Easy Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad: A 15-Minute Meal.
A quick and flavorful 15-minute meal combining tender chicken, crisp romaine, and savory Caesar dressing with hearty pasta for a satisfying lunch or dinner.
- Author: info.mealsmell
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Tossing
- Cuisine: American-Italian
- Diet: Halal
- 8 ounces rotini or penne pasta
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced
- 1 cup romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup Caesar dressing
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Croutons for topping (optional)
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
- Cook the pasta in well-salted water according to package instructions until al dente.
- Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process; set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, shredded chicken, chopped romaine, and cherry tomatoes.
- Drizzle with olive oil and season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Pour in the Caesar dressing and toss thoroughly to coat all ingredients.
- Gently fold in the grated Parmesan cheese.
- Top with optional croutons and fresh parsley just before serving.
Notes
- For the best texture, add croutons immediately before serving to keep them crunchy.
- If making ahead of time, store the dressing separately and toss just before eating to prevent the lettuce from wilting.
- You can use rotisserie chicken to save even more time.
- Rinsing the pasta in cold water is essential to prevent it from becoming mushy in a cold salad.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: Easy Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad, 15-minute meal, cold pasta salad, chicken Caesar recipe