Crispy Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Upgrade your salad game with this Crispy Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad! Loaded with juicy chicken, crunchy croutons, and a creamy Caesar dressing, it’s the perfect blend of flavors and textures for a satisfying lunch or dinner! It’s the perfect salad for serving a crowd too!
Want the ultimate crowd-pleaser salad that’s hearty enough to stand on its own as a dinnertime entree? THIS Crispy Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is it! Everyone I know LOVES this recipe. Once you make it, you’ll be adding it to the dinner rotation, trust me!
3 Reasons You’ll LOVE this Salad
Let’s dive into the ingredients you’ll need (not too many, don’t worry) for this crispy chicken caesar pasta salad. I’ll go over some swaps and substitutions too!
Crispy Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad Ingredient Notes:
PASTA: Any short-cut pasta will do! Use whatever you have on hand—penne, bowtie, rigatoni, fusilli, or your favorite shape.
LETTUCE: I love chopped romaine, but iceberg or any lettuce variety works. Just make sure to chop it up for easy bites!
CHICKEN: Bread your own chicken breast or tenderloins, or keep it simple with store-bought crispy chicken (I’m a fan of the lightly breaded chicken tenders from Costco).
PARMESAN CHEESE: Shredded parmesan is my go-to, but grated or shaved works just as well!
CROUTONS: Whether homemade or store-bought, I recommend crumbling them slightly so they evenly coat your salad for that perfect crunch.
DRESSINGS: Trust me on this one—a mix of Caesar and Ranch dressings takes this Caesar Pasta Salad to the next level! I often use store-bought, but feel free to make your own if you like!
LEMON JUICE: A squeeze of fresh lemon juice (about half a lemon) on top brightens everything up.
BACON: You can skip it if you like, but I always add a big handful of crispy bacon on top—it’s a game changer!
SALAD SUPREME: I’ve recently started adding McCormick’s Salad Supreme seasoning to everything, and a shake or two on this salad is chef’s kiss!
BLACK PEPPER: Freshly ground black pepper is the perfect finishing touch!
Making this salad in advance:
This is a great salad to make in advance, but don’t add your dressing until ready to serve so it won’t get soggy. I like to do “ingredient prep” like making my pasta (rinse with cold water) and have it ready to go bagged in the refrigerator along with my chopped romaine for an easy time saver!
This Crispy Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is the ultimate mash-up of two classics: Caesar salad and pasta salad! It’s hearty enough to be a full meal, yet light and fresh, making it perfect for everything from casual family dinners to summer cookouts!
One of the best parts about this recipe is how customizable it is. Swap out the chicken for grilled shrimp, add some roasted veggies, or try different pasta shapes. You can even play around with the dressing and seasoning to make it truly your own. So many options!
Want more salads? Try my Caesar Wedge Salad and Classic Chicken Salad! Two of my FAVORITES!
Crispy Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 2 hearts romaine lettuce chopped
- 10 ounces penne pasta or any short-cut pasta of choice
- 2 cups crispy chicken chopped
- 8 ounces bacon
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese shredded
- 1/2 cup Caesar dressing
- 1/2 cup Ranch dressing
- 1 cup seasoned Croutons crumbled
- 1/2 lemon squeezed
- black pepper
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the penne pasta (or your pasta of choice) according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and let it cool.
- While the pasta is cooking, chop and cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess grease.
- If you're using store-bought crispy chicken, cook it according to package instructions. Once cooked, chop it into bite-sized pieces.
- In a large bowl, combine the chopped romaine lettuce, cooked pasta, crispy chicken, cooked bacon, and shredded parmesan cheese.
- Pour both the caesar and ranch dressings over the salad and toss everything together until evenly coated.
- Squeeze half a lemon over the salad and sprinkle the crumbled croutons on top for that perfect crunch.
- Season with freshly ground black pepper to taste, and give the salad one final toss.
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