Description
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad offers a fresh and satisfying twist on the classic Caesar salad by combining rotini pasta, tender cooked chicken, crisp romaine lettuce, and vibrant vegetables all tossed in creamy Caesar dressing. This easy-to-make salad is perfect for a light lunch, picnic, or potluck and can be prepared in under 30 minutes.
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 Toppings
- Croutons for topping
Instructions
- Boil Pasta: Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a rolling boil over high heat, adding a generous pinch of salt to season.
- Cook Pasta: Add the rotini pasta to the boiling water, stirring occasionally. Cook according to package instructions (8-10 minutes) until al dente.
- Drain and Cool Pasta: Drain the cooked pasta in a colander and rinse under cold water to halt the cooking process. Let it sit to drain completely.
- Prepare Chicken: If using raw chicken, grill, bake, or sauté until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C). Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Dice Chicken: Allow the cooked chicken to rest for a few minutes before dicing or shredding into bite-sized pieces.
- Prepare Lettuce: Chop the romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces, then wash and dry thoroughly to ensure crispness.
- Prepare Tomatoes: Halve the cherry tomatoes evenly for balanced bites in the salad.
- Prepare Cucumber: Peel if desired, slice lengthwise, remove seeds, and dice the cucumber into small pieces.
- Prepare Onion: Thinly slice the red onion; soak in cold water for 10 minutes if you want to reduce its sharpness.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, toss together the cooled rotini pasta, cooked chicken, chopped romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion.
- Add Cheese: Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the salad mixture.
- Dress Salad: Pour the Caesar dressing over the salad and toss gently until all ingredients are well coated.
- Season: Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed to enhance flavors.
- Add Croutons: Sprinkle croutons on top just before serving for added crunch and texture.
- Chill: Optionally cover and refrigerate the salad for about 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld beautifully.
- Serve: Toss the salad gently before serving and enjoy your fresh Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad!
Notes
- Using pre-cooked or rotisserie chicken speeds up preparation time.
- Soaking red onion in cold water reduces sharpness and makes it milder for the salad.
- Chilling the salad for 30 minutes improves flavor melding but can be served immediately if preferred.
- Croutons added before serving maintain their crunchy texture.
- The salad can be customized with homemade Caesar dressing or store-bought for convenience.
