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Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Jessica Tran
Enjoy a refreshing and easy Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad, combining tender grilled chicken, crisp Romaine lettuce, and a zesty Caesar dressing over perfectly cooked pasta. This dish is ideal for meal prep, family gatherings, or a quick lunch.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Salad
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 4 people

Equipment

  • Large mixing bowl For tossing the salad ingredients together
  • Griddle pan or skillet For grilling the chicken
  • Chef's knife To chop vegetables and slice the chicken
  • Cutting board For safely cutting veggies and chicken
  • Pasta pot To cook the pasta perfectly
  • Strainer For draining the pasta after cooking
  • Salad tongs or large spoon For mixing and serving the salad

Ingredients
  

  • Grilled chicken breast: 2 medium
  • Pasta your choice of gluten-free or regular: 8 oz
  • Romaine lettuce: 4 cups chopped
  • Cherry tomatoes: 1 cup halved
  • Cucumber: 1 medium diced
  • Red onion: 1/2 thinly sliced
  • Parmesan cheese: 1/2 cup grated
  • Croutons: 1 cup optional
  • Classic Caesar dressing: 1/2 cup
  • Lemon juice: 2 tbsp
  • Olive oil: 1 tbsp
  • Salt: to taste
  • Pepper: to taste

Instructions
 

Prepare the Chicken:

  • Marinate chicken breasts in olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper for at least 20 minutes.
  • Heat the griddle pan or skillet over medium heat. Cook chicken until golden brown and cooked through. Let it cool slightly and then chop into bite-sized pieces.

Cook the Pasta:

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente (about 8-10 minutes).
  • Drain the pasta and rinse it with cold water to stop the cooking process. Allow it to cool.

Chop the Vegetables:

  • While the pasta is cooking, chop the Romaine lettuce, halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, and thinly sliced red onion.

Combine and Toss:

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, chopped lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and grated Parmesan cheese.
  • Add the chopped grilled chicken and drizzle with Caesar dressing. Toss until everything is well coated.

Final Touches:

  • Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or lemon juice as needed.
  • If desired, add croutons just before serving to keep them crunchy.

Video

Notes

For a gluten-free version, replace regular pasta with gluten-free pasta.
This salad can be made ahead for meal prep; just keep the dressing separate until you’re ready to serve.
Feel free to experiment by adding other veggies or adjusting the seasoning to your preference. Enjoy your delicious Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad!