Description
A creamy, satisfying chicken Caesar pasta salad that’s easy to make, healthy, and perfect for busy weeknights or entertaining.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces (225 grams) rotini pasta
- 2 cups (300 grams) cooked chicken breast, diced
- 3 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
- 3/4 cup Caesar dressing
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)
- 1 cup croutons
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Black pepper, to taste
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook rotini pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool.
2. Dice cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces. Chop romaine lettuce and halve cherry tomatoes if using.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together Caesar dressing, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
4. In a large bowl, combine cooled pasta, chicken, romaine, and tomatoes. Pour dressing over and toss until evenly coated.
5. Add shredded Parmesan cheese and toss again.
6. Top with croutons just before serving to keep them crunchy.
Notes
Rinse pasta under cold water to prevent mushiness.
Use room temperature chicken to keep dressing smooth.
Add lettuce and croutons just before serving for best texture.
For a lighter version, replace half the dressing with Greek yogurt.
Freshly grated Parmesan provides the best flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 65mg