Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad Recipe
This Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is a flavorful and hearty dish combining tender seared chicken breast, al dente penne pasta, crunchy croutons, crisp romaine lettuce, creamy Caesar dressing, and grated parmesan cheese. Perfect as a light lunch or a satisfying side dish, this salad blends classic Caesar flavors with the comforting texture of pasta for a delicious, easy-to-make meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Searing and boiling
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 whole skinless boneless chicken breasts
- ¾ tsp salt
- ¾ tsp ground black pepper
- ¾ tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Pasta & Salad
- 8 oz dry penne pasta
- 1½ cups croutons
- 3 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
- ¾ cup Caesar dressing
- ⅓ cup parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions
- Season Chicken: In a bowl, evenly season the chicken breasts with salt, garlic powder, and black pepper to enhance their natural flavor.
- Cook Chicken: Heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken breasts and sear each side until golden brown and cooked through, about 8-10 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside to cool.
- Cube Chicken: Once cooled, cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized cubes and set aside for mixing.
- Cook Pasta: Prepare the penne pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and allow it to cool to room temperature.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large salad mixing bowl, combine the chicken cubes, cooked pasta, croutons, chopped romaine lettuce, Caesar dressing, and grated parmesan cheese. Toss thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly coated and well combined.
- Serve: Transfer the assembled pasta salad to a serving bowl and serve immediately for the best texture and flavor.
Notes
- Allow the pasta and chicken to cool before combining to prevent the lettuce from wilting.
- Use freshly grated parmesan for the best flavor.
- For extra protein, consider adding boiled eggs or bacon bits.
- This salad can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours; however, croutons should be added just before serving to maintain their crunch.
- Substitute gluten-free pasta to make it gluten-free friendly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: chicken caesar pasta salad, chicken pasta salad, caesar salad, pasta salad recipe, easy chicken salad
Find it online: https://servedbynora.com/chicken-caesar-pasta-salad-recipe/
