Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
This chicken Caesar pasta salad is a rich, satisfying, and easy cold pasta salad made with juicy chicken, crisp romaine lettuce, rotini pasta, crunchy croutons, and a creamy homemade Caesar dressing. Ready in 30 minutes, it is perfect for meal prep, potlucks, or quick weeknight meals.
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 520kcal
Cost: 3
Equipment
- large pot
- colander
- skillet
- mixing bowl
- knife
- cutting board
Ingredients
- 300 g rotini pasta
- 2 chicken breasts
- 4 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup croutons
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- salt, to taste
- black pepper, to taste
- 1 tbsp olive oil (for cooking chicken)
Instructions
- Season the chicken with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Cook in a skillet with olive oil over medium-high heat for 6–8 minutes per side until fully cooked. Let rest, then slice into bite-sized pieces.
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the rotini until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water until fully cooled.
- In a bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, and Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add cooled pasta to a large bowl and toss with most of the dressing until evenly coated.
- Add sliced chicken, chopped romaine, and remaining Parmesan. Toss gently to combine.
- Top with croutons and drizzle remaining dressing before serving. Chill for 30 minutes if desired.
Notes
Cool pasta completely before adding romaine to keep it crisp. Reserve some dressing to refresh before serving. Add croutons just before serving to maintain crunch. Rotisserie chicken works as a quick shortcut. Store components separately for best meal prep results.