Creamy Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad: Quick Weeknight Meal (Print Version)

Whip up this creamy Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad! Tender chicken, crisp romaine, pasta, and tangy Caesar dressing make a satisfying, easy meal.

# Recipe Info:

Prep Time: 15 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 10 Minutes minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4 Servings
Difficulty: Beginner
Cuisine: American
Dietary: Contains Dairy, Gluten

# Ingredients:

→ Pasta & Chicken Base

01 - 12 oz (about 3.5 cups) short pasta (like rotini, penne, or farfalle)
02 - 2 cups cooked chicken, diced (rotisserie, grilled, or pan-seared)
03 - 6 cups romaine lettuce, chopped

→ Caesar Dressing Essentials

04 - 1 cup good quality creamy Caesar dressing
05 - 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish

→ Flavor Boosters & Crunch

06 - 1 cup croutons, plus more for garnish
07 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
08 - 1/4 tsp onion powder
09 - Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

# Instructions:

01 - First things first, get that pasta boiling! Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil – and yes, I always forget the salt the first time, oops. Cook your chosen short pasta according to package directions until it's al dente. While it’s cooking, I usually dice up my chicken and romaine. Once done, drain the pasta really well and rinse it with cold water to stop the cooking and cool it down. This is crucial for a great <mark>Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad</mark>! Let it sit in the colander for a bit to ensure it’s totally dry.
02 - While your pasta is cooling, get your cooked chicken diced into bite-sized pieces. If you’re using rotisserie, pull it apart and chop it up. For pan-seared chicken, make sure it’s fully cooled before dicing. Then, wash and thoroughly dry your romaine lettuce. I’m a big fan of a salad spinner for this; soggy lettuce is a no-go. Chop the romaine into pieces that are easy to fork up, roughly the same size as your pasta and chicken. This step is key for texture.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, gently combine the cooled, drained pasta, the diced chicken, and about half of your chopped romaine lettuce. Give it a good, gentle toss to distribute everything. This is where I start to smell all those fresh ingredients coming together, and honestly, it gets me excited for the final dish! Don’t add all the lettuce yet; we want some fresh crunch at the end.
04 - Now for the star of the show: the Caesar dressing! Pour a generous amount over the pasta and chicken mixture. Start with about half a bottle, then add more if you like it extra saucy – I usually do! Add a good sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, and a few grinds of black pepper. Toss everything together until every piece is coated in that creamy, tangy goodness. Don't be shy with the dressing, it’s what makes this <mark>Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad</mark> sing.
05 - Once everything is well coated, add the remaining chopped romaine lettuce and most of your croutons. Give it another gentle toss. This ensures your lettuce stays crisp and your croutons don’t get soggy too quickly. I like to hold back a few croutons and a little extra Parmesan for garnish, just for presentation. Sometimes I even toast a few extra croutons in a pan with butter and garlic, because why not? More crunch, more flavor!
06 - For the absolute best results, cover your <mark>Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad</mark> and pop it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to an hour. This allows all those amazing flavors to meld together and the pasta to really soak up the dressing. Before serving, give it one last gentle toss, sprinkle with any reserved Parmesan and croutons, and maybe a little extra fresh black pepper. It should look, smell, and taste like pure, creamy Caesar joy. Enjoy!

# Notes:

01 - Always cool your pasta completely before mixing in lettuce to avoid wilting – I learned this the hard way!
02 - For meal prep, store croutons and lettuce separately; they'll stay much crisper.
03 - If you're out of Caesar, a creamy Italian dressing can work in a pinch, but the flavor profile will shift.
04 - Serve with warm garlic bread on the side to soak up any extra delicious dressing.

# Equipment Needed:

01 - Large pot
02 - large mixing bowl
03 - colander
04 - knife
05 - cutting board

# Nutrition (Per Serving):

Calories: 650 kcal
Total Fat: 45g
Total Carbohydrate: 40g
Protein: 35g

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