Description
A delicious and refreshing Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad perfect for any occasion. Combine tender chicken, pasta, and crisp romaine lettuce, topped with Parmesan cheese and croutons, all dressed in Caesar dressing.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups cooked chicken
- 8 oz penne, rotini, or farfalle pasta
- 1 cup Caesar dressing (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 head Romaine lettuce
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup Croutons (store-bought or homemade)
- Optional: halved cherry tomatoes
- Optional: thinly sliced red onion
Instructions
- Cook and Cool the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add your chosen pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta thoroughly and rinse under cold water until completely cool. Let it drain well again after rinsing.
- Prepare Your Chicken: If using a rotisserie chicken, shred or dice the meat into bite-sized pieces. If starting with raw chicken breasts, grill or pan-fry them until cooked through (internal temperature of 165°F or 74°C), then let them cool slightly before dicing or shredding.
- Chop the Romaine and Grate the Cheese: Wash the romaine lettuce thoroughly and pat it dry. Chop it into bite-sized pieces. Grate your Parmesan cheese, reserving a little for garnish.
- Combine the Main Ingredients: In a very large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, prepared chicken, and chopped romaine lettuce. Gently toss to distribute everything evenly.
- Dress it Up: Pour your desired amount of Caesar dressing over the pasta mixture. Start with about half to two-thirds of the bottle and add more if needed. Toss everything together until all ingredients are coated in the dressing.
- Add Parmesan and Finish with Croutons: Sprinkle most of your grated Parmesan cheese into the bowl and toss again. Save the croutons until just before serving to keep them crisp.
- Serve and Enjoy: Transfer the salad to a serving bowl, garnish with reserved Parmesan cheese and extra croutons, and serve immediately. For enhanced flavor, chill for 30 minutes to an hour before serving.
Notes
- Make sure to rinse the pasta well after cooking to stop the cooking process and cool it down quickly.
- Feel free to customize with your favorite vegetables or proteins.
- For a creamier salad, consider adding more dressing according to taste.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: salad
- Method: tossing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg