I could eat this easy bbq pasta salad all day every day! It just gets better and better as it sits. Tender pasta, crunchy veggies, and bacon are swathed in a creamy, tangy bbq sauce and mayo dressing.
Give this fun twist on classic pasta salad a try at your next summer bbq or cookout and see if it doesn't disappear lickety-split!
Table of Contents
Save this recipe by clicking on the ❤️ heart on the right-hand side of the screen or in the recipe card.
🗝️ Key takeaways
- I love that it has all the creamy goodness of macaroni salad but with a delicious barbecue twist.
- It's great all summer long! Perfect for grilling, alongside bbq, and it stands out at potlucks and disappears fast.
- (techniques they'll learn or some other informative fact from the post)
One reader in Great Britan even won a prize with this recipe!
Grilling season is upon us and with it comes vats of homemade macaroni salad. This is the perfect pasta salad for bbq! It's full of spicy barbecue flavor and hearty enough for a vegetarian main dish as long as you leave out the bacon.
This Texas Style bbq macaroni salad is going to be the star of your summer parties. Smoky, sweet, spicy, tangy goodness wrapped up in one of the most beloved summer dishes ever.
You've got to try it. It's absolutely the perfect salad for bbq!
🧾 Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
📖 Variations
- I like to use shell pasta for this recipe but any shaped pasta will work fine. Sometimes I use Texas shaped pasta but if you don't live here you probably aren't going to find it.
- Use your favorite bbq sauce.
- Stir in some fresh herbs like chopped cilantro.
- Chopped green onions are a nice garnish.
- Shred some sharp Cheddar cheese over the top.
- If you like more heat use jalapenos instead of poblanos.
- Use some candied jalapenos chopped up in it.
- Adding leftover chicken is a great way to make it a main dish.
🔪 Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page. Click on the image to see it full size.
Mix all the salad ingredients in a large bowl.
Mix the dressing ingredients in a medium bowl.
Whisk the dressing mixture until smooth.
Pour over the salad ingredients and mix well.
🤫 Cook's secrets -
I use both sweet and spicy barbecue sauces to create a blend I love. Be sure to experiment with brands and amounts to make it your own.
🍴 Equipment
- large
mixing bowl - medium
mixing bowl - measuring cups and spoons
- plastic wrap
🥫 How to store leftover bbq macaroni salad
You can store this delicious pasta salad in the refrigerator for about 4 days. Just cover the bowl with plastic wrap or place in an airtight container.
In fact, it's a great make-ahead dish since it''s much better the day after it's made!
It doesn't freeze well so eat it up.
Marye's tip o' the day:
Like most pasta salads, this is best if you make it at least a day before you plan on serving it so the tangy flavor can develop.
💭 Things to know
My mom taught me that in order to really make a good homemade macaroni salad you have to kind of overcook the pasta.
Now, I hate overcooked pasta as much as anyone but after a lot of trial and error I had to admit she was right. You know, moms always are...
The slightly overcooked pasta soaks up more of the flavors in the dressing and just tastes better.
- Cook the pasta until it is tender, don't stop at a la dente. Trust me.
- Once that pasta is cooked and drained you are going to add the crunchy vegetables, the corn, and the black beans.
- The dressing is pretty spicy but you can adjust it by the ratio of spicy and sweet barbecue sauce that you use.
- Taste before serving and if the macaroni soaked up too much dressing just stir in a little more bbq sauce.
- Save time by buying the onions and peppers pre-diced.
👩🍳 FAQs
More than likely the pasta isn't cooked long enough. If the pasta is undercooked it will soak up more of the dressing, and your salad will be dry. Make a bit more of the bbq sauce and mayonnaise mixture and stir it in before serving.
BBQ pasta salad will keep 3 to 5 days in the fridge as long as it's covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container.
📚 Related recipes
Looking for the perfect summer side dish? Here are more great recipe ideas.
If you're looking for more of a main dish you can't go wrong with this Texas pasta salad!
📞 The last word
I've spent years recreating my mom's macaroni salad but I can never get it quite right. It's yummy but not like I remember it.
One year I decided that I was going to try to go rogue and make a bbq pasta salad recipe that she wouldn't have thought of.
I took her recipe, added some things and subtracted others, and came up with this spicy, creamy barbecue macaroni salad that tastes just like Texas in the summer.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please comment below and give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Texas Style Barbecue Macaroni Salad
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 16 ounces macaroni
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sweet barbecue Sauce, like Stubbs original
- ¾ cup spicy barbecue sauce , like Stubbs spicy
- 1 ½ teaspoons cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2 cups corn
- 2 cups black beans, cooked -canned is fine
- ¾ cup red onion, diced
- ½ cup green bell pepper, diced
- ½ cup yellow bell pepper, diced
- ½ cup orange or red bell pepper, diced
- ½ cup celery, diced
- ¼ cup poblano pepper, optional, roasted and diced
Instructions
- Cook the macaroni in a large pot of water with a little salt until tender.
- Drain pasta and set aside.
- Mix the mayonnaise, both BBQ sauces, vinegar, cumin, smoked paprika, and sugar.
- Set aside.
- If you happen to be grilling add the corn kernels to a mesh grill roasting pan and grill until some of the kernels start to brown. If you're not, don't worry about it.
- Drain the corn and beans if they are canned.
- Add the corn, black beans, onion, bell peppers, celery, and poblano if you're using it, to the macaroni in a large bowl.
- Spoon the mayonnaise mixture over the top.
- Gently stir and fold until the mayonnaise mixture covers everything.
- Cover and chill overnight for the best flavor.
Notes
- Cook the pasta until it is tender, don't stop at a la dente. Trust me.
- Once that pasta is cooked and drained you are going to add the crunchy vegetables, the corn, and the black beans.
- The dressing is pretty spicy but you can adjust it by the ratio of spicy and sweet barbecue sauce that you use.
- And, like most pasta salads, this is best if you make it the day before.
- Taste before serving and if the macaroni soaked up too much dressing just stir in a little more BBQ sauce.
- If any kind of creamy macaroni salad has been at room temperature for 2 hours or more throw it out. It's not worth a trip to the ER.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
First published July 2016. Last updated May 26, 2024 for editorial improvements.
Don't lose this recipe
BBQ Macaroni Salad
Keep this handy for your next cookout or potluck!
Auntie Sue says
My niece’s birthday was last month and she always asks me to make my classic macaroni salad. I had made bbq chicken to go with it, and while I was eating dinner, some bbq sauce mingled with my macaroni salad and I was instantly taken with it. As I was toying with possible ingredients (I usually create my own recipes), I actually thought to google bbq macaroni salad and found this recipe. Boy am I glad I did. I saved the recipe and decided to try it at a cookout I went to on the Fourth of July. This is an instant classic and it will be at every summer gathering I have, or am invited to. This dish is a grand slam. I made it with small pasta shells, and would highly recommend it. Next time I make it, I will add another cup of corn.
Marye says
I am SO glad you liked it!
Sue says
I made this for an Independence Day party I was invited to. I wanted to make it more if a main course so I added some chopped up barbeque chicken breasts to it. It was a big hit. Thank you for this recipe; it's a keeper.
Marye says
I am so glad you liked it! I bet it was awesome with the chicken!
Anne P says
I was asked to contribute a pasta salad to our village 'Big Bash' last weekend over here in rural England, to go with a hog roast. My daughter sent me a link to your recipe and said she'd had this at Stubbs BBQ in Texas and I must make it. It went down a storm - very different from all the other pasta salads on offer, but the favourite! (though sorry, here I had to use a different brand of sauce.)
Thank you for this excellent recipe.
Marye Audet says
This makes me SO happy!!!I am so glad you liked it!
christine says
Oh nice, great flavor change up from the classic macaroni salad.
Marye Audet says
Thanks!!
Melanie says
That BBQ sauce looks delicious! I need to try it.
Marye Audet says
It is really good!
Angie | Big Bear's Wife says
We love Stubbs Original BBQ! Totally one of our favorites!
Marye Audet says
🙂 mine too!!!
Heather | All Roads Lead to the Kitchen says
I love Stubb's...actually have some at home right now for a recipe I'm making soon. This pasta salad looks delicious!
Marye Audet says
Let me know what you think, Heather!
Meaghan says
I've got to make this for our next BBQ, it sounds so yummy! You can never have too many great pasta salad recipes on hand.
Marye Audet says
Oh I agree!!
Terri H Cogdill says
We don't have Stubbs BBQ sauce in NC but maybe I can order online. I saw your recipe for this once before and it didn't appeal to me but now that I see it again, it sounds great!(post menopause 😂🤪). I find it funny that many only think of making pasta salads during the summer months, Why? Grilling and salads are great all year round! Unless you live way North, we say throw on a coat or grab an umbrella and head for the grill; Jan or July, it's always delightful! Can't wait to try this one Marye.
Kat@Home. Made. Interest. says
Wow I wouldn't have thought to make pasta salad this way but this is going to be perfect for all of my summer BBQs!
Marye Audet says
It's is so good. 🙂 I love BBQ sauce anyway so BBQ sauce and pasta was a no brainer for me.
Jenny says
I never would have thought to use the sauce this way. So fun! I can't wait to try it.
Marye Audet says
It was really a nice twist on a classic !
Tara @ Unsophisticook says
What a fun twist on macaroni salad -- can't wait to try it this summer!
Marye Audet says
Thanks!
Jeannette says
I love macaroni salad and I love BBQ so this is the perfect combination for me! I don't know why I had never thought of combining the two before! I can't wait to try this recipe.
Marye Audet says
Let me know what you think!
Citra Kale @Citra's Home Diary says
Sometimes I made my own macaroni salad for my "midnite snack" with just simple thousand island dressing with some vegetables... your texas style seems awesome to try
Alisa Fleming says
I had no idea there was Texas-style macaroni salad, but darn does this look good. I always here such raves about Stubb's, too.
Marye Audet says
Well... maybe there wasn't until I made this. 😉
Nutmeg Nanny says
What a fun macaroni salad!
Marye Audet says
Thank you! We loved it.
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen says
Stubbs is always on hand in this house, never thought to use it as a pasta dressing though, great idea!
Marye Audet says
🙂 thanks!
Florian @ContentednessCooking says
The perfect comfort dish for so many gatherings. Especially in the summer months!
Marye Audet says
🙂 thanks!
Dee Dee (My Midlife Kitchen) says
Oh man! Why haven't I thought before to put BBQ sauce in macaroni salad?? Well, you've corrected that! This looks a-mazing. Yum!
Marye Audet says
🙂 It is so good. And I loved the color.