BBQ Pasta Salad – seriously DELICIOUS! So simple to make and it is packed full of amazing flavors! Macaroni, red bell pepper, celery, green onions, apple cider vinegar, hot sauce, chili powder, cayenne, garlic, mayonnaise, and BBQ sauce. Can make ahead and refrigerate until ready to eat. Perfect for a summer potluck! Such an easy side dish recipe!
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Pin This RecipeBest BBQ Macaroni Salad Recipe
This BBQ Pasta Salad is a twist on the classic macaroni salad that takes it to a whole new level of deliciousness. Tender pasta coated in a creamy, tangy barbecue-infused dressing, combined with crunchy veggies, and a hint of sweetness. Every bite is bursting with flavor! Whether you serve this at a backyard barbecue or as a side dish for any occasion, this BBQ Macaroni Salad is sure to be the star of the show. Trust me, once you try it, you won’t be able to resist going back for seconds!
How to Make BBQ Pasta Salad
This macaroni salad is super easy to make with only a few simple ingredients. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add pasta noodles and cook according to the package instructions for al dente. Drain pasta in a colander and cool. In a large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, BBQ sauce, apple cider vinegar, hot sauce, chili powder, and garlic powder. Stir in chopped red bell pepper, celery, and green onions. Add cooled pasta and stir well to coat in the dressing. Cover the bowl and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Helpful Tips & Frequently Asked Questions
- If the pasta salad is too dry, add more mayonnaise until you reach your desired consistency.
- The one thing we really liked about this pasta salad is that it wasn’t dripping with mayonnaise. There was a nice coating of the BBQ dressing, but it wasn’t a mayonnaise bomb. Now that being said, if you prefer more mayonnaise on your macaroni salad, feel free to add an extra half or whole recipe of the dressing to the pasta.
- I use elbow macaroni pasta. Can substitute penne pasta or bowtie pasta.
- Here is our recipe for Homemade BBQ Sauce: https://www.plainchicken.com/homemade-bbq-sauce/
- Variations/Additions:
- grated or diced cheddar cheese
- red onion
- corn
- black beans
- bacon
- rotisserie chicken
- Is it OK to make pasta salad the day before? Yes! This dish actually tastes better the next day. Letting the pasta sit in the refrigerator overnight allows the flavors to meld together.
- How long will pasta salad keep in the refrigerator? Pasta salad will keep 3 to 5 days in an airtight container in the fridge.
What to Serve with Pasta Salad
If you’re serving this pasta salad as a main course, consider adding some protein to make it more filling. Grilled chicken, shrimp, or even pulled pork are great options.
When serving pasta salad as a side dish, it pairs well with a variety of grilled meats. Our favorites are juicy burgers, marinated steak, or barbecue ribs. Add a fresh green salad and crispy garlic bread for a meal that is sure to be a real crowd-pleaser!
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BBQ Pasta Salad
Ingredients:
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
- 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
- 1 celery rib, finely chopped
- 4 green onions, sliced thin
- 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp hot sauce
- 1 tsp chili powder
- ⅛ tsp garlic powder
- pinch cayenne pepper
- 1⅓ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup barbecue sauce
Instructions:
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water until cool. Drain water and transfer to a large bowl.
- Add bell pepper, celery, and scallions to the pasta.
- Whisk together vinegar, hot sauce, chili powder, garlic powder, cayenne, mayonnaise, and BBQ sauce. Add to pasta and stir. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Can serve pasta salad immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 days.
Notes:
My favorite BBQ sauces are G. Hughes, Sweet Baby Rays, Stubbs, and Williamson Brothers.Steph
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I used gluten free macaroni to make this for a church lunch, and it was very well-received. Even people who didn’t like macaroni salad had seconds and requested the recipe. It’s a winner! (alterations: no celery, added extra vinegar/mayo the second day)
I loved this salad and will definitely make again. All your recipes are winners for me! Thanks!
SO glad it was a hit!
Loved that the dressing reminded us of Red Robin’s Campfire Sauce! I made the salad in the morning, for supper last night and next time would make just a little more dressing, as by time we ate the pasta had soaked up the dressing and it was a little drier than we like. But, great recipe, great flavor. Will definitely make again. And again.
What kind of hot sauce do you use? Thanks!
I made this for a BBQ and added Tillamook triple cheddar blend cheese farmstyle thick cut, shopped up with a knife and diced ham, plus some extra mayo as we don’t like our mac dry…….gone baby gone……the whole container. Next time I will make a little more for left overs as this recipe was just enough for 11 people!
My favorite pasta salad yet…made this and everyone loved it , thank you for the recipe.
This salad is delicious. The sauce is so good, I’m going to use it to marinade my chicken wings.
Made this yesterday. Very good. The bbq sauce I used was a bit sweet so next time I’ll add 1/4 Heinz chili sauce. This will be a great summer potluck dish, thanks!
No Cheese?
Add whatever you want