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Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Caesar Pasta Salad

When I get in a pasta salad rut, one of my favorite ways to break out of it is to make pasta salad modeled after one of my favorite green salads. Cobb Pasta Salad and Greek Pasta Salad are two favorites. I’m almost always pleased with the outcome, probably because there are so few ingredients or flavors that I don’t like with pasta. Pasta is like a blank canvas you can use to let your creativity run free.

Caesar Pasta Salad

This Caesar Pasta Salad is modeled after my Caesar Coleslaw and it is a delicious and satisfying pasta salad. During the summer months, I love the nice crispy crunch of the romaine lettuce in a Caesar salad. There’s something so refreshing about it. I add enough romaine to this dish so you know it’s there, but not so much that it overtakes the pasta.

Caesar Pasta Salad

I make a creamy Caesar dressing from mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, garlic, and a few minced anchovies. You can leave the anchovies out if you really object to them.  I add a big handful of grape tomatoes and they, along with the romaine lettuce and a sprinkling of chopped green onions, make the salad fresh and bright. A few croutons on top give some crunch and add a finishing Caesar salad touch.

Caesar Pasta Salad

Caesar Pasta Salad

Toss in a few diced grilled chicken breasts and you have yourself not just a crowd-pleasing side dish, but a dish that works as a light summer meal.

Caesar Pasta Salad

See how easy this recipe is to make. Watch the short video below.

Caesar Pasta Salad

Caesar Pasta Salad

A creamy and delicious pasta salad with all the flavors of a Caesar Salad.
PREP: 40 minutes
TOTAL: 40 minutes
SERVINGS: 10

Ingredients

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/3 cup sour cream
  • 1 clove large garlic pressed
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 anchovies finely minced
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 pound penne pasta cooked until al dente and rinsed with cool water
  • 6 leaves large Romaine lettuce thinly sliced
  • 1 1/2 cups grape tomatoes
  • 4 green onions. green parts sliced
  • 1/2 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 grilled chicken breasts diced
  • 1 1/2 cups croutons

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise through the Worcestershire sauce.
  • Toss half of the dressing with the pasta and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  • Mix in remaining ingredients including the remaining dressing and serve.

Notes

I like to mix half of the dressing with the pasta and chill it and then mix in the remaining dressing just before serving, but you can do it all at once.
Be sure to salt your cooking water for the pasta well, at least 1 tablespoon of salt.
Anchovies can be omitted. You might want to double the Worcestershire sauce if you do.

Nutrition

Calories: 375kcal
Author: Christin Mahrlig
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

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70 thoughts on “Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad”

  1. Maureen Lauth

    Excellent recipe! Followed exactly, omitted the anchovies and doubled the Worcestershire sauce as suggested! Really, really good!

  2. Sierra Charlie

    Thanks!

    Made this for the family today on a hot and humid summer day, and it got great reviews!

  3. Once made how long can I keep the salad in the fridge? I’m thinking of mixing everything except the lettuce and just adding that before I serve.

  4. Love this recipe. We make it for all our BBQs. We actually use Ken’s creamy Caesar dressing and it is so good.

  5. This is a family favorite ❤ I make multiple times a year. I was skeptical about the anchovies but followed the recipe as instructed….PERFECT

  6. Whitney Bermudez

    This was great! Everyone (including my super picky 3-year-old who doesn’t eat things that others swear their picky eaters loved) ate it up!

    1. Whitney Bermudez

      I forgot to mention, I marinated the chicken in Italian dressing before grilling and used green lentil penne pasta to up the protein/nutrition. On mine, I also substituted Stacy’s garlic, parmesan & herb baked pita chips for the croutons. Loved it!

  7. I made this on the fly with some left over grilled chicken in the fridge and I had to sub bottle dressing due to my hurry and it is amazing.. I am going to Florida in a few weeks and olan on making it there with the home made dressing.. Great recipe!!!

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