Cheddars' Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad on plate with fork.

Cheddars' Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

This easy recipe is one of our family's favorite salads. It's like the classic Caesar lettuce salad, just adding pasta! You can use it as a side for your bbq or a light lunch.

Course Salads, Salads and Pasta

Cuisine American

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 10

Total Time 30

Servings servings

Calories 636kcal

Author Deb Clark

Equipment

Colander
Large Mixing Bowl

Ingredients

2 cups cooked chicken diced
16 ounce box Rotinni pasta
1 pint cherry tomatoes sliced
½ cup sliced black olives
1 head romaine lettuce chopped
¼ cup red onions or shallots diced
5 ounce package croutons
1 cup Parmesan cheese shredded
1 cup Caesar salad dressing or more
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Cook pasta according to package directions to al dente, drain. Allow to cool completely, refrigerate.
Dice the chicken. Slice the olives, dice the onions and tomatoes. Chop the lettuce.
When the pasta has cooled completely, combine with the chicken, tomatoes, olives and diced onions in a large bowl.
Toss with the salad dressing and stir well to combine. Top with Parmesan cheese shavings. Add salt and pepper if desired.
Prior to serving add the lettuce and croutons. Stir to combine. Add additional salad dressing if needed. Serve immediately.

Notes

If the pasta isn't completely cooled it will absorb almost twice as much salad dressing. To speed up the cooking process when it's time to prepare the salad, cook, drain and chill the pasta overnight.

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is perfect for a barbecue - it's always the first thing gone off the buffet table. It is also terrific for an easy weeknight meal!

Nutrition