If you like Caesar Salad, and you like chicken, and you also like pasta salad this is your lucky day. It was my lucky day a few months back when I first made this, and it has been my family’s many lucky days as I make it again and again. If you start with cooked chicken (rotisserie is fine!) you can be eating this salad in half an hour.

I know that seeing lettuce in a pasta salad isn’t all that common — and my boys were surely skeptical when they first laid eyes on this — but it works, and really, why not? It turns out, in fact, that the crunch of lettuce paired up with the toothsomeness of cooked pasta really, really works! And then you add chunks of tender chicken, and it is all bound together with a Caesar dressing, it just seems to make sense.

If you like Caesar Salad, and you also like pasta salad this is your lucky day. This Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is the best of both worlds.

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Ingredients

• Pasta – I used penne rigate, but you can use any chunky pasta shape.
• Shredded cooked chicken – Any simply cooked chicken works here. Try slow cooker shredded chicken, or just use a rotisserie chicken!

For the Caesar Dressing

• Extra virgin olive oil
• Mayonnaise – I like regular mayo, but you can use reduced fat if you like.
• Fresh lemon juice – Adds a citrusy brightness.
• Dijon mustard – A generous amount adds a nice spark to this dressing.
• Worcestershire sauce – Secret ingredient!
• Minced garlic – Chop the garlic very finely so it blends into the dressing.
• Anchovy – This is optional but adds such a great umami oomph to the dish. Use 1 finely minced anchovy filet or 1/4 teaspoon anchovy paste.
• Finely grated Parmesan cheese – Freshly grated will offer the best flavor, always!
• Hearts of romaine – Chopped into bite-sized pieces.
• Red onion – Chopped pretty small, adds nice color.

Tips

• You can use bottled Caesar dressing if you like.
• You can use any plain shredded cooked chicken in this salad, whether it is homemade or from a rotisserie chicken. If you are making the chicken from scratch and want to hit the Caesar note hard, you could use chicken marinated in Caesar dressing.
• Use any chunky pasta shape, like penne, rigatoni, or rotini.
• Adding the dressing to the pasta while it is still warm allows the pasta to absorb the flavors better.
• You could use cooked shrimp or even chunks of cooked salmon or tuna instead of the chicken.

Learn how to make shredded chicken in the slow cooker. The recipe includes info about the easiest way to shred chicken (hint: while it’s warm).

How to Make Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

1. Cook the pasta.
2. Make the dressing: Combine the olive oil, mayonnaise, lemon juice, Dijon, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, anchovy (if using), salt, and pepper. Add half the Parmesan and mix well.
3. Make the salad: Combine the cooked pasta and dressing. Allow the pasta to cool to room temperature. Add the chicken, romaine, red onion, and remaining Parmesan and toss again.

Here it is, all plated up with Tomato Mozzarella and Basil Salad. That was one fine summer lunch, I will surely say that.

What to Serve With Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Tomato, Mozzarella, and Basil Salad

Cherry Tomato Salad

Green Bean Nicoise Salad

More Easy Pasta Salad Recipes

• Simple Vegetarian Spring Pasta Salad
• Pasta Salad with Chicken and Chipotle Dressing
• Greek Chicken Pasta Salad
• Pasta Salad with Tomatoes, Feta, and Herbed Mayonnaise