• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
4 Sons 'R' Us

4 Sons 'R' Us

Fast fix, budget-friendly, family-style recipes made from scratch at home

  • Home
  • About
    • Work With Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Nutritional Disclaimer
    • Email Subscribe
  • Recipe Index
    • ALL Recipes
  • Course
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Lunch
    • Main Dish
  • Holidays
    • 4th of July
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Halloween
    • St, Patrick’s Day
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Ingredients
    • Beef
    • Chicken & Poultry
    • Pork
    • Seafood
    • Vegetables
  • Popular
    • Air Fryer
    • Bread
    • Cakes & Pies
    • Casseroles
    • Cookies & Bars
    • Comfort Food
    • Copycat
    • Crock Pot
    • Grilling
    • Instant Pot
    • Kid Friendly
    • Salads & Dressings
    • Snacks & Dips
    • Soups, Stews & Chili
  • Family
    • Arts & Crafts
    • Child’s Play
    • D.I.Y.
    • Parties
    • Opinion
  • TQK  
4 Sons 'R' Us
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • About
    • Work With Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Nutritional Disclaimer
    • Email Subscribe
  • Recipe Index
    • ALL Recipes
  • Course
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Lunch
    • Main Dish
  • Holidays
    • 4th of July
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Halloween
    • St, Patrick’s Day
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Ingredients
    • Beef
    • Chicken & Poultry
    • Pork
    • Seafood
    • Vegetables
  • Popular
    • Air Fryer
    • Bread
    • Cakes & Pies
    • Casseroles
    • Cookies & Bars
    • Comfort Food
    • Copycat
    • Crock Pot
    • Grilling
    • Instant Pot
    • Kid Friendly
    • Salads & Dressings
    • Snacks & Dips
    • Soups, Stews & Chili
  • Family
    • Arts & Crafts
    • Child’s Play
    • D.I.Y.
    • Parties
    • Opinion
  • TQK  
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
Recipe Index » Recipes » Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Published by Meaghan on May 9, 2022 | last updated on May 8, 2022.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Jump to Recipe

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad combines your favorite salad with a little bit of pasta to make a family dinner or side dish that’s quick, easy, and so darn tasty. Full of all the classic flavors and a little bit of bacon, this pasta salad recipe will be on your must make list.

chicken caesar pasta salad in a large white mixing bowl

My kids, like most, don’t ever want to eat their veggies.

So I find a way to get those greens in.

I get behind their defenses and hit them where it hurts.

Right in the taste buds.

chicken caesar pasta salad in a large white mixing bowl

This Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad recipe is a beautiful pairing of pasta and salad that they love because of a tricky secret ingredient.

The secret ingredient? Bacon!

It makes this dish just too tasty.

Ingredients

To make this you’ll need:

overhead image showing the measured ingredients needed for a batch of chicken caesar pasta salad

  • Pasta- 1 cup of dry pasta cooked to package directions
  • Bacon– Cooked crisp and crumples along with bacon grease
  • Rotisserie chicken– Chopped
  • Red onion– Thinly sliced
  • Parmesan cheese– I recommend shredded Parmesan cheese
  • Romaine or green leaf lettuce– Chopped
  • Salt and pepper- To taste
  • Caesar dressing– You can use store bought or Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing 
  • Croutons– Optional but highly recommended for extra crunch

How to Make

This Caesar pasta salad is so easy to make!

To do it, just cook the pasta according to package directions.

chicken caesar pasta salad ingredients in a glass mixing bowl

Then, drain the pasta and run it under cold water to stop cooking.

Set it aside.

While the pasta is cooking, cook the bacon, reserving 1 tbsp of the grease/drippings.

Transfer cooled pasta to a bowl and toss with the bacon drippings until evenly combined.

chicken caesar pasta salad in a large white mixing bowl

Stir in the other ingredients until evenly combined.

Add in more dressing if necessary, to taste, and again toss everything to evenly coat.

Serve immediately.

Enjoy!

chicken caesar pasta salad in a small white bowl on a wooden cutting board

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes! With one small note.

If you’d like to make this ahead of time, don’t stir in the lettuce until you are ready to serve. It will get soggy.

Prepare everything else as instructed, and store it in an airtight container.

You can prep your lettuce and store it in a separate container. Toss together just before you’re ready to serve.

chicken caesar pasta salad in a small white bowl on a wooden cutting board

Tips and Tricks

  • Use a smaller shaped pasta that the dressing will cling to well- we like penne, rotini, farfalle, cavatappi, or radiatorre.
  • Don’t skip tossing the pasta with bacon drippings. It adds so much flavor and keeps the noodles from sticking together.
  • You can use whatever version of Caesar dressing you fancy most, just use a creamy version and not a vinaigrette. You need the creamy to stick to all the ingredients and keep them together. If all you have is caesar vinaigrette, whisk a tablespoon or two of mayo into it until smooth & creamy.
  • We don’t serve this as a chilled pasta salad, but it tastes good that way too. If you’d prefer it cold, simply make as instructed (skipping the lettuce until serving time), and chill, covered, in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours before needed.

chicken caesar pasta salad in a small white bowl on a wooden cutting board

Other Pasta Salad Recipes

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is loaded with a bonanza of flavors from penne pasta noodles, crisp green leaf lettuce, crumbled bacon, tangry red onions, and chopped rotisserie chicken all lightly bathed in a creamy Caesar dressing.

It’s a perfect filling side or light, filling meal.

Looking for other pasta salad recipes? Try these:

  • Spinach Dip Pasta Salad
  • Chicken Club Pasta Salad
  • Seafood Pasta Salad
  • Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
  • Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
  • Ranch BLT Pasta Salad
  • Crunchy Doritos Taco Pasta Salad
  • Three Bean Pasta Salad
  • Pizza Pasta Salad
  • Southwestern Chicken Pasta Salad

f you’ve tried this CHICKEN CAESAR PASTA SALAD, or any other recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!

chicken caesar pasta salad in a small white bowl on a wooden cutting board

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad combines your favorite salad with a little bit of pasta to make a family dinner or side dish that's quick, easy, and so darn tasty. Full of all the classic flavors and a little bit of bacon, this pasta salad recipe will be on your must make list.
4.12 from 90 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dinner, Lunch, Pasta, Salad
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 411kcal
Author: Meaghan @ 4 Sons R Us
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

  • 1 cup dry pasta cooked according to package directions
  • 6 slices thick cut bacon; cooked crisp and crumbled
  • 1 tbsp bacon grease*
  • 1 cup cooked rotisserie chicken roughly chopped
  • 1/4 cup red onion thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 2 cups chopped romaine or green leaf, lettuce
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup Caesar dressing or more to taste
  • 1 cup croutons optional
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, run under cold water to stop cooking, and set aside.
  • Cook bacon, reserving 1 tbsp of the grease/drippings.
  • Transfer cooled pasta to a bowl and toss with the bacon drippings* until evenly combined.
  • Add in all other ingredients and stir thoroughly until evenly combined.
  • Add in more dressing if necessary, to taste, and again toss everything to evenly coat.
  • Serve immediately.**

Notes

  • Use a smaller shaped pasta that the dressing will cling to well- we like penne, rotini, farfalle, cavatappi, or radiatorre.
  • Don't skip tossing the pasta with bacon drippings. It adds so much flavor and keeps the noodles from sticking together.
  • You can use whatever version of Caesar dressing you fancy most, just use a creamy version and not a vinaigrette. You need the creamy to stick to all the ingredients and keep them together. If all you have is caesar vinaigrette, whisk a tablespoon or two of mayo into it until smooth & creamy.
  • We don’t serve this as a chilled pasta salad, but it tastes good that way too. If you’d prefer it cold, simply make as instructed (skipping the lettuce until serving time), and chill, covered, in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours before needed.

Nutrition

Calories: 411kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 59mg | Sodium: 915mg | Potassium: 269mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 2145IU | Vitamin C: 1.7mg | Calcium: 183mg | Iron: 1.4mg
Did you make this recipe?Share it on Instagram @4sonsrus or tag #4sonsrus!

 

If you enjoyed this...

  • Crockpot Collard Greens
    Crockpot Collard Greens
  • 50 Best Barbecue Side Dishes
    50 Best Barbecue Side Dishes
  • Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing
    Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
« Previous Post
Grinder Salad (Viral TikTok Recipe)
Next Post »
Strawberry Crunch Bars
4sonsrus about us graphic

Hi! I’m Meaghan

Welcome to my kitchen. Pull up a chair and get ready to dig into family friendly, easy recipes and meal ideas. I’m a self proclaimed, proud pickle snob and cheese lover. Aside from that, I’m also the mom to 4 busy boys, elementary school through college aged. My boys keep my husband and I busy, and boy, do they like to eat. A lot. Read more...

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Helpful comments include feedback on the post or changes you made.

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

  1. Deb says

    July 28, 2018 at 3:45 pm

    This look SO good – and who could resist that bacony goodness? I bet coating the pasta with the bacon drippings adds the perfect extra pop. I bet this would be good with salmon as well. Thank you for sharing at #FiestaFriday!

    Reply
  2. Natalie says

    March 17, 2019 at 2:06 am

    5 stars
    All that’s missing is egg, otherwise great recipe!

    Reply
  3. Stacy says

    May 2, 2019 at 7:14 pm

    Only 1 cup of pasta?

    Reply
    • 4sonsrus says

      May 2, 2019 at 7:43 pm

      Yes, one cup of dry pasta- cooked. As the pasta fluffs it’s more that it initially looked like. This also wasn’t supposed to be a pasta heavy salad, more like a hybrid. That being said, you can always add more. You just may need to add a bit more dressing so it’s all well coated.

      Reply
  4. Kairee says

    June 26, 2019 at 9:47 am

    Where did you get these bowls, or what are they called ?

    Reply
  5. Carrie says

    March 18, 2020 at 11:35 pm

    I am trying to help my son make a meal that is under 800 calories, 1300mg sodium, and 40g of fat, are the nutritional values for the whole salad???

    Reply
    • 4sonsrus says

      March 19, 2020 at 12:36 am

      The nutritional values are per serving. This salad recipe makes roughly four servings. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  6. Lindsay McNierney says

    May 10, 2020 at 7:31 pm

    I normally do not comment on recipes but this was so freaking good! This definitely just became a family favorite! I’m already looking forward to leftovers tomorrow!

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Welcome to 4 Sons ‘R’ Us

Hi! I’m Meaghan. Welcome to my kitchen. Pull up a chair and get ready to dig into family friendly, easy recipes and meal ideas.

I’m a self proclaimed, proud pickle snob and cheese lover. Aside from that, I’m also the mom to 4 busy boys, elementary school through college aged. My boys keep my husband and I busy, and boy, do they like to eat. A lot.

Read More

Trending Recipes

a wooden spoon in a silver pan of buttered cafeteria noodles
grinder salad on meat and cheese stuffed toasted hoagie rolls
homemade boursin cheese served in a blue ramekin with crackers and pretzels on the side

Footer

SEEN ON

as seen on promo graphic

SEEN ON

as seen on promo graphic

Copyright 2022 • 4 Sons R Us • Privacy Policy

4 Sons 'R' UsLogo Header Menu
  • Homepage
  • About
  • Recipe Index
    • ALL Recipes
  • Course
  • Holidays
  • Ingredients
  • Popular
  • Family
  • TQK