Super creamy and super easy to make! This Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad recipe is quick to make and use store-bought shortcuts to really cut down on prep time. It’s a perfect spring or summer dinner that is filling and flavorful.
Ingredients You’ll Need:
You only need 5 simple ingredients plus a few spices to make a delicious onion dip from scratch. Here’s what you need:
- Cooked Chicken – Great use for leftover or meal prepped chicken breasts or even a rotisserie chicken. I prefer to use cubed chicken instead of shredded.
- Romaine Lettuce – Romaine is my favorite for Caesar salads, but you could swap in a different favorite lettuce.
- Pasta – Use a short shaped pasta like fusilli, bow tie, or penne.
- Caesar Dressing –you can use store-bought or make your own!
- Croutons – again you can use store-bought or make your own!
- Shredded Parmesan Cheese
How to Make the Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Making a caesar pasta salad is SO EASY. You can even cook up the chicken and pasta in advance.
- Cook the Chicken – This is an easy step to do in advance or cube up a rotisserie chicken for even easier prep.
- Cook the Pasta – you can also do this step in advance! I partially prefer the warm pasta in the salad, but cold works too. Be sure to cook the pasta to al dente – if you overcook the pasta it may break apart when tossed in the salad.
- Assemble Salad – Toss the chopped romaine with the remaining salad ingredients. Dress to your liking and I like to add a big pinch of black pepper. Serve immediately after tossing with the dressing so the lettuce and croutons stay crisp.
Make Ahead and Leftovers
- Make Ahead – Dressed salads don’t keep well in the fridge since the dressing cause the lettuce to get soggy. If you are looking to eat this throughout the week, I would just wait to add the dressing until just before serving.
- Leftovers and Storage – Leftover salad ingredients (without tossing with the dressing) will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days. Dressed and tossed salad should be eaten the same day.
Recipe Tips!
- Add Dressing Just Before Serving – Once the dressing is tossed with the salad, the lettuce and croutons will start to soften. So wait to dress until you’re ready to serve.
- Cook Pasta to Al Dente – Al Dente pasta has just a slight bite. If the pasta is overcooked it will be soft and will break apart when tossed in the salad.
- Add your Favorite Salad Additions – You can always add other ingredients – such as more veggies like sliced cucumbers and halved grape tomatoes.
Other Pasta Salad Recipes:
- Fall Harvest Vegan Pasta Salad – Roasted Butternut Squash, apples, cranberries, and pecans! It’s all tossed in an easy homemade Apple Cider Vinaigrette that will become your new favorite dressing!
- Herbed Lemon Orzo Salad – Orzo tossed with fresh herbs, cucumber, red onion, green onions, and an easy lemon dressing.
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PrintChicken Caesar Pasta Salad
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
Super creamy and super easy to make! This Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad recipe is quick to make and use store-bought shortcuts to really cut down on prep time. It’s a perfect spring or summer dinner that is filling and flavorful.
Ingredients
- 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce, from 2 medium heads
- 2 cup cooked and cubed chicken, from cooked chicken breasts or rotisserie chicken
- 8oz bow tie pasta, or other short pasta
- 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup Caesar dressing, adjust amount to preference
- 1/2 cup Croutons
- Ground Black Pepper
Instructions
- Cook Pasta – Cook the pasta according to package directions to al dente. Drain and allow to slightly cool while you gather the remaining ingredients.
- Toss Salad – In a large bowl mix together the salad ingredients – tossing gently to evenly coat everything in the dressing. Adjust the dressing amount to taste. Season with a pinch of pepper, to taste.
- Serve – Serve immediately.
- Category: Salad, Pasta
- Method: Stove
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad, Chicken Pasta Salad, Chicken Caesar salad recipe
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