Caesar Pasta Salad adds penne pasta to a classic recipe for a light and healthy lunch or side dish. Better yet, this recipe includes a delicious dressing that you can make at home.
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Why this Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad Recipe is a Keeper
This recipe combines tender pasta, crisp romaine lettuce, and cherry tomatoes, tossed in a creamy Caesar dressing. It’s a great go to salad that you can enjoy, both for lunch and as a side dish. It’s a ridiculously easy recipe that you can serve at potlucks, or as a weeknight meal. Here are a few reasons why you’ll love this recipe:
- 10 Minute Meal: This Caesar salad with pasta comes together in just 10 minutes.
- Easy Ingredients: All of the ingredients for pasta salad with a classic Caesar salad dressing can be found in your kitchen or local grocery store.
- Adaptable: Customize the salad to your tastes, and use your favorite ingredients to make this creamy homemade Caesar dressing and salad your way.
If you’re looking for more salad recipes, try these: Panzanella Salad (Italian pasta salad), Elote Salad, and Spicy Southwest Salad.
Should I Rinse the Pasta Before Making this Salad?
Rinsing pasta isn’t recommended when making this recipe, as it will remove the starches that will help the pasta bind to the dressing.
Ingredient Notes for Chicken Caesar Salad with Pasta
Here are a few ingredients you won’t want to miss when making this salad with crispy romaine lettuce and croutons. Don’t forget to make the dressing!
- Penne Pasta: Use penne with ridges in this pasta salad recipe, as they will help the dressing stick.
- Parmesan Cheese: Use grated parmesan cheese on this salad, or try Romano or pecorino.
- Anchovy Paste: Anchovy paste is a key ingredient in the salad dressing. If it’s difficult to find, many global food stores will carry it.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Caesar Salad and Dressing Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- Protein: This recipe calls for cooked boneless, skinless chicken breasts as the main protein. However, you can use other kinds, such as shrimp.
- Tricolor Pasta: Use tricolor pasta instead of penne for a more colorful meal. You can also use a gluten free pasta variant as well.
- Greek Yogurt: You can swap out Greek yogurt for mayonnaise when you make the dressing.
Pro Tip to Make this Recipe
Other types of pasta shapes you can use include bowtie pasta, rotini pasta, and fusilli.
How to Make Homemade Caesar Salad with Pasta
This takes on a traditional Caesar salad with parmesan cheese and croutons also includes pasta, making it both healthy and filling. Better yet, you can also make a dressing to go with it.
These are the basic steps for making Caesar Pasta Salad. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
1. Assemble the Salad and Cook the Pasta
In a large bowl, toss together chopped romaine lettuce, tomatoes, croutons, and chopped chicken pieces. Add in freshly cracked black pepper to taste. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil, add the pasta, and cook according to package directions, or to al dente.
2. Make Homemade Caesar Dressing
In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, garlic, lemon juice, anchovy paste, and Worcestershire sauce until smooth and creamy. Drain the pasta once it’s cooked.
3. Dress the Salad
Combine the pasta with the salad mixture and stir. Then, mix the dressing with the pasta salad and refrigerate for at least an hour until ready to serve. Serve the salad cold.
Cold Pasta Salad FAQs
If you want a substitute for anchovy paste, mashed capers, miso paste, or soy sauce will all work just fine.
Cover the salad bowl in plastic wrap, or transfer to an airtight container in the fridge. Because the dressing contains mayonnaise, refrigerate for up to 1-2 days.
To keep the pasta from drying out, you can chill it ahead of time, then add the fresh ingredients, such as the vegetables, after it’s done chilling. Make additional dressing if it seems a little dry.
Expert Tips for Making Caesar Pasta Salad with Chicken
- Shaved Parmesan: Shave fresh parmesan onto your chicken Caesar pasta salad instead of using canned parmesan.
- Roasted Vegetables: Add some crispy roasted vegetables or romaine hearts to the salad, or chickpeas for more protein.
- Chicken: This recipe is a great use for leftover rotisserie chicken or grilled chicken. Feel free to use some in your salad.
- Salted Water: When making the pasta, boil a large pot of salted water. This will help add flavor.
What to Serve with Caesar Pasta Salad
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Caesar Pasta Salad
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Ingredients
Dressing
- 1 cup Mayonnaise
- ⅓ cup Sour Cream
- 3 cloves Garlic , pressed or finely minced
- 2 tablespoons Lemon Juice
- ¼ teaspoon Anchovy Paste
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
Salad
- 1 pound Penne pasta, cooked
- 1 Romaine lettuce , washed and torn
- Grape tomatoes, as many or few as you’d like
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
- Croutons
- 1 pound Chicken breast, skinless and boneless, cooked
Instructions
- In a large bowl, toss together Romaine lettuce, tomatoes, croutons, and chicken pieces. Add in black pepper to taste. Meanwhile, boil the pasta according to package directions.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, garlic, lemon juice, anchovy paste, and Worcestershire sauce until well combined. Drain the pasta once it's cooked.
- Combine the pasta with the salad mixture and stir. Then, mix the dressing with the pasta salad and refrigerate for at least an hour.
Christina’s Notes
- Shaved Parmesan: Grate fresh parmesan onto your salad instead of using canned parmesan.
- Roasted Vegetables: Add some crispy roasted vegetables or romaine hearts to the salad, or chickpeas for more protein.
- Chicken: This recipe is a great use for leftover rotisserie chicken or grilled chicken. Feel free to use some in your salad.
- Salted Water: When making the pasta, boil a large pot of salted water. This will help add flavor.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.