Description
A vibrant and refreshing Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad featuring a creamy homemade Caesar dressing, tender rotini pasta, crisp Romaine hearts, shredded chicken, and optional crunchy croutons. Perfect for a quick 20-minute meal that combines classic Caesar flavors with pasta for a satisfying and light dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Dressing
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon anchovy paste
- 1/3 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
Salad
- 8 oz. uncooked pasta, such as rotini or penne
- 2 hearts of Romaine, chopped
- Shredded rotisserie chicken or chopped chicken breasts, about 2 cups
- Croutons (optional, for garnish)
- Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini or penne pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool the pasta and stop the cooking process.
- Prepare the dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together Dijon mustard, fresh lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, mayonnaise, minced garlic, anchovy paste, and finely grated Parmesan cheese until smooth and well combined.
- Combine the salad: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooled pasta, chopped Romaine lettuce, shredded rotisserie or cooked chicken. Pour the prepared Caesar dressing over the salad and toss thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly coated.
- Serve and garnish: Transfer the salad to serving bowls or a platter. Sprinkle with additional Parmesan cheese and, if desired, top with crunchy croutons for added texture. Serve immediately or chill briefly before serving for enhanced flavor.
Notes
- This Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is a quick and easy 20-minute meal that’s perfect for lunches, picnics, or light dinners.
- You can use store-bought Caesar dressing if short on time, but the homemade version enhances the flavor significantly.
- Feel free to customize the salad with extra veggies like cherry tomatoes or cucumbers for added freshness.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute the pasta with a gluten-free variety.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 277 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 231 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 39 mg
