What are the five mistakes to avoid pasta salad?

The most common pasta salad mistakes include overcooking the pasta, skipping the cold rinse, not seasoning enough, adding too much dressing too early, and storing it improperly. To avoid a mushy or bland BBQ Chicken Macaroni Salad, always cook the pasta al dente, let it cool fully before mixing, and taste for seasoning after chilling.

What's the difference between Amish and regular mac salad?

Amish macaroni salad tends to be sweeter and includes ingredients like sugar, sweet pickles, and sometimes mustard. Regular macaroni salad—like this BBQ Chicken Macaroni Salad—is typically more savory, with a mayonnaise base and smoky or tangy flavors from barbecue sauce and vinegar.

What is in the Habit BBQ chicken salad?

The Habit’s BBQ Chicken Salad usually features grilled chicken, BBQ sauce, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cilantro, and crispy onion straws, topped with a creamy ranch dressing. While it’s a leafy green salad, our BBQ Chicken Macaroni Salad uses pasta as the base, giving it more heartiness and a picnic-ready twist.

What are the ingredients of chicken macaroni salad?

A typical chicken macaroni salad includes cooked macaroni, diced or shredded chicken, mayonnaise, vegetables like onion and celery, and seasoning. Our BBQ Chicken Macaroni Salad levels up the flavor by adding barbecue sauce, red or green pepper, and cider vinegar for tang.

BBQ Chicken Macaroni Salad – Amazing Twist in 5 Steps

Ingredients

Scale

For the chicken:

1 quart warm water

1/4 cup kosher salt

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 to 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1/2 cup barbecue sauce

For the salad:

1/2 to 1/4 cup barbecue sauce

1/4 to 1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon cider vinegar

1/2 pound elbow macaroni

1/2 medium red onion, diced

1 medium red or green pepper, diced

3 to 4 stalks celery, diced

Salt and pepper to taste

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Instructions

1. Brine chicken in warm water, salt, and brown sugar for 30 minutes.

2. Grill chicken, brushing with BBQ sauce, until fully cooked. Let rest.

3. Cook macaroni al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water.

4. Dice grilled chicken and vegetables.

5. In a bowl, mix BBQ sauce, mayonnaise, and vinegar.

6. Combine pasta, chicken, and veggies with the dressing.

7. Season with salt and pepper. Chill before serving.

Notes

Let the salad sit for at least an hour before serving for best flavor.

Use Greek yogurt instead of mayo for a lighter version.

Author: EmilyFrost
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Method: Boiling, Grilling
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 320
Sugar: 4g
Sodium: 460mg
Fat: 17g
Saturated Fat: 3g
Unsaturated Fat: 13g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 25g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 18g
Cholesterol: 55mg