is also incredibly quick & easy to make! All you have to do is cook up the bacon and pasta…the rest is just some chopping & tossing. It’s simple but effective, and makes a big batch so you can serve a crowd the next time you’re hosting a cook-out, or just have leftovers as a meal prep lunch.
The best part about pasta salad recipes? They’re super customizable so you can add other mix-ins, or remove any that you aren’t a fan on. Make it gluten free by swapping in a gluten free pasta, and be sure to use your favorite brand of BBQ sauce! Although it’s meant to be a side dish, I actually find that it‘s filling enough to be a full meal on its own. You could even pair it with some BBQ chicken if you wanna level up the protein even further!
Why You’ll Love this BBQ Pasta Salad
- It’s the quintessential Summer side dish, perfect for your next cookout!
- This BBQ Pasta Salad is packed with protein & fiber, to keep you fuller for longer.
- It can easily be made gluten free and/or dairy free.
- It features a creamy BBQ dressing made with greek yogurt, that’s sweet & smoky.
- It’s easy to whip up in under 30 minutes!
What You Need to Make this BBQ Pasta Salad
For the Pesto Chicken:
- Bacon: To complement the smoky flavor of the BBQ sauce, we are tossing in some crispy bacon bits.
- Cavatappi Pasta: I adore this pasta shape, and think it’s perfect for pasta salads! I used the brand Brami which is both high in protein & fiber. You can also easily make this recipe gluten free by substituting your favorite gluten free pasta, such as Banza or Jovial.
- BBQ Sauce: Choose your favorite! I typically reach for Primal Kitchen as a low sugar option with great ingredients, but this time around I used Stubb’s which is great too.
- Greek Yogurt: I recommend full-fat plain greek yogurt or skyr for the best rich flavor.
- Black Beans: To boost the fiber even more!
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Go for yellow cheddar instead of white for some color contrast, and extra sharp cheddar is even better! I prefer to buy it as a block and freshly grate it myself, but pre-grated is fine too.
- Corn: The kernels from about 2 ears of corn. No need to cook it, you can enjoy raw corn and it adds a super refreshing crunch!
- Grape Tomatoes: Or cherry tomatoes, halved if small or quartered if large.
- Red Onion: A quintessential pairing with BBQ sauce! If you prefer a milder flavor, either cut back on the red onion, soak it in an ice bath first, or use shallot instead.
How To Make This Easy BBQ Pasta Salad
Cook the Bacon until Crispy:
First, preheat your oven to 400F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place bacon strips onto prepared baking sheet and bake until crispy, about 15-20 minutes. Transfer bacon to a paper towel lined plate and blot off excess grease before crumbling or chopping up into small pieces.
Cook Pasta According to Package Instructions:
While the bacon is cooking, cook pasta in heavily salted water according to package instructions. Once done, drain and rinse with cold water to cool it down and stop it from cooking. Set aside.
Whisk together BBQ Sauce & Greek Yogurt, Toss Pasta Salad:
To a large salad bowl, add the BBQ sauce and greek yogurt and whisk until smooth and combined. Then, add in the cooked & cooled pasta, crumbled bacon & the remaining ingredients. Toss until coated. Taste and add more BBQ sauce, kosher salt & black pepper as desired. Garnish with chopped green onion or parsley and enjoy!
What Should I Serve Alongside this BBQ Pasta Salad?
This BBQ Pasta Salad is a sneaky protein & fiber powerhouse! In just one small side serving (1/8th of the total recipe), you’ll get 19g of protein and 7g of fiber. So, it will likely be filling enough for a full meal all on its own. However, if you want to serve it alongside something else, I recommend some BBQ chicken, of course! Either serve it on the side, or let the chicken cool down and then cube it and add it right to the pasta salad. Pasta salad is really flexible, so feel free to play around with it 🙂
Substitution FAQs:
- Can I make this gluten free? Dairy free? Yes and yes! To make it gluten free, just substitute your favorite gluten free pasta (I like Banza or Jovial). To make it dairy free, simply substitute a plain, thick non-dairy yogurt or even vegan sour cream.
- What BBQ sauce do you recommend? This is really up to personal preference, but my top favorite in terms of a low sugar option is Primal Kitchen. I’ve also used Stubb’s, which is delicious too!
- I don’t like red onion, what can I use instead? A few options — you can either use shallot for a milder option, or chopped green onion.
- Can I use canned corn or frozen corn instead of fresh? For sure! It won’t have that same fresh snap that raw corn kernels have, but it will still work. For canned, be sure to drain & rinse first, and for frozen, be sure it’s been thawed & then cooled down.
How Should I Store Leftovers?
Leftover BBQ Pasta Salad can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for about 3-4 days. The pasta tends to absorb the creamy BBQ dressing with time, so it might taste a bit drier as leftovers. To revive it, you can toss your individual portion with a bit more BBQ sauce.
Find the full recipe below. As always, please let me know if you tried it by commenting below or tagging me on Instagram, @munchinwithmaddie_.
Looking for More Pasta Salad Recipes?
- Pesto Chicken Pasta Salad
- Spring Chickpea Orzo Salad with Lemon Leek Dressing
- Healthy Lemon Basil Pasta Salad
- Easy Elote Pasta Salad
BBQ Pasta Salad
Equipment
- baking sheet
- parchment paper
- paper towels
- large plate
- medium pot
- colander
- can opener
- large salad bowl + tongs
- whisk
Ingredients
- 6 strips of bacon
- 12 oz dry cavatappi pasta (I like using a protein pasta)*
- ½ cup BBQ sauce
- ⅓ cup full-fat plain greek yogurt or skyr
- 1 can black beans (15oz), drained & rinsed
- 4 oz sharp cheddar cheese grated
- 2 ears of corn shucked & kernels cut off
- ½ pint of cherry or grape tomatoes quartered if large, or halved if small
- ½ cup finely diced red onion **
- chopped parsley or green onion (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- First, preheat your oven to 400F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place bacon strips onto prepared baking sheet and bake until crispy, about 15-20 minutes. Transfer bacon to a paper towel lined plate and blot off excess grease before crumbling or chopping up into small pieces.6 strips of bacon
- While the bacon is cooking, cook pasta in heavily salted water according to package instructions. Once done, drain and rinse with cold water to cool it down and stop it from cooking. Set aside.12 oz dry cavatappi pasta
- To a large salad bowl, add the BBQ sauce and greek yogurt and whisk until smooth and combined. Then, add in the cooked & cooled pasta, crumbled bacon & the remaining ingredients. Toss until coated. Taste and add more BBQ sauce, kosher salt & black pepper as desired. Garnish with chopped green onion or parsley and enjoy!½ cup BBQ sauce, ⅓ cup full-fat plain greek yogurt or skyr, 1 can black beans, 4 oz sharp cheddar cheese, 2 ears of corn, ½ pint of cherry or grape tomatoes, ½ cup finely diced red onion
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and tag @munchinwithmaddie_ on Instagram and/or hashtag it #munchinwithmaddie.