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Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Easy pasta salad with chicken, loaded with tomatoes, lettuce, and tossed with a homemade caesar dressing.
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Diet Low Fat
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 583kcal
Author Rena

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces pasta
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • kosher salt & pepper to taste
  • 1 lb. chicken breast
  • 1 romaine lettuce chopped
  • 1- pint cherry tomatoes - or grape tomatoes halved
  • 1/3 cup freshly grated or shaved Parmesan cheese
  • 1 1/2 cup homemade Caesar or Ranch dressing

Instructions

  • Cook pasta according to the package direction.
  • Once the pasta is done, drain well in a colander and run under cold water to stop the cooking process.
  • Season the chicken breast with some salt and pepper. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil and heat until shimmering.
  • Place the chicken breast into the hot pan and sear each side until nicely golden-brown about 4 to 6 minutes per side.
  • While the chicken is cooking, chop the lettuce into bite-size pieces and cut the tomatoes in half.
  • Once the chicken is done, place it on a cutting board and then slice it into bite-size pieces.
  • Next, place the cooked pasta, sliced chicken, lettuce, and tomatoes in a large salad bowl.
  • Drizzle dressing on top and toss well to combine. Garnish with grated parmesan cheese.
  • Serve the salad cold or at room temperature.

Notes

  • Use cold leftover chicken or you may use rotisserie chicken which works great in this pasta salad recipe.
  • Be sure not to overcook the pasta. Al dente pasta is ideal. Also, make sure you drain and rinse the pasta to stop the pasta from cooking further.
  • Use a high-quality and freshly grated parmesan cheese. It will be able to taste the difference!
  • Use any Pasta of choice. Whole wheat, gluten-free, or lentil pasta will work just fine.
  • To make this pasta salad vegetarian, skip the chicken.
  • Enjoy this chicken pasta salad at room temperate or chill in the fridge for 30-60 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 583kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 75mg | Sodium: 896mg | Potassium: 485mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 878IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 108mg | Iron: 2mg