Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is 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 turning it into a pasta salad was a must!
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.
Recipe 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 it in paper towels, and store it 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.
FAQ's
Caesar is a classic salad that pairs wonderfully with everything from beef and chicken to fish and pasta. Try topping Caesar with grilled salmon or shrimp. Serve alongside steak for a steakhouse-style meal at home. Or serve with pasta and garlic bread.
For cold pasta salads, it's best to rinse the pasta and drain well. Rinsing the pasta will help to cool the pasta before combining it with the other ingredients. More importantly, rinsing it removes the excess starch which will prevent the pasta salad from having a gummy-like consistency.
Caesar pasta salad is best when eaten immediately (or within 1-2 hours). However, the individual components can be prepped ahead of time. Store the salad components separately. When ready to serve, chop the romaine and toss it with the other ingredients.
Equipment
Food processor | Mixing bowl | Measuring cups and spoons | Pasta pot
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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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