Description
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad offers a fresh and delicious twist on the classic Caesar salad by combining tender cooked chicken, rotini pasta, crisp romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and Parmesan cheese, all tossed in creamy Caesar dressing. This easy and satisfying salad makes a perfect light lunch or dinner, with the option to add crunchy croutons and chill for enhanced flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Protein
- 8 ounces rotini pasta
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded
Vegetables and Cheese
- 1 cup romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup cucumber, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Dressing and Seasonings
- 1/2 cup Caesar dressing (store-bought or homemade)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Optional
- Croutons for topping
Instructions
- Boil the Pasta: Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a rolling boil over high heat. Add a generous pinch of salt to season.
- Cook the Pasta: Add the rotini pasta to the boiling water. Stir occasionally and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente, according to package instructions.
- Drain and Cool Pasta: Drain the pasta using a colander and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Let it sit to drain completely.
- Prepare the Chicken: If using raw chicken, grill, bake, or sauté until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C). Season with salt and pepper.
- Cut the Chicken: Allow the cooked chicken to rest for a few minutes, then dice or shred it into bite-sized pieces.
- Prepare the Lettuce: Chop the romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces, wash thoroughly, and dry completely.
- Slice the Tomatoes: Halve the cherry tomatoes for easy mixing and serving.
- Dice the Cucumber: Peel if desired, slice in half lengthwise, remove seeds, and dice the cucumber.
- Slice the Onion: Thinly slice the red onion. Soak in cold water for 10 minutes if a milder flavor is preferred, then drain.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled rotini pasta, cooked chicken, romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion.
- Add Cheese: Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the salad.
- Add Dressing: Pour Caesar dressing over the salad and toss gently until all ingredients are well coated.
- Season to Taste: Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed, mixing gently.
- Add Croutons: Sprinkle croutons on top just before serving for an added crunchy texture.
- Optional Chilling: Cover and chill the salad in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to meld flavors, if desired.
- Final Toss and Serve: Toss the salad gently before serving to redistribute dressing and enjoy your Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad.
Notes
- Use rotini or any pasta shape that holds dressing well.
- Leftover cooked chicken can be used for convenience.
- Soaking red onion in cold water reduces its pungency.
- Chilling the salad helps the flavors meld but is optional.
- Add croutons just before serving to maintain their crunch.
- For a lighter option, use a low-fat Caesar dressing.
