Description
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is a refreshing, protein-packed dish made with tender chicken, crisp romaine lettuce, al dente pasta, crunchy croutons, and a creamy homemade Caesar dressing. Perfect for summer dinners, picnics, potlucks, or easy meal prep, this salad is satisfying yet light.
Ingredients
Scale
Caesar Dressing:
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon anchovy paste (optional)
- ⅓ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
Pasta Salad:
- 8 oz uncooked pasta (rotini or penne)
- 2 hearts romaine lettuce, chopped
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or chopped
- Croutons, to taste
- Extra Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Cook pasta: Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water.
- Make dressing: Whisk Dijon mustard, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, mayonnaise, garlic, anchovy paste, and Parmesan until smooth.
- Combine base: Add cooled pasta to a large bowl with chicken and romaine lettuce.
- Add dressing: Pour dressing over salad and toss gently to coat.
- Add toppings: Sprinkle with croutons and extra Parmesan.
- Chill: Refrigerate at least 30 minutes before serving.
- Serve: Serve cold with optional cracked black pepper.
Notes
- Cool pasta completely: Warm pasta can make the salad soggy.
- Make it lighter: Replace part of the mayo with Greek yogurt.
- Extra crunch: Add cucumbers or cherry tomatoes.
- Storage: Keep refrigerated up to 3 days; add croutons before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 760mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: chicken caesar pasta salad, caesar pasta salad, chicken pasta salad, summer pasta salad, easy caesar salad