Description
Creamy, crisp, and ready in under 30 minutes, this Simple Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad brings together tender pasta, juicy chicken, and a tangy homemade Caesar dressing for a lunch that’s both hearty and refreshing.
Ingredients
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon anchovy paste (optional)
2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
8 ounces short pasta (such as rotini or penne), cooked and cooled
2 romaine hearts, chopped
1 pound rotisserie chicken, shredded or diced
Croutons (optional)
Extra Parmesan cheese for garnish (optional)
Instructions
1. In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, anchovy paste if using, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and Parmesan cheese until smooth.
2. Cook pasta in salted boiling water until just tender. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Let it cool completely.
3. Wash and chop romaine hearts into bite-sized pieces. Shred or dice rotisserie chicken.
4. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, romaine, and chicken.
5. Pour the Caesar dressing over the mixture. Toss gently until evenly coated.
6. Add croutons and extra Parmesan cheese right before serving for the perfect crunch.
Notes
Use pasta with ridges or curves to help hold the dressing.
Allow pasta to cool before adding dressing to prevent separation.
Add croutons just before serving to maintain crunch.
You can substitute part of the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt for a lighter version, though it may alter the texture.
- Prep Time: 10-15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-15 minutes
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Tossed / Mixed
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (about 1.5 cups)
- Calories: 300-350
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg