Description
A quick and delicious creamy chicken Caesar pasta salad, perfect for busy days or gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups Cooked Chicken (shredded or diced)
- 8 oz Short Pasta (like rotini, fusilli, penne, or farfalle)
- 1 cup Caesar Dressing
- 4 cups Romaine Lettuce (well-washed and chopped)
- ½ cup Parmesan Cheese (freshly grated or shaved)
- 1 cup Croutons (store-bought or homemade)
- Optional Additions: cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, black olives, crispy beef bits
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil and add the chosen short pasta. Cook according to package directions until al dente, then drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Let it drain thoroughly and set aside to cool completely.
- Prepare the Chicken: If using leftover rotisserie chicken, shred or dice it into bite-sized pieces. If cooking chicken breasts, grill or pan-fry until fully cooked and golden brown, then let rest before dicing into uniform pieces.
- Chop the Romaine Lettuce: Wash the romaine lettuce under cold water, then dry thoroughly. Chop into bite-sized pieces.
- Assemble the Base: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, diced chicken, and chopped romaine lettuce. Add any optional ingredients if desired.
- Add Parmesan and Dressing: Sprinkle in freshly grated or shaved Parmesan cheese and pour in Caesar dressing, starting with about three-quarters of the amount needed.
- Toss Gently to Coat: Using salad tongs or spatulas, gently toss the ingredients to coat them evenly with the dressing. Taste and adjust seasoning with more dressing or salt and pepper if needed.
- Add Croutons and Serve: Just before serving, add the croutons and give everything a final gentle toss. Serve immediately or chill in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes for a colder salad.
Notes
For a creamier texture, mix in some sour cream or Greek yogurt with the dressing. You can use any short pasta you like, so feel free to get creative with your choice.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: chicken caesar pasta salad, creamy pasta salad, quick salad recipe