Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Yield: 4 servings
This Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is light, yet hearty, with a tasty combination of crunchy greens, juicy chicken, and tender pasta, all folded together with a creamy homemade Caesar dressing. It's perfect any time of year, and especially welcome at summertime barbecues and potlucks. Plus, it's so easy to make!
Ingredients
- 1 recipe Caesar Dressing (use as little or as much as you like)
- 8 ounces uncooked pasta, such as rigatoni, penne, rotini, or bow tie
- 6 cups chopped (1" pieces) hearts of Romaine
- 2 cups chopped (½"-¾" pieces) seasoned, cooked chicken breast (use roasted, sauteed, or grilled chicken breasts - or rotisserie chicken)
- 1 cup croutons
- ¼ cup shaved or shredded Parmesan
- 2 grinds freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
For The Dressing:
- Make the Caesar Dressing and set it aside while you prepare the rest of the salad. You can make the dressing up to 2 days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the fridge.
For The Salad:
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and throw in a teaspoon of kosher salt. Add the pasta and cook until al dente - about 8 to 10 minutes, but timing will depend on the type of pasta you use. Drain the pasta very well and let it cool.
- Add the drained & cooled pasta, chopped Romaine, and cubed chicken to a large bowl, then toss gently to combine.
- Drizzle the Caesar Dressing over the top and toss gently to coat all the salad ingredients evenly.
- To finish, sprinkle the salad with croutons, Parmesan, and a couple grinds of black pepper. Serve immediately.
Notes
To prepare in advance:
- Make the Caesar Dressing up to 2 days in advance. Place it in an airtight container and refrigerate.
- Up to several hours prior to serving, cook and drain the pasta. Chop the Romaine and chicken. Store each ingredient in separate airtight containers in the fridge.
- When ready to serve, add the pasta, Romaine, and chicken to a large bowl and proceed with the recipe instructions.
Nutrition Information:
Serving: 1 Calories: 639kcal Carbohydrates: 53g Protein: 35g Fat: 31g Saturated Fat: 6g Polyunsaturated Fat: 16g Monounsaturated Fat: 8g Cholesterol: 81mg Sodium: 750mg Potassium: 607mg Fiber: 5g Sugar: 4g Vitamin A: 9488IU Vitamin C: 4mg Calcium: 161mg Iron: 3mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by Spoonacular. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee accuracy. If your health depends on nutrition information, please calculate again with your own favorite calculator.