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High Protein BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad

High protein BBQ chicken salad made with protein pasta, shredded BBQ chicken, black beans, and corn, tossed in a ranch-BBQ dressing. Meal-prep friendly and best after an hour of chilling so the pasta stays tender and the flavor clings to every bite.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
chilling 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 620
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

protein pasta (chickpea or lentil)
  • 1 lb protein pasta (chickpea or lentil)
cooked chicken breast
  • 3 cup cooked chicken breast, shredded
BBQ sauce
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce Use 1/2 cup for tossing chicken + 2 tablespoons in the ranch-BBQ dressing.
black beans
  • 1 can (15 oz) black beans drained and rinsed
corn kernels
  • 1 cup corn kernels
red bell pepper
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
red onion
  • 1 cup red onion, diced Use 1/2 cup
ranch dressing
  • 1 cup ranch dressing Use 1/2 cup for salad + mix with 2 tablespoons BBQ sauce
cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
cilantro
  • 0.25 cup cilantro, chopped
salt and pepper
  • salt and pepper to taste

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Cook and prep
  1. Cook protein pasta according to package directions, drain it, then rinse with cold water until cooled.
  2. Toss shredded chicken with 1/2 cup BBQ sauce until evenly coated.
  3. Mix ranch dressing with 2 tablespoons BBQ sauce to create the ranch-BBQ dressing.
Assemble the salad
  1. Combine pasta, BBQ chicken, black beans, corn, red bell pepper, red onion, and cheese in a large bowl.
  2. Pour ranch-BBQ dressing over salad and toss to coat thoroughly.
Chill and serve
  1. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let flavors meld.
  2. Top with cilantro before serving.

Notes

For best meal prep results, cool the pasta completely after rinsing so the dressing doesn’t loosen. Store covered in the refrigerator for 3–4 days; freeze is not recommended for the best texture. Dietary swap: use dairy-free ranch and cheddar-style shreds for a lactose-free version.