Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
This chilled caesar pasta salad is a creamy lunch-style salad, with chicken to make it more filling and croutons for that caesar crunch.
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 467kcal
Equipment
- Microplane or Cheese Grater
Ingredients
- 12 ounces penne pasta or rotini pasta
- ½ cup parmesan cheese grated, plus more to serve
- 1 cup chicken cooked and chopped
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 cups romaine lettuce chopped
- ½ cup Caesar dressing
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved (optional)
- ½ cup croutons
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
Cook the Pasta
- Cook the pasta to al dente, following the directions on the package.
- Drain and rinse under cold water, then let it completely cool.
Make the Dressing
- In a large bowl, whisk the mayonnaise, caesar dressing, garlic powder, lemon juice, salt and pepper until smooth.
Assemble the Salad
- Add the pasta, romaine, parmesan, chicken and tomatoes if using, tossing until everything is coated in the creamy dressing.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.
- Right before serving, fold in the croutons, and serve immediately, with extra Parmesan offered at the table.
Notes
- Use a big bowl: The pasta and romaine need room for gentle tossing.
- Stir the dressing first: The mayo and caesar dressing should be smooth before the pasta goes in.
- Grate extra Parmesan: Mix some into the salad and sprinkle a little over the top before serving. I like to offer more at the table, as some people prefer more than others.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 467kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 478mg | Potassium: 205mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1457IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Vitamin D: 0.1µg | Calcium: 129mg | Iron: 1mg