Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad Recipe
This Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is creamy, crunchy, and full of bold Caesar flavor! Made with rotini pasta, juicy chicken, crisp romaine, and a homemade dressing, it’s the perfect side or light main dish for summer meals, BBQs, or potlucks.
Ingredients
Salad
- 4 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
- 3 cups uncooked rotini pasta
- 2 cups cooked chicken, cubed and chilled
Dressing
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Topping
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter melted
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, bring water to a boil and cook pasta al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water. Pour into a large mixing bowl. Add lettuce and chicken and chill for one hour or up to 24 hours.
- In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, olive oil, parmesan cheese, lemon juice, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until smooth. Set aside.
- To prepare the breadcrumb topping, turn the broiler on high. In a small baking dish, mix the breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese. Pour the melted butter over the mixture and stir. Broil for 5 to 7 minutes or until golden brown. Stir halfway through to broil evenly if needed.
- When you are ready to serve, pour the dressing over the salad and toss until evenly coated. Sprinkle breadcrumb topping on top and serve cold.
Notes
Rinse the pasta well—it stops the pasta from cooking and prevents clumping.
Chill the chicken before adding so the lettuce stays crisp.
Use fresh lemon juice and grated parmesan for the best flavor.
Don’t skip the topping! It gives you that craveable crunch without soggy croutons.
Dress the salad right before serving to avoid wilting.
Tip for smaller households: If you're not feeding a crowd, for the best results, only mix in enough lettuce and breadcrumb topping for the folks you're serving right away. Store the remaining chopped lettuce in a plastic bag with a paper towel to keep it fresh, and keep the topping crisp in an airtight container. If you toss it all together at once, the lettuce will wilt, and the topping will lose its crunch, so portion as you go for the best texture every time.
Nutrition
Calories: 526kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 27gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 72mgSodium: 659mgPotassium: 438mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 4288IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 120mgIron: 2mg
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