11 Easy Pasta Side Dishes for BBQ

Pasta is a traditional side dish. I can’t think of anything that pairs better with the ideal BBQ than pasta.

I mean, who doesnt love pasta and meat?

There are so many wonderful and varied pasta side dishes available that I could easily make an entire list! Instead, I’m going to make 11 ideas.

So whatre you waiting for? Lets dig in!

Also see: What Salad Goes With Ribs? The Top 10 Salads

Why Consider Serving Pasta Side Dishes for A BBQ?

A BBQ is one of the most fun meals you can make.

It’s a terrific way to spend time with family and friends while also grilling some meat.

While the primary event is grilling meats like ribs, brisket, steak, or even chicken, many people also provide sides.

And, because everyone like pasta, why not make one of these recipes as a side dish?

Pasta recipes are ideal for summer picnics and may be prepared in big amounts to feed a large group.

They’re also perfect for gatherings since they may be served as a first or main meal.

In fact, pasta dishes are often regarded as the ideal side dish since they complement the majority of entrees.

As a result, serving a pasta dish as a side dish makes the dinner much more intriguing.

11 Pasta Side Dishes for BBQ

As the weather warms, we all want to relax, enjoy delicious meals, and spend time with our friends. And if you like the tastes of barbecue, you may have a few visitors that share your enthusiasm for the cuisine.

When the weather is nice, I want grilled dishes. I like cooking outside and preparing a large meal for my family and friends. This time of year, I prefer to cook large quantities of these side dishes and freeze them so we can take one out when we want to host a barbecue.

Here are 11 of my favorite pasta side dishes for backyard barbecues:

1. Peanut and Raisin Pasta Salad

Pasta salads are perfect for those hot summer days when you want to offer something light and refreshing with a barbeque or other outdoor dinners. The basic peanut and raisin pasta salad is my favorite choice here.

Serve with a little sprinkle of paprika and a drizzle of a sweet and spicy Asian chilli sauce. The trick to making a fantastic pasta salad is to blend your ingredients just before serving.

After adding everything, mix the salad violently to integrate the flavors and ensure that everything is properly distributed throughout.

2. Pesto Pasta Salad

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/172051648256296823/

This is a quick and easy way to make a lighter version of pasta salad! It’s ideal for those hot summer days when you don’t want to spend much time in the kitchen and want something light to eat while grilling.

Simply toss up a handful of cooked pasta, a handful of baby spinach leaves, a handful of cherry tomatoes, and a teaspoon of homemade pesto. It’s also an excellent choice if you’re cooking something more substantial, such as meat or fish, and don’t want to serve a hefty side dish.

3. Tropical Chicken Pasta Salad

If you’re hosting a BBQ this summer, you’ll need to have plenty of light and refreshing foods on hand. This pasta salad checks all of my boxes, plus it’s so simple to prepare that it’s a big time saver!

To begin, slice up some chicken, add some tomatoes, and throw it all together in a dish. Then, take a bag of pasta and pour it over the chicken mixture.

To finish, just throw in some diced pineapple, lime juice, and smashed garlic. You may use a variety of salad dressings to keep the flavors fresh, but I usually use a low-fat vinaigrette while cooking since it’s incredibly healthy!

4. Mexican Pasta Salad

A colorful, tasty pasta salad is an excellent accompaniment to a BBQ! This dish is inspired by one of my favorite Mexican street food snacks: tortilla chips topped with tomato salsa and shredded chicken.

I prefer to serve this in individual serving bowls so that visitors can grab all of their components at once. This is an excellent recipe to prepare ahead of time and keep in the fridge for busy weeknights.

5. Prawn Pasta Salad

In lieu of meat, you can prepare a rather stunning pasta salad using shrimp and spaghetti. I’d suggest combining the two for a filling supper.

Of course, you may use smoked prawns in the mix, but they won’t taste the same as fresh ones, which are a great way to get loads of nutritious protein into your diet. You may make this with spaghetti or linguine noodles, but I believe fettuccine is my favorite!

6. Spicy Bacon and Pasta Salad

You may use any sort of bacon for this dish, but I like thick sliced bacon since it has a great, smokey flavor. If you’re making a huge quantity of bacon to go with your dinner, be sure to cut it up into little pieces so you can utilize it all.

I like to make the dressing with vinegar, soy sauce, Tabasco, and sesame oil, but you may use any flavor combination you choose.

I also like to use a high quality, ready-made Italian salad dressing for this dish, but try to locate one that is devoid of chemicals and dairy-free if possible.

7. Ranch Pasta Salad

This ranch pasta salad is a flavor-packed pasta salad that goes well with grilled chicken or fish. You can make your own using penne pasta, but if you’re in a hurry, grab a ready-to-go pasta salad from the store.

To make things even easier, sprinkle some shredded cheese on top and serve right away!

8. Seafood Pasta Salad

If you’re serving macaroni salad at your barbeque, seafood is a terrific way to amp up the flavor!

Add some smoked salmon pieces or sautéed prawns and crabmeat. Fresh veggies such as asparagus, peas, and corn may also be included.

9. Tuna Pasta Salad

Tuna pasta salad is one of my favorite side dishes to offer at a barbecue. It’s fast and simple to cook, and it’ll be a welcome break from potatoes or chips.

I prefer to include as many vegetables as possible, so I’ll slice up some celery, peppers, onion, and baby corn and combine them with some cooked spaghetti and tuna pieces.

In a bowl, combine all of the ingredients to make a nutritious, tasty side dish that won’t keep you up all night.

10. Chicken and Egg Pasta Salad

A traditional chicken and egg pasta salad is hard to top as a side dish. It’s fast and simple to prepare, and you can use goods from your local grocery.

It’s a genuine crowd pleaser, and I’m certain your visitors will like it!

11. Curry Pasta Salad

Because this is a hot dish, I recommend using a moderate curry flavor, such as Thai green or mild red. A lemon juice and rice vinegar dressing would work great here. For an added kick, add a pinch of turmeric.

5 Tips For Serving Pasta Side Dishes for A BBQ

Pasta sides are excellent grilling companions. They’re small, portable, and ideal for socializing. So, if you’re throwing a summer party, here are three suggestions for offering pasta side dishes to your guests.

1. Choose the right pasta shape

If you want to offer pasta as a side dish with your BBQ, you must choose the proper pasta form.

You want it to have a long string-like form so that it cooks quickly and doesn’t break apart.

While spaghetti and fettuccine are traditional forms, you might instead try penne or rotini pasta (see also this collection of rotini pasta dishes), which both cook beautifully and are simple to consume.

2. Pick the right side dish

To guarantee that you can prepare your pasta in the most effective manner, consider what sort of cuisine you will match it with.

Pasta recipes may be matched with nearly any other sort of meal since the pasta holds up nicely.

However, there are certain things that cannot be paired with pasta when it comes to pasta side dishes for BBQ.

For instance, if you want to offer a vegetarian side dish with pasta at your BBQ, keep it basic.

If you want to offer something like grilled veggies, you may pair them with a vegetable like broccoli or cauliflower.

Pasta side dishes, on the other hand, tend to be meatier selections, and you could always pair it with a robust meat like chicken or beef instead.

3. Pick complementary flavors

When presenting pasta side dishes, think about what taste you’ll combine it with.

You want it to compliment the food you’re eating it with, so think about what tastes you believe work well together.

Consider matching it with ingredients that have comparable qualities, such as hot and sour.

However, for a unique taste combination, consider mixing it with other flavors such as citrus and spice.

4. Think Outside the Box

Consider trying something different instead of a traditional side dish. For example, if you want to offer a pasta meal during a BBQ, a distinctive side dish would be ideal.

Try a dish you’ve never tried before, or one inspired by the dinner you’re presenting. The idea here is to avoid making your side dish the same as your main meal. After all, in order to create a good impression, the side dish must stand out.

5. Keep It Simple

Any side dish you pick for your BBQ will benefit from a basic dish. Keep the tastes basic and avoid going crazy. This entails adhering to a few core components and keeping the taste profile of the side dish consistent with the main meal. Consider the main course and then choose a side dish that will complement it. If you wish to offer anything other than what’s on the menu, go ahead!

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