Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad Recipe
This Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is everything you love about the classic Caesar—creamy, tangy, savory—tossed with pasta and loaded up with juicy rotisserie chicken, crispy bacon, and fresh veggies. It’s hearty enough to serve as a main dish but light enough for a summer lunch. Plus, it comes together in under 30 minutes with just a few store-bought shortcuts.
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup good quality caesar dressing
- 2 lemons, zested & juiced
- 1 ounce (about 1/3 cup) finely grated parmigiano reggiano
- fresh cracked pepper
- 10 ounces short cut pasta, boiled & cooled
- 5-6 slices bacon, cooked & crumbled
- 2 1/2 cups diced cooked chicken breast (rotisserie)
- 3 ounces parmigiano reggiano, cut into small cubes
- 1 cup quartered cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup half-moon cucumber slices
- romaine shredded, for garnish
- store-bought or homemade air fryer croutons, for garnish
Instructions
- Make the Dressing: In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the Caesar dressing, lemon zest, lemon juice, and finely grated Parmigiano Reggiano. Add fresh cracked black pepper to taste.3/4 cup good quality caesar dressing, 2 lemons, , 1 ounce (about 1/3 cup) finely grated parmigiano reggiano, fresh cracked pepper
- Toss the Salad: Add the cooled pasta, bacon, chicken, parmesan cubes, tomatoes, cucumbers, and dressing to a large bowl. Toss everything together until evenly coated in the dressing. Add salt to taste if needed. Right before serving, top each portion with shredded romaine and a few croutons.10 ounces short cut pasta, , 5-6 slices bacon, , 2 1/2 cups diced cooked chicken breast, 3 ounces parmigiano reggiano, , 1 cup quartered cherry tomatoes, 1 cup half-moon cucumber slices, romaine shredded, , store-bought or homemade air fryer croutons,
Notes
- Salt the Pasta Water: It’s the only chance to season the pasta itself, so be generous.
- Prep Pasta and Bacon Before: Prepare the pasta and bacon before starting, so it can have time to cool!
- Don’t Skip the Lemon: The zest and juice brighten the dressing and cut through the richness—don’t leave it out!
- Make it Ahead. Prep the salad and store it in the fridge, but keep the romaine and croutons separate until serving.
Nutrition
Calories: 513kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 846mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g