Description

This Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is a quick, healthy, and satisfying meal perfect for busy weekdays, lunchboxes, light dinners, or potlucks. It combines tender pasta, savory chicken, crisp romaine lettuce, and a creamy Caesar dressing for a universally loved and refreshing flavor. It’s versatile, great for meal prepping, and uses readily available ingredients, making it an ideal choice for practical and delicious healthy lunch options.

Ingredients

Scale

8 ounces pasta, such as rotini, penne, or farfalle

2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced

1 head romaine lettuce, chopped

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup creamy Caesar dressing

1/4 cup croutons (optional, for serving)

Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente (about 10-12 minutes).

2. Once cooked, drain the pasta thoroughly in a colander. Rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down. Let it drain completely.

3. Shred or dice your cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces.

4. Wash and thoroughly dry the romaine lettuce. Chop it into bite-sized pieces.

5. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, shredded chicken, chopped romaine lettuce, and grated Parmesan cheese.

6. Pour the creamy Caesar dressing over the ingredients in the bowl.

7. Gently toss all the ingredients together until everything is evenly coated with the Caesar dressing.

8. Taste the salad and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper as needed. If using, stir in the croutons just before serving to keep them crisp.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
Category: main dish
Method: no-cook
Cuisine: american

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe

Keywords: pasta salad, chicken, caesar, lunch, dinner, easy, quick, meal prep, healthy, potluck