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Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Caesar pasta salad with grilled chicken, romaine, Parmesan, and croutons tossed in creamy Caesar dressing. Chilled for a protein-packed main dish salad that holds its texture, then finished with crunchy croutons right before serving.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
chilling 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 560
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Penne or rotini pasta
  • 1 lb penne or rotini pasta
Grilled chicken breast
  • 2 cup grilled chicken breast, diced
Romaine lettuce
  • 4 cup romaine lettuce, chopped
Caesar dressing
  • 1 cup Caesar dressing
Parmesan cheese
  • 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Croutons
  • 1 cup croutons
Cherry tomatoes
  • 0.5 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
Salt and pepper
  • 1 salt and pepper to taste
Lemon wedges
  • 1 lemon wedges for serving

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Cook and cool the pasta
  1. Cook penne or rotini pasta according to package directions until al dente, then drain and rinse with cold water to stop cooking.
  2. Set the rinsed pasta aside until fully cool to the touch so the salad stays crisp after chilling.
Assemble the salad
  1. Combine the cooled pasta, grilled chicken breast, romaine lettuce, and cherry tomatoes in a large bowl.
  2. Add Caesar dressing and toss until every piece is evenly coated for a creamy texture.
  3. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the top and season with salt and pepper.
Chill
  1. Refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour to let flavors meld and the dressing cling.
Serve
  1. Top the chilled salad with croutons just before serving to keep them crunchy.
  2. Serve with lemon wedges for a bright finish and optional extra squeeze over individual portions.

Notes

For best texture, chill the salad without croutons so they don’t soften; add them at the last minute. Store covered in the refrigerator up to 3 days (keep croutons separate if possible). Freezing is not recommended. For a lighter option, use a lighter Caesar dressing and reduce Parmesan slightly.