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chicken caesar pasta salad in a small white bowl on a wooden cutting board
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4.18 from 106 votes

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.
Prep Time15 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Dinner, Lunch, Pasta, Salad
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4
Calories: 411kcal

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

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