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High Protein BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad

High protein BBQ chicken pasta salad with protein pasta, shredded BBQ chicken, and a ranch-BBQ dressing that coats every bite. Black beans and corn add hearty texture, making this an easy meal prep salad that holds well in the fridge.
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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: 585
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Protein pasta
  • 1 lb protein pasta chickpea or lentil
BBQ chicken
  • 3 cup cooked chicken breast shredded
  • 0.5 cup BBQ sauce for tossing with chicken
  • 2 tbsp BBQ sauce for mixing into the dressing
Salad add-ins
  • 1 can (15 oz) black beans drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup corn kernels
  • 1 count red bell pepper diced
  • 0.5 cup red onion diced
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
  • 0.25 cup cilantro chopped
Ranch-BBQ dressing
  • 0.5 cup ranch dressing
Seasoning
  • 1 salt and pepper to taste

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Cook and rinse pasta
  1. Cook the protein pasta according to package directions, then drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking and help it stay firm.
Make BBQ chicken and dressing
  1. Toss the shredded chicken with 1/2 cup BBQ sauce until coated.
  2. Mix the ranch dressing with 2 tablespoons BBQ sauce to create a ranch-BBQ dressing.
Assemble salad
  1. Combine the pasta, BBQ chicken, black beans, corn, red bell pepper, red onion, and cheddar cheese in a large bowl.
  2. Pour the ranch-BBQ dressing over the salad and toss to coat everything evenly.
Chill and finish
  1. Refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour so the pasta absorbs the dressing.
  2. Top with cilantro right before serving for a fresh, bright finish.

Notes

For best meal prep results, chill the salad uncovered for 10–15 minutes after tossing, then cover tightly; it stays fresh in the fridge for 3–4 days. Freezing is not recommended because protein pasta and cheese can change texture. If you want lower saturated fat, use reduced-fat cheddar or a lighter ranch dressing while keeping the same BBQ-to-ranch ratio for flavor.