Description
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is a quick and refreshing 20-minute meal featuring tender pasta, crisp romaine, juicy chicken, crunchy croutons, and a creamy homemade Caesar dressing.
Ingredients
For the dressing:
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon anchovy paste
- 1/3 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
For the pasta salad:
- 8 oz. uncooked pasta (rotini or penne)
- 2 hearts of Romaine
- Shredded rotisserie chicken or chopped chicken breasts
- Croutons (optional)
- Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
1. In a medium bowl, whisk together Dijon mustard, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, mayonnaise, garlic, and anchovy paste until smooth.
2. Stir in grated Parmesan cheese and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Set aside.
3. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, about 10 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large serving bowl.
4. Cut Romaine hearts into 1-inch pieces. Add romaine and chicken to the pasta.
5. Pour in the prepared dressing and toss everything together until evenly coated.
6. Top with croutons if desired and garnish with extra Parmesan cheese.
7. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
For a fun twist, substitute the pasta with cheesy tortellini.
This salad can be prepped ahead and chilled, but add croutons right before serving to keep them crunchy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Boiling, Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 277
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 231mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 39mg