BBQ Chicken Pasta {One Pan Recipe} (2024)

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This BBQ Chicken Pasta with bacon bits and cheese on top is a perfect easy pasta recipe that the whole family will love. Ready in about 30 minutes and cooked all in one pan.

Throwing everything together in one pan for a quick midweek dinner is my idea of winning at life. Especially when that recipe is totally delicious, is made up of simple store cupboard ingredients and is ready in less than half an hour.

Why you’ll love this BBQ Chicken Pasta recipe

⭐️ Ready in 30 minutes, made in one pan

⭐️ Rich in flavour and comforting

⭐️ Budget-friendly, simple ingredients

About this BBQ Chicken Pasta recipe

A recipe that involves the word ‘BBQ’ flavoured is always a total hit in my house. It tastes like such a treat, so it’s only fair I found a way to get this smoky, sticky, rich and deep flavour into a one pot pasta (the holy grail).

We based this recipe originally on some of my other favourite one pan pasta recipes, like the classic Sausage Pasta recipe that we all love.

Initially in the first test versions, we made our own barbecue sauce to add in with the pasta, but I have to say, we all felt that 1) it was a bit more of a faff than needed 2) to keep this quick and minimal ingredients, a better result would come from using ready made BBQ sauce. (Of course, you could make your own if you prefer!)

Test number 3 and we were onto a winner, we added cheese on top, popped it under the grill and 10/10 all round. Hope you love it too!

Other favourite One Pan Pasta recipes

Orzo Bolognese

Peri Peri Chicken Pasta

Cajun Chicken Pasta

Chicken Fajita Pasta

Cheeseburger Pasta

Marry Me Chicken Pasta

BBQ Chicken Pasta Ingredients

• Bacon lardons – Or pieces of smokey bacon, chopped small
• Chicken breasts – You can use chicken thighs (boneless and skinless) if you prefer, but they will take longer to cook
• Onion – Fresh or frozen pre-prepared is OK
• Garlic – You can also go for jar/frozen or fresh here
• Red peppers – Or whichever colour you prefer
• Dry pasta – Any pasta shape you prefer
• Chopped tomatoes
• Sweet smoked paprika
• BBQ sauce – Any good quality shop brand is fine here
• Vegetable stock – Made with a cube is fine, I like Marigold brand
• Grated mozzarella

How to make BBQ Chicken and Bacon Pasta

1. Fry the bacon lardons for 5 minutes in a sauté pan (the pans I like are here!) then add the chicken until browned.

2. Add in the garlic and vegetables and cook as per the recipe below.

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3. Add the dry pasta, chopped tomatoes, smoked paprika, BBQ sauce and 500ml of the vegetable stock and salt and pepper and cook with the lid on until most of the liquid is absorbed (timings in the recipe below).

4. When cooked, stir and sprinkle over the cheese. Grill for 3-5 minutes until melted.

Hint: Cook the pasta until al-dente. Stop cooking when the sauce has reduced and thickened and the chicken is cooked through.

Substitutions

• Sweet smoked paprika – I use this as it’s warming and a little smoky, but also fine for childrens’ palates. If you want something a little more spicy, add or substitute regular paprika.
• Chicken – If you want to make this meat-free, you could use vegetarian chicken substitute or another protein, or just omit this ingredient and the bacon.

FAQs