Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is a complete meal in one bowl! Perfect for summer or meal prep.
Tender pasta, chicken, croutons, bacon, and romaine lettuce are all tossed in a quick and creamy Caesar dressing.
Serve with lemon wedge for a new family favorite.
- This is a full meal in just one bowl and it’s crazy good!
- It’s perfect for meal prep, as a summer dinner, or for lunch.
- Adding pasta turns a chicken Caesar salad into a hearty meal that will keep you satisfied.
- The dressing is super delicious and easy to make.
- Skip the chicken to serve as a side dish or swap it for grilled shrimp to change it up.
What You’ll Need For Caesar Pasta Salad
Lettuce: I use romaine lettuce for this recipe, but you can also use chopped kale. You’ll need a sturdy lettuce that can hold up to the dressing and the pasta so a greens mix is not the best option.
Pasta: Choose a medium shaped pasta with curves or holes to grab the dressing. Penne, fusilli, bowtie, and rotini pasta are all great options.
Chicken: I like using chicken breasts or thighs in this recipe and adding cajun seasoning for extra flavor.
Dressing: This easy dressing is made with ingredients likely already in the fridge. Worcestershire sauce has lots of flavor, if possible, fresh lemon is recommended for the flavors of a traditional Caesar salad dressing.
Croutons: You can buy croutons but I like to make my own, they’re so easy!
Variations: Bacon, shredded cheddar, sliced kalamata olives, or sundried tomatoes.
How to Make Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
This Caesar pasta salad is a full meal deal.
- Make Caesar dressing and refrigerate (recipe below).
- Cook noodles to al dente. Drain, rinse, and set aside.
- Season and grill chicken breasts. Once cool, chop or slice as desired.
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and toss with dressing. Serve immediately.
More Caesar Salad Inspiration
Did you enjoy this Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad Recipe? Be sure to leave a comment and rating below.
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
This chicken Caesar pasta salad is loaded with the creamy richness of Caesar salad combined with juicy chicken and soft pasta.
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To make the dressing, in a medium bowl, whisk mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, Parmesan, lemon juice, garlic, anchovy paste, dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Refrigerate.
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To make the salad, cook the pasta al dente in salted water according to the package directions. Drain well and rinse under cold water to stop it from cooking.
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Preheat the grill to medium heat.
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Pound the chicken breasts to ½-inch thick. Rub the chicken breasts with olive oil and season with cajun seasoning or salt and pepper taste.
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Grill over medium heat 5-6 minutes per side or until juices run clear and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Cool completely and then chop into bite size picess.
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In a large salad bowl, combine pasta, chicken, romaine, croutons, parmesan cheese, and bacon. Add the dressing a bit at a time and toss well to coat, you may not need all of the dressing.
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Serve immediately lemon wedges.
Dressing:
- Prepare the dressing first so the flavors can blend. I often double the dressing to have Caesar salad later in the week too.
- Homemade dressing can be replaced with bottled dressing.
To make this meal a side dish, leave out the chicken.
Calories: 537 | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 14g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 706mg | Potassium: 503mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 3194IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 178mg | Iron: 2mg
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Main Course, Pasta, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
