Description
A creamy, flavorful Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad that comes together in 20 minutes. Packed with rotini, juicy chicken, crisp romaine, and a homemade Caesar dressing, it’s the ultimate chilled pasta salad for warm weather or potlucks.
Ingredients
For the Dressing:
½ cup mayonnaise (or Greek yogurt)
2 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 garlic clove, minced
¼ cup finely grated Parmesan
½ tsp anchovy paste (optional)
For the Salad:
8 oz rotini or penne pasta
2 cups chopped romaine hearts
2 cups cooked chicken (grilled or rotisserie)
1 cup croutons
⅓ cup shaved or shredded Parmesan
Instructions
1. In a bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Dijon, lemon juice, Worcestershire, garlic, Parmesan, and anchovy paste. Chill while preparing the rest.
2. Bring salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water.
3. In a large mixing bowl, toss cooled pasta, chopped romaine, cooked chicken, and shaved Parmesan.
4. Pour the dressing over and toss gently to coat.
5. Add croutons just before serving and garnish with extra Parmesan if desired.
Notes
Make the dressing a day ahead for extra flavor.
Skip the anchovy paste if preferred, or sub with a bit more Worcestershire.
Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 2 days—keep croutons separate to maintain crunch.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 277
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 231mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 39mg