Description
This easy chicken Caesar pasta salad is your new go-to for a quick, satisfying, and incredibly flavorful meal. It’s the perfect blend of classic Caesar tastes with the hearty satisfaction of pasta, making it ideal for busy weeknights or easy lunches.
Ingredients
8 oz penne or farfalle pasta
2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced
3 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup creamy Caesar dressing
1 cup garlic croutons
Black pepper to taste
Instructions
Cook the pasta until al dente, then chill it thoroughly with cold water.
In a large bowl, mix the chilled pasta, chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, and Parmesan.
Add the Caesar dressing and toss everything together.
Gently mix in the croutons just before serving and season with pepper.
Serve this refreshing salad chilled.
Notes
Don’t Overcook the Pasta: Cook the pasta just until it reaches that perfect tender stage. It will continue to soften slightly in the salad, so starting with pasta that has a bit of structure is best.
Chill Thoroughly: Rinsing the pasta with cold water not only chills it but also stops the cooking process. Ensure it’s truly cold before combining it with the other ingredients.
Toss Gently: When combining the ingredients, especially after adding the dressing and croutons, use a gentle hand. This helps prevent the lettuce from bruising and keeps the croutons from becoming too soft.
Dress to Your Liking: You can always add more or less dressing depending on your preference. Start with the recommended amount and add more if needed to achieve your desired level of creaminess.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: N/A
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: N/A
- Fat: N/A
- Carbohydrates: N/A
- Protein: N/A