Simple Summer Meal: BBQ Chicken And Pasta Salad

The days are starting to warm up around here! When the weather gets warmer, we cook on the grill a lot. This is one of my favorite summer meals. Not only is it yummy,  I can make it in the morning and pull everything out at dinner time to cook. The chicken is parboiled, so it cooks quickly on the grill. This entire meal can come together in 20 minutes or less!

Marinated Grilled Chicken Thighs

What you need:

1 pkg of chicken thighs
1 bottle BBQ sauce

I parboil a package of chicken thighs on medium for about 1/2 hour, then toss into a dish and marinate with your favorite BBQ sauce. A lot of times I just use up all those bottles in the fridge that have a little left on the bottom!

Then toss onto the grill for 10 minutes or so. Quick and yummy!

Rainbow Pasta Salad

1 Box Tri Color  Rotini pasta
1 Bottle Italian Dressing
Cucumbers, tomatoes, broccoli florets and green peppers chopped

I like the rotini that has different colors but you can use the regular rotini also!. Boil pasta but undercook slightly so they don’t get mushy. Rinse and cool pasta.  Put in a bowl with the chopped veggies and pour salad dressing over the pasta. This is better if it you make it several hours ahead of time. When it is time to serve, stir well and add more dressing if you like a stronger flavor.

I usually have some grapes or sliced watermelon to go with everything and some homemade iced tea or lemonade to drink. Yum! A fast, healthly and summer meal that keeps me out of the kitchen!

This post is linked to Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, and $5 Dinner Challenge

Tagged as: chicken grilled, pasta salad, Recipes, summer meal