Description
A refreshing and hearty Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad featuring rotini pasta, seasoned cooked chicken, crisp romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and crunchy croutons all tossed in a creamy homemade Caesar dressing made with anchovy paste, garlic, lemon juice, and Parmesan cheese. Perfect for a quick, easy meal or a crowd-pleasing dish at gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- 12 ounces rotini pasta
- 1 lb. cooked chicken breast, sliced or diced (seasoned with lemon-pepper seasoning)
- 3 large heads Romaine lettuce, rinsed, dried, and chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced
- 1 cup seasoned croutons
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Homemade Caesar Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 2 teaspoons anchovy paste
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Boil the rotini pasta in a large pot of salted water until it is al dente, usually about 8-10 minutes. Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to cool and stop further cooking.
- Combine salad ingredients: In a large serving bowl, mix the cooled pasta with the cooked, sliced or diced chicken breast seasoned with lemon-pepper, and the sliced cherry tomatoes. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Prepare the Caesar dressing: In a separate bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, minced garlic, lemon juice, anchovy paste, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper until smooth. Cover and chill in the refrigerator until needed.
- Assemble the salad: Just before serving, add the chopped romaine lettuce and seasoned croutons to the pasta mixture. Pour in the desired amount of homemade Caesar dressing and gently toss all ingredients to combine.
- Serve: Sprinkle additional freshly grated Parmesan cheese on top of the salad and serve immediately. Enjoy your Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad!
Notes
- Using freshly cooked pasta that is cooled prevents the salad from becoming mushy.
- You can substitute the cooked chicken breast with grilled chicken for extra flavor.
- Adjust the amount of anchovy paste in the dressing according to your taste preference.
- The Caesar dressing can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- For added crunch, consider adding chopped nuts or extra croutons.
- This salad is best served chilled and fresh on the same day.
