Description
A refreshing and hearty pasta salad combining grilled chicken, crisp romaine, and creamy Caesar dressing. Perfect for quick lunches, meal prep, picnics, and family gatherings.
Ingredients
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente, about 10 minutes. Drain and rinse with cool water.
2. Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, then grill over medium heat for 5-6 minutes per side until cooked through. Let rest and slice.
3. If using store-bought dressing, whisk it in a small bowl and stir in Greek yogurt or lemon juice if desired.
4. In a large bowl, toss the cooled pasta with three quarters of the dressing until evenly coated.
5. Fold in sliced chicken, romaine, cherry tomatoes, Parmesan, and bacon bits.
6. Add more dressing as needed and gently mix to combine.
7. Sprinkle croutons on top just before serving and chill salad for 10-15 minutes to let flavors meld.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: salad
- Method: grilling
- Cuisine: american
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 680
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Unsaturated Fat: 10
- Trans Fat: 0.3
- Carbohydrates: 42
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 25
- Cholesterol: 75
Keywords: creamy chicken caesar, chicken caesar pasta salad, pasta caesar salad, easy lunch recipe, meal prep salad, family dinner, picnic salad, grilled chicken pasta, caesar pasta recipe
