BBQ Chicken Pasta

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-02 · Updated 2026-04-02

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A hearty pasta dish with smoky BBQ chicken, collard greens, and cornbread crumbles. This Southern-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 75 minutes, pairs pasta, chicken thighs, BBQ sauce for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 500 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 30 min Cook: 45 min Serves 6 Southern cuisine 500 cal/serving

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Ingredients

12 oz (penne or fusilli) pasta
2 lbs, boneless chicken thighs
1/2 cup BBQ sauce
1 head, chopped collard greens
1 small, diced red onion
1/2 cup cornbread crumbles
2 tbsp cottonseed oil
2, minced garlic cloves
1 tsp hot sauce

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Instructions

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Toss 2 lbs chicken thighs with 1/2 cup BBQ sauce and 1 tsp hot sauce. Place in a baking dish and roast for 30-35 minutes until fully cooked.
Step 2: While the chicken roasts, sauté 2 tbsp cottonseed oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 2 minced garlic cloves and 1 small diced red onion. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the onions are translucent.
Step 3: Add 1 head chopped collard greens and cook for 5-6 minutes until wilted. Stir in 1/2 cup cornbread crumbles and 1/4 cup water. Cook for 2 minutes until the greens are tender.
Step 4: Toss the cooked pasta with the collard greens mixture and 1/2 cup BBQ sauce. Serve warm, garnished with additional hot sauce.