Description
A fresh and delicious Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad combining tender grilled chicken, crunchy romaine, savory bacon, and creamy Caesar dressing tossed with rotini pasta for a perfect all-in-one meal or side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 oz rotini pasta
Protein & Vegetables
- 1 lb grilled chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
Additional Ingredients
- 10 slices cooked bacon, chopped
- 1 cup croutons
- 1½ cups Caesar dressing
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, grated or shaved
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add rotini pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente, usually around 8-10 minutes. Drain and rinse the pasta with cold water to stop cooking and cool it down. Set aside.
- Assemble Salad Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the grilled chicken pieces, chopped romaine lettuce, halved grape or cherry tomatoes, chopped cooked bacon, croutons, and parmesan cheese.
- Add Pasta and Dressing: Add the cooled pasta to the bowl with the salad ingredients. Pour in the Caesar dressing and toss everything gently until well coated.
- Season and Serve: Taste the salad and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper according to your preference. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to enjoy.
Notes
- You can substitute rotini with other pasta like penne or fusilli.
- For a lighter version, reduce the amount of Caesar dressing or use a low-fat alternative.
- Add freshly squeezed lemon juice or extra parmesan for enhanced flavor.
- Make sure to cool the pasta properly to avoid wilting the lettuce.
- Optional: Garnish with fresh parsley or extra grated parmesan before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Boiling, Grilling, Tossing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (approx. 170g)
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 690mg
- Fat: 21g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad, grilled chicken pasta salad, Caesar salad, easy pasta salad, summertime salad
