One Pot BBQ Chicken Pasta - With homemade BBQ Sauce!

I'll just start off by saying you totally don't need to make this specific bbq sauce for this pasta recipe.  You can just use your favorite bottled version, but this recipe really is tasty.  Plus, it makes a lot so you'll have plenty left over to use all summer long!

BBQ Sauce

Ingredients

2 tbsp vegetable oil

1 small onion, diced

6 cloves garlic, minced

2 tbsp tomato paste

1 tbsp chili powder

1 tbsp paprika

1 tsp crushed red pepper

2 cups ketchup

2 cups water

1/2 cup cider vinegar

1/4 cup molasses

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 tbsp salt

1 tbsp soy sauce

1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

2 tsp mustard
1 tsp black pepper

1. Heat the oil in a sauce pan over medium heat.  Add onion and cook until softened.  Add garlic, tomato paste, chili powder, paprika, and red pepper. Stir until paste is a dark brick red. Add in remaining ingredients. Cook at a gentle simmer for 30 minutes.
2. This last step is optional:  Use an immersion blender to smooth the consistency of the bbq sauce.

One Pot BBQ Chicken Pasta

Ingredients
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 lb rotini pasta
3 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup bbq sauce
1 1/2 cups shredded chicken
1 cup corn
1 tbsp dried cilantro, or a nice bunch of fresh
1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
crispy onions, for serving

1. Heat oil, broth, and bbq sauce in a large pot. Add pasta, chicken, corn, and cilantro.  Cook at a low simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Top with cheddar cheese and let sit while the cheese melts on top of the pasta. Serve topped with crispy onions.

This whole cooking pasta in one pot and not draining it has really captured my heart. 

You cook it all in one pot, you probably have all the ingredients already, and it's ready in less than 30 minutes! Doesn't get much better than that!