Southwest Pasta with Chicken

Making this easy southwest pasta with chicken is great for a quick weeknight meal. You can enjoy this chicken with pasta recipe for potlucks and parties too!

Southwest pasta with chicken is a chicken with pasta recipe that you won’t want to skip. This is a wholesome and hearty meal that combines the best of both worlds. We are using some canned ingredients, see why I love having canned options on hand here, as well as some fresh ingredients.

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I’m also sharing my tips on how to cut down the time even further on this recipe with chicken cooked in advance! You can’t go wrong with this quick and easy meal.

You can also make it in advance for leftovers and lunches throughout the week. It’s a quick and simple meal prep recipe that makes life so much easier when we have busy schedules.

The flavors are fun and fresh, the whole family loves this recipe. It’s not too spicy and it has the Southwest flavors and textures we all love in our favorite Mexican dishes!

What you’ll need to make this chicken with pasta recipe:

As usual, I try and keep the recipe ingredients easy and relatively inexpensive. When you are feeding a family complicated recipes can add up quick in terms of time and in terms of cost! All of these ingredients are easy to get and easy to keep on hand in case you want to make a batch of this Southwest pasta with chicken at a moments notice!

This pasta with chicken recipe uses:

• Boneless skinless chicken
• Bowtie pasta
• Taco seasoning (I have a recipe for homemade right here)
• Canned mixed chili beans
• Olive oil
• Red onion
• Roma tomatoes
• Avocado
• Shredded cheese

Can I use precooked chicken to make this Southwest pasta?

You can absolutely use precooked chicken. You’ll need about a pound of chicken so if you want to make chicken tenders or breasts I’ve included that information in the instructions but you can also use chicken that is already cooked and shredded.

You can stop and grab a rotisserie chicken if you don’t want to actually prepare chicken on your own. Just shred up some of the meat and use it for this recipe. If you like to prepare chicken ahead of time like I do you can use the Instant Pot, Crockpot, or bake it in the oven. Just shred the chicken and freeze it in 1 pound portions and you always have healthy protein on hand to add to your meals.

Using cooked chicken in this recipe is really easy and it cuts down even more on the steps and time you have to commit to this southwest pasta with chicken!

How to make Southwest Pasta with Chicken:

In a cast iron skillet add olive oil and set to medium heat. Cook chicken tenders until done in the center. Dice chicken and add to a large bowl.

Cook pasta as directed on the box and drain. Place pasta into the bowl with the chicken. Pour in beans (do not drain beans). Add in diced onion and tomatoes. Shake the taco seasoning over the top and toss the entire mixture well. 

Add in avocado and cheese. Toss lightly. 

That’s it. That’s actually all of it. Can you believe it?! It truly is a very simple and delicious dinner recipe that everyone will love.

Another great thing about this recipe is that you can serve it up for parties and potlucks. If you need a quick recipe that you can make in advance and serve chilled or warm, this southwest pasta salad with chicken is a great option.

I usually wait to add the cheese and avocado if I’m going to serve it chilled the next day but that’s a personal preference. The taste doesn’t change it’s mostly about how the avocados look!

Looking for more delicious and easy to prepare dinner recipes?

Here are some more of our favorite easy dinner recipes. All of these meals can be ready pretty quickly which means you have more family time and less time spent rushing around the kitchen! Preparing healthy delicious meals for your family doesn’t have to be time consuming, I promise.

• Quick & Easy Baked Tilapia Veracruz
• 11 Easy Pasta Dinners {Quick Recipes}
• Quick & Easy Mini Broccoli Quiches
• Quick and Easy Sausage Lentil Soup
• Family Favorite Ground Turkey Goulash
• Parmesan Crusted Chicken with Buttered Noodles
• The Easiest Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

Printable Southwest Pasta with Chicken Recipe: