Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

This chicken Caesar Pasta Salad recipe combines crisp Romaine lettuce, tender rotisserie chicken, crunchy croutons, plenty of parmesan cheese, and al dente penne with a creamy homemade Caesar dressing. 

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Caesar Pasta Salad Recipe

Our Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad recipe combines the components of a classic Caesar salad with the comforts of cooked noodles; add in the convenience of store-bought rotisserie chicken and you’ve created the perfect chicken Caesar salad with pasta!

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad Ingredients

• Dijon mustard
• Fresh lemon juice
• Mayonnaise – You can make the creamy Caesar dressing a bit healthier by substituting the mayo for plain Greek yogurt.
• Garlic powder
• Anchovy paste – If you’re not a fan of anchovies, you can omit the anchovy paste from the dressing. The salad will still be delicious, but you may notice a slight difference in flavor. Alternatively, you can substitute the anchovy paste with Worcestershire sauce for a similar umami flavor.
• Parmesan cheese – I prefer to use freshly grated parmesan cheese but store-bought shredded parmesan cheese will work in a pinch.
• Pasta – You can use conventional pasta or gluten free pasta. Feel free to use your favorite type of pasta. Penne, fusilli, bowtie or rotini are all great options. Just be sure to cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente for the best texture.
• Romaine lettuce
• Rotisserie chicken – Instead of using shredded rotisserie chicken, grill your own chicken breasts or chicken thighs seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Then slice the grilled chicken into bite sized pieces and add it to the salad for a smoky flavor.
• Croutons
• Salt
• Black pepper

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to Make Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

1. Make The Dressing: Whisk together the Dijon mustard, lemon juice, mayonnaise, garlic powder, anchovy paste, and Parmesan cheese. Set aside.
2. Prepare The Pasta: Cook pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse it under cold water, then set aside to cool.
3. Combine And Coat: Combine the pasta, shredded chicken, lettuce, and croutons. Season with salt and black pepper. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat all components.
4. Serve: Garnish with grated Parmesan cheese and freshly cracked black pepper if desired. Serve and enjoy!

Tips & Variations

• Due to the creamy nature of the dressing, you may notice some separation after refrigeration. Simply give the salad a gentle toss before serving to redistribute the dressing and ingredients. Keep in mind that the croutons may lose their crunchiness over time when stored in the salad.
• Add-Ins: Feel free to add your other favorite foods to this salad. Some ideas include cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, shredded carrots, diced onion, or even avocado.
• Vegetarian Version: Make this salad vegetarian-friendly by omitting the chicken and removing the anchovy paste from the Caesar salad dressing. You can add grilled tofu, chickpeas, or your favorite meat alternative for a protein swap.

How to Store Pasta Salad

• To Store: Leftover chicken pasta Caesar salad can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
• Make Ahead: The Caesar dressing can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Give it a good stir before using it to ensure the ingredients are well combined.

More Salad Recipes

• Lemon Parmesan Salad
• BLT Pasta Salad
• Olive Garden House Salad and Salad Dressing
• Tortellini Pasta Salad
• Pesto Pasta Salad
• Classic Chicken Salad Recipe
• Grinder Pasta Salad

5 from 2 votes

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Author — Jennifer Fishkind

Serves — 8

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is quick and easy to prepare. It combines the classic elements of a Caesar salad with the comforts of pasta and poultry.

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 12 minutes mins

Total Time 32 minutes mins

Ingredients

  

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For the Dressing:

• ▢ 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• ▢ 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• ▢ ¾ cup mayonnaise
• ▢ 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon anchovy paste
• ▢ ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

For the Pasta Salad:

• ▢ 12 ounces uncooked pasta penne works great!
• ▢ 1 heart of Romaine lettuce
• ▢ 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
• ▢ 1 cup croutons
• ▢ 1 teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

 

• In a small bowl, whisk together the Dijon mustard, fresh lemon juice, mayonnaise, garlic powder, anchovy paste, and grated Parmesan cheese until well combined. Set aside.
  1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, ¾ cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon anchovy paste, ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside to cool.
  12 ounces uncooked pasta
• While the pasta is cooking, wash and chop the Romaine lettuce into bite sized pieces.
  1 heart of Romaine lettuce
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked and cooled pasta, shredded rotisserie chicken, chopped Romaine lettuce, and croutons. Season with salt and black pepper.
  2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken, 1 cup croutons, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper
• Pour the prepared Caesar dressing over the salad ingredients. Gently toss everything together until well coated in the dressing. Make sure all the components are evenly distributed throughout the salad.
• Once the salad is nicely dressed, transfer it to a serving platter or individual plates. Garnish with additional grated Parmesan cheese and freshly cracked black pepper if desired.

Jenn’s Notes

Storage:

• To Store: Store leftover chicken pasta Caesar salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Tips:

• If you’re not a fan of anchovies, you can omit the anchovy paste from the dressing. The salad will still be delicious, but you may notice a slight difference in flavor. Alternatively, you can substitute the anchovy paste with Worcestershire sauce for a similar umami flavor.
• Due to the creamy nature of the dressing, you may notice some separation after refrigeration. Simply give the salad a gentle toss before serving to redistribute the dressing and ingredients. Keep in mind that the croutons may lose their crunchiness over time when stored in the salad.

Nutrition Info

Calories: 337kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 557mg | Potassium: 145mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 349IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 1mg

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