Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad – This simple pasta salad is perfect for summer parties! Pasta tossed in Caesar dressing with diced grilled chicken, shredded Parmesan, croutons, tomatoes, chopped romaine, and crumbled bacon.

Summer is just about here and it’s officially pasta salad season! The Caesar salad seems to be having a moment in recent months with variations stuffed into bread, famous wraps, etc. A creamy chicken Caesar pasta salad is a solid side dish to make for all your summer gatherings. You can make your own dressing if that is your thing, but if you have a favorite, just mix it in for an easy side dish.

This pasta salad is made with grilled chicken, shredded Parmesan cheese, crumbled bacon, tomatoes, croutons, and Romaine lettuce. You can prep it in advance and stir in the lettuce when you are ready to serve. The romaine lettuce makes this pasta salad feel a little lighter than other pasta salads and if you are watching carbs, you can add in more of the romaine and less pasta.

To make Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad, you will need:

• boneless, skinless chicken breast
• extra virgin olive oil
• salt & pepper
• pasta of your choice
• cherry tomatoes
• shredded Parmesan cheese
• Caesar dressing
• mayonnaise
• lemon
• romaine lettuce
• cooked bacon
• croutons

Recipe Tips and Suggestions:

• If you do not want to (or are pressed for time), you can buy pre-cooked chicken like a rotisserie chicken from your grocery store to save time. 
• I highly recommend waiting to mix in the romaine lettuce, bacon, and croutons if you are making this well in advance (like overnight) to prevent the lettuce from wilting and to keep the crispiness of the croutons and bacon for texture.
• Feel free to use any Caesar dressing that you like for this recipe. I also like to add in some mayo for creaminess and fresh lemon juice.
• If you want to make this pasta salad a bit healthier, you can swap the mayo for Greek yogurt and use a light Caesar dressing. You can also add less pasta and more romaine lettuce.
• If there are other toppings you want to mix in or skip the chicken, that’s all good, tailor this pasta salad however you please. 

Craving more Pasta Salad Recipes? Try these!

Turkey Club Pasta Salad

BLT Pasta Salad

Buttermilk Dill Pasta Salad

Print

Yield: 8-10 servings

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Additional Time 4 hours

Total Time 4 hours 40 minutes

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad - Pasta tossed in Caesar dressing with diced grilled chicken, Parmesan, croutons, tomatoes, romaine, and bacon.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• pepper
• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, diced
• 1 pound pasta of your choice (rotini, bow tie, cavatappi, etc.)
• 1 cup Caesar dressing
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 lemon, juiced
• 1 cup sliced cherry tomatoes
• 5 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 2 cups chopped romaine (or adjust as needed)
• 2/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup croutons

Instructions

1. Toss the chicken with the olive oll and season with salt and pepper (and other seasonings, if desired). Add the chicken to a pan or grill pan and cook on each side, stirring to turn each piece, until browned and cooked thoroughly. Remove from the heat.
2. While the chicken is cooking, prepare the pasta according to package directions. Once done, drain the pasta and add into a container or large bowl.
3. Pour the ceasar dressing, mayo, and add the chicken. Toss to coat. Then stir in the lemon juice and cherry tomatoes. Season with additional salt to taste. Feel free to add more dressing as desired. Cover the pasta salad and chill for at least 4 hours.
4. Before serving, stir in the chopped romaine, crumbled bacon, and croutons. If desired, you can crumble some of the croutons for added texture. Serve chilled.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

10

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 610Total Fat: 39gSaturated Fat: 9gUnsaturated Fat: 30gCholesterol: 71mgSodium: 1250mgCarbohydrates: 36gFiber: 4gSugar: 5gProtein: 28g

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Turkey Club Pasta Salad BLT Pasta Salad Buttermilk Dill Pasta Salad The Perfect Tailgate Pasta Salad