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Delicious Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad with grilled chicken, romaine, and Caesar dressing

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

A fresh, simple salad that mixes pasta, grilled chicken, and classic Caesar flavors for a quick meal.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Dish, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Mediterranean
Calories: 400
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Chicken
  • 2 cups cooked rotini or penne pasta, cooled
  • 2 grilled chicken breasts seasoned and cooked sliced or cubed
Salad Base
  • 3 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
  • 1 cup croutons
  • ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Dressing Ingredients
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice freshly squeezed
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp anchovy paste optional
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • Salt to taste
  • Pepper to taste freshly ground black pepper

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cool it down for the salad.
  2. Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil. Grill or pan-sear until cooked through, then slice or cube into bite-sized pieces.
  3. Wash and chop the romaine lettuce into medium-sized pieces that provide a satisfying crunch.
Making the Dressing
  1. If using store-bought Caesar dressing, stir well to combine. For homemade dressing, whisk together mayonnaise, lemon juice, garlic, anchovy paste, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and freshly grated Parmesan until creamy.
Assembly
  1. In a large bowl, toss the cooled pasta, chicken, romaine lettuce, croutons, and Parmesan cheese with enough dressing to coat evenly. Adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper to taste.
  2. Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to let flavors meld. Serve chilled, garnished with extra Parmesan, freshly cracked black pepper, and lemon wedges if desired.

Notes

Cool the pasta fully so the lettuce stays crisp. Use room-temperature dressing to coat ingredients evenly. Cut the chicken into same-size pieces for easy bites. Taste and add salt or lemon juice at the end to balance flavors.