Description
A creamy and satisfying chicken Caesar pasta salad made with tender chicken, crisp romaine, and rotini pasta—perfect for quick meals or entertaining.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces rotini pasta
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced
- 3 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
- 3/4 cup Caesar dressing
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)
- 1 cup croutons
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook rotini pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool.
2. Dice cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces, chop romaine lettuce, and halve cherry tomatoes if using.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together Caesar dressing, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
4. In a large bowl, combine cooled pasta, chicken, romaine, and tomatoes.
5. Pour dressing over the mixture and toss gently until evenly coated.
6. Add shredded Parmesan cheese and toss again.
7. Top with croutons just before serving to maintain crunch.
Notes
Rinse pasta with cold water to prevent overcooking and sticking.
Use room temperature chicken for better mixing with dressing.
Add lettuce and croutons just before serving to keep texture fresh.
For a lighter version, substitute half the dressing with plain Greek yogurt.
Freshly grated Parmesan provides the best flavor.