Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is a complete meal in one bowl! Perfect for summer or meal prep.

Tender pasta, chicken, croutons, bacon, and romaine lettuce are all tossed in a quick and creamy Caesar dressing.

Serve with lemon wedge for a new family favorite.

bowl of Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Your Family Will Crave This Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad Because….

  • This is a full meal in just one bowl and it’s crazy good!
  • It’s perfect for meal prep, as a summer dinner, or for lunch.
  • Adding pasta turns a chicken Caesar salad into a hearty meal that will keep you satisfied.
  • The dressing is super delicious and easy to make.
  • Skip the chicken to serve as a side dish or swap it for grilled shrimp to change it up.
parmesan , oil , pasta , lettuce , croutons , chicken , bacon , dressing with labels to make Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

What You’ll Need For Caesar Pasta Salad

Lettuce: I use romaine lettuce for this recipe, but you can also use chopped kale. You’ll need a sturdy lettuce that can hold up to the dressing and the pasta so a greens mix is not the best option.

Pasta: Choose a medium shaped pasta with curves or holes to grab the dressing. Penne, fusilli, bowtie, and rotini pasta are all great options.

Chicken: I like using chicken breasts or thighs in this recipe and adding cajun seasoning for extra flavor.

Dressing: This easy dressing is made with ingredients likely already in the fridge. Worcestershire sauce has lots of flavor, if possible, fresh lemon is recommended for the flavors of a traditional Caesar salad dressing.

Croutons: You can buy croutons but I like to make my own, they’re so easy!

Variations: Bacon, shredded cheddar, sliced kalamata olives, or sundried tomatoes.

Hey, It’s Okay To…

Short on time? I’ve got you covered!

  • Use rotisserie chicken or any leftover cooked chicken.
  • Replace the homemade dressing with a purchased bottle of Caesar dressing to make it extra quick.
  • Skip the washing and chopping altogether and use a Caesar salad kit from the store. Add extra dressing if needed—a squeeze of fresh lemon makes it taste fresh and homemade!
  • Use real bacon bits in place of bacon. If using bacon bits, I microwave them for a few minutes to make them crisp. 

Do you HAVE to add anchovy paste?

NOPE! If it’s not your jam, skip the anchovy or add some chopped or slightly mashed capers in place.

But I do recommend giving it a try! It adds a unique umami to the recipe and lasts a long time. I don’t love anything really ‘fishy,’ so I just add a little. It does add a special flavor to the dressing!

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad ingredients in a bowl with a bowl of dressing and parmesan

How to Make Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

This Caesar pasta salad is a full meal deal.

  1. Make Caesar dressing and refrigerate (recipe below).
  2. Cook noodles to al dente. Drain, rinse, and set aside.
  3. Season and grill chicken breasts. Once cool, chop or slice as desired.
  4. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and toss with dressing. Serve immediately.

More Caesar Salad Inspiration

Did you enjoy this Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad Recipe? Be sure to leave a comment and rating below.

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plated Caesar Pasta Salad with lemon slices
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Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

This chicken Caesar pasta salad is loaded with the creamy richness of Caesar salad combined with juicy chicken and soft pasta.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Author Holly Nilsson
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Ingredients  

  • 12 ounces penne or other medium pasta
  • 1 ¼ lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts about 3 small or 2 medium breasts
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon Cajun Seasoning or ¾ teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
  • 1 cup croutons
  • ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 6 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
  • lemon wedges for serving

Dressing

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • ½ cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
  • cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice more to taste
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon anchovy paste
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions 

  • To make the dressing, in a medium bowl, whisk mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, Parmesan, lemon juice, garlic, anchovy paste, dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Refrigerate.
  • To make the salad, cook the pasta al dente in salted water according to the package directions. Drain well and rinse under cold water to stop it from cooking.
  • Preheat the grill to medium heat.
  • Pound the chicken breasts to ½-inch thick. Rub the chicken breasts with olive oil and season with cajun seasoning or salt and pepper taste.
  • Grill over medium heat 5-6 minutes per side or until juices run clear and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Cool completely and then chop into bite size picess.
  • In a large salad bowl, combine pasta, chicken, romaine, croutons, parmesan cheese, and bacon. Add the dressing a bit at a time and toss well to coat, you may not need all of the dressing.
  • Serve immediately with lemon wedges.

Video

Notes

To make ahead, combine all ingredients in the salad bowl except for the romaine lettuce. Dress the pasta salad generously, as the pasta will absorb the dressing as it rests. Toss in the lettuce before serving.
Dressing:
  • Prepare the dressing first so the flavors can blend. I often double the dressing to have Caesar salad later in the week too.
  • Homemade dressing can be replaced with bottled dressing.
To make this meal a side dish, leave out the chicken.
4.94 from 31 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 537 | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 14g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 706mg | Potassium: 503mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 3194IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 178mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Main Course, Pasta, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad with a title
rich and creamy Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad with writing
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Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad in a bowl and close up with a title

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About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. With a passion for nostalgic flavors and simplified techniques, Holly helps busy home cooks create delicious meals that always work. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
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Comments

  1. I’m a recent widow , so I have been eating more chicken and fish than previously
    I found your recipe and it called for literally everything I love !
    Lots of great ingredients, takes me awhile, but the end result has really helped with my self confidence, and is delicious beyond words!5 stars

    1. Hello Liz. I am happy that you enjoyed this recipe. It is truly a creamy and filling salad that is great for lunch or dinner. I also hope that you will keep finding recipes that you enjoy! Happy cooking and have a superb rest of your day.

  2. Wow, this was wonderful. I love Marzetti Caesar dressing so I used that. This is a definite repeater, maybe with salmon next time.

    1. Hi Linda. I am happy to hear that you enjoyed this salad. Let me know how it turns out with salmon.

  3. Sounds like a great “meal” for older (87 years) senior because it is easy and complete. (I am also a widow & diabetic…so chicken is a good source of protein
    which is important..(doctor’s orders for me).

  4. This is going to be good; made the dressing ahead of time for supper Monday night.
    Then I realized I have pasta planned for Tuesday night and I generally don’t do pasta 2 nights in a row. So I’m subbing baby potatoes for the pasta! And I did 50% whole milk Greek yogurt and 50% mayo for the dressing. A bit lighter but still really delicious! Everything on this blog is delicious.

  5. Made this for supper last night and it was the perfect change from a classic Caesar salad. Thanks for the easy and delicious recipe! SWP Employee5 stars

  6. Sounds good! At the top it says it can be prepared ahead, but at the bottom it says serve immediately.

    Is there any advice on how to prepare ahead? Like make the chicken and pasta? Or only the chicken and combine the rest the day you’re serving?

    1. Prep all ingredients in advance, and toss them together before serving Kelly. Enjoy!

  7. The dressing is out of this world, Amazing! My family and I loved this recipe. I made it just as directed, delish! Thank you for this recipe!5 stars

  8. This looks delicious!! What is the serving size? Is the nutritional value for the entire salad or per serving? I may have missed this info. Thanks

    1. This recipe serves 8 so the serving size would be ⅛th of the recipe, approximately 1 ¼ cups. The nutritional information is for 1 serving.

  9. I skipped putting in the Romaine and put in broccoli . Yum, even my dad who hates broccoli ate it! bravo !!