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Easy Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Easy Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

This Easy Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is a delightful and straightforward way to enjoy the classic Caesar flavors in a hearty, satisfying pasta dish perfect for lunches, dinners, or gatherings. It’s a meal that’s as simple to prepare as it is delicious to eat.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course, Salad
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 12 ounces rotini pasta (or your favorite short pasta shape)
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts cooked and cubed or shredded
  • 1 cup romaine lettuce chopped
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus extra for garnish)
  • 1/4 cup croutons (homemade or store-bought, for topping)
Caesar Dressing
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt (or sour cream)
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice (freshly squeezed is best)
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1-2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
  • Salt to taste

Method
 

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta thoroughly and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process and prevent it from clumping. Place the drained pasta in a large mixing bowl.
    12 ounces rotini pasta
  2. If you haven't already, ensure your chicken breasts are cooked. You can boil, bake, or grill them. Once cooked, let them cool slightly, then chop or shred them into bite-sized pieces. Add the prepared chicken to the bowl with the pasta.
    1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  3. Wash and chop the romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces. Add the chopped lettuce to the mixing bowl with the pasta and chicken.
    1 cup romaine lettuce
  4. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, plain Greek yogurt (or sour cream), fresh lemon juice, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and black pepper. Taste the dressing and add salt as needed. Continue whisking until the dressing is smooth and well combined.
    1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 1-2 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, Salt
  5. Pour about half of the Caesar dressing over the pasta, chicken, and lettuce mixture. Gently toss everything together to ensure all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing. Add more dressing as needed, to your preference, for a creamier salad.
    12 ounces rotini pasta, 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, 1 cup romaine lettuce
  6. Sprinkle in the grated Parmesan cheese and toss gently once more to distribute.
    1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  7. Portion the Easy Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad into bowls. Garnish each serving with extra grated Parmesan cheese and croutons just before serving for maximum crunch.
    1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1/4 cup croutons

Notes

To maintain crouton crunch, store them separately and add just before serving. For best results when storing leftovers, slightly under-dress the salad to prevent it from absorbing too much dressing.