Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Needing an easy way to spice up your usual pasta salad? Look no further than this delicious and satisfying Chicken Caesar pasta salad! With just simple ingredients you can have a meal that’s perfect for any occasion, plus this will serve an army.
What you need to create this salad: Penne Pasta, Romaine Lettuce, Grilled Chicken, Parmesan Cheese, Caesar Dressing, Bacon Bits, Black Pepper, Croutons, and Large Mixing Bowl.
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Ingredients
16oz. Penne Pasta, cooked and drained
1-2 Fresh Romaine Lettuce Heart, chopped
2 Chicken Breast
1 ½ cups Ceasar Dressing
1 cup Bacon Bits
1 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
2 teaspoons Black Pepper
Croutons, optional
Directions
- Cook the penne pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set it aside.
- Marinate the chicken breasts in ½ cup of Caesar dressing for 30 minutes, then grill or cook in an air fryer until cooked through (See notes below). Allow chicken breast to cool for a few minutes, slice them into bite-sized pieces.
- In a large bowl, combine the romaine lettuce, cooked pasta, sliced seasoned chicken, parmesan cheese, bacon bits, and black pepper.
- Add the Caesar dressing to the bowl and toss until everything is evenly coated. 5. Add in croutons right before serving.
Tips and FAQ’s
Make sure pasta is al dente: Overcooked pasta can become mushy and break apart. Be sure to cook your pasta just until it’s tender. Make sure to rince pasta under cold water to stop the cooking.
You can add more to this salad by adding ingredients like tomatoes, lemons or even sliced avocado.
Chill the salad before serving: Letting the salad chill in the fridge for at least an hour before serving if you would like, this will allow the flavors to meld together.
Can I use pre-cooked chicken for this salad? Yes, you can use pre-cooked chicken to make this salad even easier to prepare, like rotisserie chicken. Simply chop the pre-cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces and add it to the salad.
Can I make this salad ahead of time? Yes, you can make this salad ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. I would leave the croutons out until you are ready to eat because after sitting overnight the croutons can become soggy.
