Easy Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad Recipe

Caesar Pasta Salad with Chicken takes two popular meals, Caesar salad and pasta, and puts them together. It brings together the creamy garlic and tang of Caesar dressing, with tender pasta and chicken — it is so hearty!

Great for lunch or dinner or even to take on a picnic, it is so easy to make and packed with flavour.

Here’s how you can make this delicious Caesar pasta salad with chicken at home.

Table of Contents

Ingredients

This recipe is simple and made with everyday ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:

For the Salad:

8 ounces of pasta
2 cups of cooked chicken
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups Romaine lettuce, chopped
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup croutons
1/4 cup chopped bacon
Salt and pepper to taste

For the Dressing:

1/2 cup Caesar dressing
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 clove garlic, minced

How to Make Easy Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad Recipe

Cook the Pasta

The first step is to boil the pasta as per your pasta instructions. The pasta should be cooked only so far as al dente since it will soften a bit again when combined with the other elements. Once the pasta is done, drain it and rinse with cold water to cool the pasta and stop it from cooking.

Prepare the Chicken

While the pasta is cooking, make your chicken. Alternatively, if you have leftover chicken, just slice or shred it. Grill or Roast: If you cook your chicken (boneless, skinless), grill it or roast it with a little olive oil, salt and pepper until done and slice it into bite-size pieces.

Make the Dressing

Combine the Caesar dressing, mayonnaise, lemon juice, and garlic in a small bowl. It thickens the dressing, giving it a luscious richness that is perfectly offset by the acidic brightness of lemon juice. Set the dressing aside.

Combine the Ingredients

In a very large mixing bowl, combine the cooked and cooled pasta with the chicken, Romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and bacon (if using). Stir in the dressing with the salad until evenly coated. Top with grated Parmesan cheese and extra croutons.

Season and Serve

Check and season with salt and pepper as needed to taste the salad. If you want to, you can add the optional Parmesan or croutons. This salad is best served right away, or if the flavours meld a bit this can be stored for 4 – hours in the fridge.

Variations

The best part of this recipe is how versatile it is. It is customizable to your taste or what you have available, Variations you can try:

Different types of pasta: Replace penne or rotini with whole wheat, gluten-free, or even fun-shaped bowtie pasta.
Add vegetables: Add cucumbers, bell peppers or even avocados for an extra punch of nutrition and colour.
Pick the grilled chicken: Grilled chicken brings a smoky additional taste that works well with the flavour of Caesar dressing.
Vegetarian option: Omit chicken, add roasted chickpeas or tofu for a plant-based alternative
Try different proteins: Change the flavour by swapping out the shrimp and putting in salmon, turkey or even chicken.

Tips and Tricks

Cook the pasta al dente: You do not want your pasta to be overcooked as this will become mushy when mixed with the dressing. The best texture is had when you cook just until al dente.
Cool the pasta before mixing: To avoid wilted salad when you toss it with pasta, rinse your pasta shortly with cold water to cool it off.
Prep ahead: you can cook the pasta and chicken beforehand and just stash it in the fridge until it’s time to build the salad.
Use fresh ingredients: Fresh grated Parmesan cheese and homemade croutons can bring the salad to life.

Benefits of Caesar Pasta Salad with Chicken

First of all, not only this dish is tasty, but also full of health benefits. The chicken will offer protein that is a great part of muscle repair and added energy.

The pasta provides you with carbohydrates for energy, the Romaine lettuce and cherry tomatoes give you vitamins and fibre. And the Caesar dressing, if whipped up in your kitchen or with great store-bought ingredients, could even be a far healthier choice than most dressings on the shelves.

Conclusion

Chicken and Caesar Pasta Salad makes for a delicious and filling lunch or dinner combining the best of both worlds — the classic flavours of a chicken Caesar salad with hearty pasta. A delicious recipe, fast enough to prepare for a weeknight dinner, picnic or meal prep idea.

This is the kind of salad that everyone loves, with its creamy dressing, fresh veggies and tender chicken! But feel free to eat them plain or add your desired toppings of choice!