I recently started then finished all seasons of The Morning Show on Apple TV+. It was so riveting that I couldn’t watch anything else until I’d seen every single episode!
The cast is unmatched, the storyline is current and relevant, and the acting is incredible (where has Billy Crudup been all my life?) I feel like I could be watching the inner workings of any morning news show on television today, and it is NUTS. (Read: so addicting!)
As crazy as it sounds, I’m equally as obsessed with my Chicken Caesar Salad Pasta recipe. This is the type of dish you put leftovers of in the fridge then come back five minutes later for another bite because you can’t stop thinking about it.
The combination of fresh and crispy salad with tender pasta, sizzling chicken, and creamy caesar dressing is ridiculously craveable, and I am always so sad when the last bite is gone. It is that good.
Chicken Caesar Salad + Pasta
I love that this recipe is hearty enough to serve in the colder months, but light and fresh too. It’s perfect for serving as a spring dinner, or bringing along to a summer BBQ or potluck. There’s something SO SATISFYING about adding rotini pasta to a classic caesar salad.
Much better than croutons, IMO!
This chicken caesar salad with pasta is a cinch to throw together and, if you are indeed serving it for dinner, it’s a complete meal in one so no need for extra side dishes. Whole grains, lean protein, and lots of veggies: check, check, and check!
Ingredients Needed
Here’s what you’ll need for this easy chicken caesar pasta salad recipe:
- Gluten free rotini. I’ve been loving Jovial Brown Rice Pasta lately, especially because it doesn’t become hard and crumbly once chilled like rice/corn blend pastas typically do. If you don’t need to eat gluten free, you can use traditional rotini.
- Chicken breast. Simply seasoned chicken breasts are grilled or sauteed then chopped into bite sized pieces and folded into the pasta salad. They add staying power, plus grilling them adds a ton of flavor.
- Romaine lettuce. Can’t have caesar salad without it! I buy the bags of whole romaine hearts then chop them myself, but you could use a bag of pre-chopped romaine if you prefer.
- Cherry or grape tomatoes. I truly love the fresh bursts of juicy tomato in each bite of this pasta salad. Use cherry or grape tomatoes, or dice up some Romas.
- Red onion. Thinly sliced red onion adds zip, crunch, and spice, plus a beautiful pop of color.
- Parmesan cheese. 99% of the time I advise you freshly grate parmesan cheese before adding it to one of my recipes, but for this one I’m recommending using pre-shredded parmesan cheese so it doesn’t melt into the dish. I’ll show you my go-to brand below.
- Capers. Capers are tiny but pack an enormous flavor punch to each bite of this pasta salad recipe. They really take it up several hundred notches.
- Caesar Salad Dressing. I’m here to make your life easy and so I’m recommending you use your favorite store-bought caesar salad dressing for this dish. Or make your own homemade caesar dressing — do what’s best and easiest for you! I’ll share my favorite brand of bottled below.
Recipe Variations
While I truly feel like the combination of ingredients and flavors I’m sharing knocks it straight out of the park, feel free to try these recipe variations:
- Switch up the protein: swap roasted, sauteed, or grilled shrimp for the chicken, or leave out the meat and use a can of chickpeas instead. Rotisserie chicken is a great, easy option too.
- Switch up the pasta: use brown rice bow ties or penne instead of the rotini — or your favorite pasta shape.
- Switch up the greens: toss in whatever greens you have in the fridge that need using up. Arugula would be delicious in here!
Alrighty – ready to feast?
Try this Fresh Pasta Salad
How to Make This Recipe
Start by adding gluten free rotini (also called fusilli) to a large pot of salted water then boil until tender. Drain the noodles then rinse under cold water until they’re completely cold and set aside.
Meanwhile, pound chicken breasts into an even thickness to ensure even cooking then season with pepper and homemade seasoned salt on both sides.
Place the chicken inside a grill pan over medium-high heat then grill for 3-4 minutes per side or until the chicken is cooked through. Let rest for 10 minutes before chopping into bite-sized pieces.
Alternatively you could grill the chicken on a gas or charcoal grill, or simply saute in a pan. I do REALLY love the grill flavor it adds to the chicken caesar pasta salad though!
Next, to a large bowl add the drained cold pasta plus chopped romaine lettuce, grape or cherry tomatoes, red onion, capers, shredded parmesan cheese, and lots of freshly cracked black pepper.
Here’s the shredded parmesan cheese I love and recommend. It’s so convenient to not only add to this dish, but any other foods that benefit from a sprinkle of parm on top at the end before serving, like pasta!
Last step is to add your favorite bottled caesar salad dressing – I LOVE this Ken’s Creamy Caesar, which is of course gluten free. It’s thick, and savory, and cheesy – MMM!
Last step is to add the grilled chicken then DEVOUR! You can serve this dish immediately or chill for a couple of hours before serving. Again, if you’re using brown rice pasta, it stays softer in the fridge vs a corn/rice blend pasta.
I hope you love this super-tasty, must-try take on chicken caesar salad! Enjoy!
More Pasta Salad Recipes You’ll Love
- Sesame Noodle Salad
- The BEST Pasta Salad
- Mediterranean Orzo Salad
- Grilled Corn and Avocado Pasta Salad
- Caprese Pasta Salad
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Chicken Caesar Salad Pasta
Description
Chicken Caesar Salad Pasta is a fun and filling twist on classic Caesar Salad! Perfect for parties and potlucks, or simply dinner tonight.
Ingredients
- 8oz gluten free rotini/fusilli ( Jovial Brown Rice Rotini recommended)
- 2 small chicken breasts (~3/4 - 1lb total), pounded to an even thickness
- homemade seasoned salt and pepper
- 2 hearts of romaine, chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 1-1/2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 2/3 cup parmesan cheese shreds
- 3 Tablespoons drained capers
- freshly cracked black pepper
- Caesar Salad Dressing, to coat (I use 3/4 cup)
Directions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil then add 1 Tablespooon salt followed by the rotini, and then cook until tender. Drain then rinse under cold water until cool. Set aside.
- Meanwhile, heat a large grill pan over medium-high heat. Alternatively you could use a gas or charcoal grill over medium-high heat, OR cook the chicken in a nonstick sprayed skillet. Season chicken on both sides with homemade seasoned salt and pepper then place inside grill pan and grill until cooked through, 3-4 minutes per side. Remove chicken to a cutting board then let rest for 10 minutes. Chop into bite sized pieces then refrigerate while you assemble the rest of the salad.
- To a very large mixing bowl add the chopped romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, red onion, parmesan cheese shreds, capers, freshly cracked black pepper, cooled pasta, and Caesar salad dressing. Stir with a spatula to evenly coat. Add cooled chopped chicken then fold to combine and serve.
- If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a comment + star rating!
Notes
- Click here for my Homemade Seasoned Salt recipe >
- I like Ken’s Creamy Caesar Dressing, though you can use whatever Caesar salad dressing you like.
- Because this pasta salad is made with gluten free pasta, it's best eaten right away or chilled for up to 2 hours prior to serving. You may need to toss with additional dressing before serving if chilling first. Brown rice pasta will stay softer after being chilled vs a corn/rice blend gluten free pasta.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Photos by Ashley McLaughlin
Kate 06.13.2023
I recently made this for lunch. It is perfect for a lite, summer meal. A great way to use leftover grilled chicken the next day. I also used substituted penne pasta, as that was what I had on hand. Added some artisan bread and I felt like I was dining at a fancy restaurant.
Kristin 06.18.2023
Love that, Kate! I can picture myself there with you. :) Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
Betty 05.25.2023
I made this salad twice this week for my husband and I. I just modified the serving size for a dinner-sized salad for each of us!! We LOVED it. So fresh tasting and easy to fix.
Kristin 05.30.2023
I’m so, so happy you two are loving this salad, Betty! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
Jennifer Alling 04.28.2023
This pasta salad recipe is just fantastic! My husband and I could not believe how delicious it was! I think I will have to make it again tonight! I made it with regular pasta since we are not a GF family. Holy moly it is good!
karen k clark 03.23.2023
This is now my new favorite salad….of course I love all your recipes, but this one was perfect for this season. Also…….we LOVED The Morning Show too. Could NOT stop watching it! Can’t wait until season 3! Thanks for your great ideas. Loving my parfait yogurt fruit cups too!
Amazing 06.24.2022
It looks so great and delicious :) I would like to try it next time! Thanks for sharing.
Kristin 06.25.2022
I hope you love it!
Marie Nicholson 06.23.2022
Don’t know what url means so skipped it.
Just wondering if you ever put what points of WW each recipe has???
Kristin 06.23.2022
Hi Marie! I don’t at this time!
Rene 06.04.2022
So easy and delicious!!!
Kristin 06.07.2022
I’m so glad you loved the dish, Rene!! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
Diane G. 05.29.2022
Very, very tasty! Will definitely make again!
Kristin 05.31.2022
Thrilled to hear it, Diane! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
Amy 05.22.2022
This is delicious! Restaurant quality!!
Kristin 05.23.2022
Thrilled to hear it – thank you so much for the review, Amy!
DianeL 05.02.2022
Delicious! I mix up a half batch omitting the romaine and putting just enough dressing on to add flavor and keep fresh in the refrigerate. Over a couple of days I dish some up and stir in the romaine just before serving and add a bit more dressing if needed. Crispy romaine every time!
Kristin 05.03.2022
Perfect!! I’m so glad you are loving the dish, Diane!
Kristen Nowal 04.27.2022
I absolutely LOVE this salad I’ve made it at least three times in the last week!! And also made an easy vegetarian version by just omitting the chicken and it was still beyond filling and delicious!!
Kristin 04.27.2022
WOO! So glad you loved, Kristen! I eat it without the chicken too – still so good!
Dana 04.21.2022
Great idea adding capers!!! I love them so much. Will your kids eat them?
Kristin 04.21.2022
My kids don’t mind capers – they love all things pickle-ish!
Monica 04.20.2022
So many of your recipes are in my regular dinner rotation, and this one looks like it’s going to join the others. Can’t wait to try it!
Kristin 04.21.2022
I am so thrilled to hear that, Monica! I hope you love this dish – it really is so so good!
Alicia 04.19.2022
This looks amazing and you described exactly why I hate making gluten free pasta – it doesn’t stay well when cold and is awful for leftovers.
So excited to try a new noodle! I’m in the DSM metro, where do you happen to pick this brand up?
Kristin 04.20.2022
Yes!! I find Jovial at Hy-Vee and Whole Foods, and I believe I’ve seen them at Super Target before too.
Heather 04.19.2022
Tiiiiiiiight. We’re meat-free but pro-gluten(is that a thing? And if it is and it’s dumb, I apologize), chickpeas are so good. This seems a little like a Greek pasta salad my auntie makes except I prefer the way this one sounds. ????
Kristin 04.20.2022
When I was nursing our youngest I had to eat GF of course, but since she is also allergic to eggs and dairy I had to cut those out too. So, for many months I was a meat eating gluten free vegan. HA! We are whatever we say we are, so meat free pro gluten it is! I hope you love this one, Heather!