Chicken Caesar Salad Pasta is a fun and filling twist on classic Caesar Salad! Perfect for parties and potlucks, or simply dinner tonight.
Craving the freshness of a salad, but the satisfaction of a bowl of pasta?
Chicken Caesar Salad Pasta combines the two to create a pasta + lettuce salad thatโs packed with protein and flavor!
The mixture of fresh and crispy salad with tender pasta, sizzling chicken, and creamy caesar dressing is 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. Itโs perfect for serving as a spring dinner, or bringing along to a summer BBQ or potluck. Thereโs 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, itโs 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
Hereโs what youโll need for this easy chicken caesar pasta salad recipe:
- Gluten free rotini. I love Jovial Brown Rice Pasta not just because the ingredient list is brown rice flour and water, but also because brown rice pasta doesnโt become hard and crumbly in the refrigerator like corn/rice-blend GF pasta does. If you donโt need to eat gluten free, you can use traditional rotini.
- Chicken breast. Are grilled then chopped into bite sized pieces and folded into the pasta salad. Feel free to use rotisserie chicken, Air Fried Chicken, or Baked Chicken Breast if thatโs easier.
- Romaine lettuce. I buy the bags of whole romaine hearts then chop them myself, but you could use a bag of pre-chopped romaine.
- Cherry or grape tomatoes. I like juicy cherry or grape tomatoes, but Romas are great too.
- Red onion. Adds zip, crunch, spice, and 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 dish I recommend pre-shredded parmesan cheese so it doesnโt melt into the dish. Iโll 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.
- Caesar Salad Dressing. Iโm here to make your life easier so I recommend using store-bought dressing to dress this salad with. Iโll share my favorite brand of bottled Caesar Salad Dressing below.
Recipe Variations
While I truly feel like the combination of ingredients and flavors Iโm sharing is *chefโs kiss*, feel free to try these recipe variations:
- Switch up the protein: swap roasted, sauted, or grilled shrimp for the chicken, or leave out the meat and use a can of chickpeas instead.
- Switch up the pasta: use brown rice bow ties or penne instead of the rotini โ 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 โ 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 theyโre 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!
To a large mixing 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.
Hereโs the shredded parmesan cheese I love and recommend. Itโs 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 โ I love Kenโs Creamy Caesar, which is of course gluten free. Itโs thick, and savory, and cheesy โ 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 youโre using brown rice pasta, it stays softer in the fridge vs a corn/rice blend gluten free pasta.
I hope you love this super-tasty, must-try take on chicken caesar salad! Enjoy!
More Pasta Salad Recipes Youโll Love
- Sesame Noodle Salad
- The BEST Pasta Salad
- Mediterranean Orzo Salad
- Grilled Corn and Avocado Pasta Salad
- Caprese Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 8 oz gluten free rotini/fusilli, Jovial recommended
- 2 chicken breasts, ~1lb, pounded to an even thickness
- homemade seasoned salt and pepper, see notes
- 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 shredded parmesan cheese
- 3 Tablespoons drained capers
- freshly cracked black pepper
- Caesar Salad Dressing, to taste, Ken's Creamy Caesar recommended
Directions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil then add 1 Tablespoon salt followed by the rotini and simmer 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 set aside. Can be done up to three days ahead of time.
- 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 then toss with tongs to combine. Add chopped chicken then toss to combine and serve.
Notes
- Click here for my homemade seasoned salt recipe >
- I like Kenโs Creamy Caesar Dressing, though you can use whatever Caesar salad dressing you like best.
- Because this pasta salad is made with gluten free pasta, itโs 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.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
Photos by Ashley McLaughlin
Such a delicious recipe for a hot summer night for patio dining!
SO glad you loved it, Shirley! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
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.
Love that, Kate! I can picture myself there with you. :) Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
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.
Iโm so, so happy you two are loving this salad, Betty! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!