Description
This Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad offers a fresh and flavorful twist on the classic Caesar salad by incorporating tender chicken and rotini pasta. It’s a perfect blend of crisp romaine lettuce, juicy cherry tomatoes, cool cucumbers, and zesty red onions, all tossed with creamy Caesar dressing and topped with Parmesan cheese and optional croutons. Ideal for a light lunch or a refreshing picnic dish, this salad is easy to prepare and full of satisfying textures and flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 ounces rotini pasta
Protein
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded
Vegetables
- 1 cup romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup cucumber, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
Dressing & Toppings
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup Caesar dressing (store-bought or homemade)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: croutons for topping
Instructions
- Boil Pasta: Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a rolling boil over high heat. Add a generous pinch of salt to the water to enhance the flavor of the pasta.
- Cook Pasta: Add the rotini pasta to the boiling water. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and cook according to package instructions, typically 8-10 minutes, until the pasta is al dente.
- Drain and Cool Pasta: Drain the cooked pasta in a colander and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Let it drain completely to ensure it’s not soggy in the salad.
- Prepare Chicken: If using raw chicken, grill, bake, or sauté until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C). Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Shred Chicken: Allow the cooked chicken to rest for a few minutes, then dice or shred it into bite-sized pieces for easy mixing.
- Prep Vegetables: Chop the romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces, wash thoroughly, and dry well. Halve the cherry tomatoes. Peel (if preferred), seed, and dice the cucumber. Thinly slice the red onion; soak it in cold water for 10 minutes beforehand if a milder onion flavor is desired.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooled pasta, cooked chicken, chopped romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, and sliced red onion.
- Add Cheese and Dressing: Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese over the salad. Pour the Caesar dressing evenly across the bowl and toss gently to coat everything thoroughly.
- Season Salad: Taste and adjust seasoning by adding salt and pepper as needed, enhancing the overall flavor.
- Add Crunch: Just before serving, sprinkle optional croutons over the top for a delightful crunch.
- Chill and Serve: Cover the salad and refrigerate for about 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Toss gently once more before serving and enjoy your delicious Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad.
Notes
- For best texture, rinse pasta under cold water after cooking to stop the cooking process and cool it down.
- If preferred, use pre-cooked rotisserie chicken to save time.
- Soaking red onion in cold water reduces its pungency for a milder taste.
- Chilling the salad before serving helps meld the flavors but can be optional if serving immediately.
- Add croutons just before serving to maintain their crunchiness.
