Grilled Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Here’s what you need:
Ingredients:
10 oz Farfalle Pasta (“Bow-Tie” Pasta)
3 Chicken Breasts
3 Tbsp. Olive Oil
Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste
2 heads Romaine Lettuce, cut in 1-2 inch pieces
1 cup Grape Tomatoes, cut in half
1 cup Croutons
Parmesan, to taste
3/4 cup Caesar Salad Dressing
Instructions:
Boil water, add the pasta and cook according to package instructions. Drain water, and let the pasta chill. Meanwhile, season each of the chicken breasts with 1 Tbsp. olive oil, salt and pepper. Grill for 6-8 minutes on each side. Cut the chicken into bite size pieces. In a large bowl combine pasta, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, croutons, parmesan, and caesar dressing. Toss gently and serve! Enjoy!
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Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad – Easy Chicken Salad Recipe | Blondelish
This is a fresh and healthy Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad Recipe with tangy, creamy buttermilk dressing, parmesan cheese, short pasta, and crunchy romaine lettuce. It’s a quick dinner or make-ahead lunch, ready in just 30 minutes. ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ RECIPE BELOW ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Ingredients
▢¾ cup shaved Parmesan cheese - divided
▢Sea salt and ground pepper - to taste
▢8 oz pasta
▢1 lb chicken breast - boneless skinless
▢1 pint cherry tomatoes - halved
▢1 large romaine lettuce
Dressing/Marinade Ingredients
▢2/3 cup low-fat buttermilk
▢1/2 cup sour cream
▢3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
▢2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
▢1 tbsp Dijon mustard
▢2 tsp anchovy paste
▢1 clove garlic - minced
▢Sea salt and ground pepper - to taste
Instructions:
1. Chop the chicken into bite-sized cubes.
2. In a medium bowl, combine all the dressing/marinade ingredients. Transfer 1/3 of it to a small jug or jar and refrigerate. This will serve as dressing and it shouldn't touch the raw chicken.
3. Add the chopped chicken to the bowl with the remaining dressing/marinade and stir to coat. Allow it to marinate for 15 minutes on the counter; or, if time allows, up to 1 hour in the fridge. Just before cooking, drain the marinade and discard.
4. Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to package directions, drain and set aside in a large bowl to cool.
5. Chop the lettuce and cherry tomatoes.
6. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Drizzle with 1/2 tablespoon of oil and add the marinated chicken.
7. Cook the chicken until golden brown and cooked through, around 12 minutes, then let it cool for a few minutes. Add it to the bowl with the pasta, together with the lettuce, tomatoes and parmesan cheese.
8. Drizzle everything with the refrigerated dressing. Toss to combine and serve!
???? PRINT RECIPE HERE:
Ingredient Swaps
Here are a few simple swaps if you don’t have all of the ingredients for this healthy chicken Caesar pasta salad:
- First, you can replace chicken breast with thighs or cooked rotisserie chicken, or use leftover turkey.
- In addition, this recipe works with any short-cut pasta like penne, macaroni, ziti, or farfalle.
- Next, you can replace the parmesan with a similar hard cheese, such as grana Padano, Asiago, or pecorino romano.
- Add any herbs you like. For example, basil, parsley, thyme or oregano. I always strive for fresh, if possible!
- You can also use any tomatoes you like. Grape, vine, or Roma will work as long as you dice them into small bite-sized pieces.
- The same goes for lettuce. For example, bibb, butterhead, or iceberg work great! Spinach or kale would also be tasty additions!
- Finally, add crumbled bacon, YUM
FAQs
How can I make this Caesar chicken pasta salad recipe with baked chicken?
To use baked chicken instead of pan-fried, preheat the oven to 400°F/200C. Keep the chicken breast whole and marinate it for 30 minutes on the counter.
When the oven is hot, transfer the chicken to a baking dish, discarding the marinade. Bake the chicken for around 20 minutes, or until it’s cooked through and no longer pink on the inside. Cooking time will depend on the size of your chicken breasts, so make sure you check by inserting a cooking thermometer into the thickest part of the breast. It should measure 165°F/75°C
Can you make it with fried chicken?
Yes, fried chicken works great too for this Caesar salad recipe. You can fry it using the instructions in this Garlic Butter Chicken Bites recipe.
What is the best caesar salad dressing?
The best dressing is a combination of buttermilk and sour cream for tang and a silky, thick texture. Add mustard and anchovy for the umami. And lemon juice to balance the flavors with some acid. Finally, add garlic for a punch of flavor.
How should I marinate the chicken?
In a medium bowl, combine all of the dressing/marinade ingredients. Transfer a third of it to a small jug or jar and refrigerate. This will serve as dressing, and it shouldn’t touch the raw chicken.
To marinate, add chicken to the bowl with the remaining dressing/marinade and stir to coat. Allow it to marinate for 15 min over the counter; or, if time allows, up to 1 hour in the fridge. Just before cooking, drain the marinade and discard.
How to make this recipe dairy-free?
All you have to do is replace the sour cream and buttermilk with dairy-free yogurt and use dairy-free cheese.
How to make the dressing creamy?
Use equal parts of buttermilk and sour cream for a super creamy dressing.
Can I make this easy chicken salad recipe gluten-free?
Yes! Simply use gluten-free pasta.
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