Don’t be a chicken!  Chicken – hot, fried, grilled, skewered, cajun’d, oven baked, or BBQ’d…it’s virtually a national pastime.  Here in Music City, you see “hot chicken” on almost every menu, at every price point, from appetizers to the main dish.  Even Anthony Bourdain got into the craze, highlighting a Nashville institution, Bolton’s, on his recent visit.  And Bolton’s is just one of multiple “hot” chicken spots to check out when you are exploring Nashville.  But with BBQ chicken, you not only get hot, but get the best of “hot” and “sweet”.  And with this BBQ Chicken Pasta recipe, believe me, there’s nothing to be chicken about!

Chicken is affordable and always readily available at stores.  It comes whole, in parts, injected, seasoned, frozen, frozen grilled in strips, etc.  There are so many options now, it will make your head spin.  I’ve mentioned before my latest favorite is the organic chicken I buy in bulk at Costco.  The flavor is delicious and its moistness is hard to beat.  But in a pinch, I do like to incorporate frozen grilled chicken strips or rotisserie chicken.  How did we function before these cooking conveniences?

So today I want to keep it simple.  BBQ!  BBQ Chicken is what you usually think of during the summertime, but I’d like to reintroduce it as a fall tailgating and comfort foody weekend dish.  Any of our Fun Pasta Shapes would be delicious…or even our Better-for-You Pasta! The beauty of this is that it is simple, hearty, and quick to prepare.  I served this to the kids and my nieces on a casual Friday night and they just loved it.

Because it calls for a bottled BBQ sauce, this dish can head in many different directions.  Whatever your favorite BBQ sauce may be, pull it out!  You like it on the sweet side?  Sassy side?  More heat?  Go for it.  When added to the marinara sauce the BBQ sauce flavor becomes tempered and a new pasta sauce category is born…it’s “lick your fingers” good.  This recipe reminds me of another casual weekend favorite, our Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta.  Try it too!

Now, the toppings play an important role here.  Shredded Gouda, either smoked or regular, and provolone cheeses, chopped green onions and cilantro…yum!  Curl up on the couch, turn on the TV, and enjoy this comfy dish.  This is an easy recipe that you can pull off in a moment’s notice!

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