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A close-up of a bowl of Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad featuring rotini pasta, grilled chicken, cherry tomatoes, croutons, and creamy dressing.

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

This Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad combines everything you love about a classic Caesar salad with hearty pasta and tender chicken for a satisfying, protein-packed meal. Tossed with a lighter Greek yogurt Caesar dressing, this recipe is ideal for meal prep, lunches, potlucks, and quick weeknight dinners.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Salad
Cuisine: American
Calories: 420
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the salad
  • 8 ounces high protein rotini pasta
  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
  • 1/2 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cup whole wheat croutons
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
For the Caesar dressing
  • 1 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons water

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Skillet
  • Cutting board
  • Small bowl
  • Large serving bowl

Method
 

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions until tender. Drain and rinse under cold water.
  2. Season the chicken with garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
  3. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken for 5 to 7 minutes per side until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
  4. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing into bite-size pieces.
  5. In a small bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic, Parmesan cheese, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, and water until smooth.
  6. In a large serving bowl, combine the cooled pasta, chicken, romaine lettuce, Parmesan cheese, tomatoes, and parsley.
  7. Add the dressing and toss gently until everything is evenly coated.
  8. Fold in the croutons just before serving to maintain their crunch.
  9. Serve immediately or chill for up to 30 minutes before serving.

Notes

For meal prep, store the croutons separately and add them just before eating. This keeps the salad fresh and crunchy. Cook chicken to an internal temperature of 165°F as measured with a food thermometer for food safety.