Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

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

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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.

1. Cook the Chicken – This is an easy step to do in advance or cube up a rotisserie chicken for even easier prep.
2. 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.
3. 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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