Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad - a delicious combination of chicken caesar salad and pasta salad. Crisp romaine, grilled chicken, and pasta are tossed together in a creamy homemade caesar dressing. Perfect for lunch or dinner or your next cookout.
This pasta salad is a delicious mash-up of chicken caesar and pasta salad. Caesar is one of my all-time favorite salads, so I was excited about creating this variation.
Pasta salads are perfect as summer lunches or barbecue side dishes, but this version is hearty enough to steal the show as the main dish. This combination of lettuce, chicken, and pasta tossed in a creamy homemade caesar dressing is destined to become a family favorite.
Salad Ingredients
- romaine lettuce - romaine is classic in a caesar salad. It's crisp and holds up well when tossed with the dressing.
- chicken - Leftover chicken is perfect for this recipe. Just slice or chop then add to the other ingredients. Rotisserie chicken is a great shortcut too.
- pasta - Orecchiette pasta is shaped like little ears, which hold little puddles of the dressing. Rotini, penne, fusilli, or farfalle are also great options.
- Caesar dressing - This homemade creamy dressing is so easy and incredibly delicious! You can also use your favorite bottled variety.
- croutons - homemade and store-bought are both fine.
- parmesan shavings for garnish
Tips
Caesar salad is best eaten the same day, but most of the ingredients can be prepped ahead of time.
- Wash and dry the romaine, wrap in paper towels, and store in a plastic bag for up to a week. Wait to chop the romaine until you are ready to assemble the salad.
- Grill or bake the chicken breasts and store them for 3-4 days until ready to use. Shortcut: use a rotisserie chicken.
- Blend up the dressing and store it in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Equipment
Food processor | Mixing bowl | Measuring cups and spoons | Pasta pot
More salads perfect for summer
- BLT Pasta Salad
- Summer Pasta Salad
- Caprese Pasta Salad
- Zesty Italian Pasta Salad
- Halloumi BLT Salad
- Corn, Tomato and Avocado Salad
- Caprese Salad with Balsamic Glaze
- Creamy Cucumber Salad
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 8 ounces orecchiette pasta
- 2 hearts of romaine chopped
- 2 cooked chicken breasts cubed or sliced
- 1½ cups creamy Caesar dressing
- 1 cup croutons plus extra for garnish
- parmesan shavings for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil (salt the water with 2 teaspoons of salt). Add the orecchiette and cook according to package directions. Drain and rinse.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the chopped romaine, chopped chicken, pasta, and croutons. Pour the dressing over the top and toss to evenly coat the ingredients. Garnish with extra croutons, parmesan shavings, and freshly ground black pepper.
Notes
- Wash and dry the romaine, wrap in paper towels, and store in a plastic bag for up to a week. Wait to chop the romaine until you are ready to assemble the salad.
- Grill or bake the chicken breasts and store them for 3-4 days until ready to use. Shortcut: use a rotisserie chicken.
- Blend up the dressing and store it in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and will vary depending upon the exact amounts and specific ingredients used.
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