Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

This Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is easy to make with romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes and a lightened up Caesar dressing. Gluten-free and perfect for summer potlucks and barbecues and comes with all the traditional flavors found in a classic Caesar salad with grain-free, paleo, low carb and keto options.

Course Appetizer, Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword chicken caesar pasta salad, pasta salad with chicken

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Servings 6 servings

Calories 282 kcal

Author Kelly

Ingredients

Dressing (or use 1 cup of your favorite Caesar salad dressing):

1 cup plain Greek yogurt a thicker Greek yogurt brand works best .Sub with dairy-free yogurt as needed. We like Kitehill plain almond milk yogurt or Culina Plain and Simple.
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese , sub with dairy-free Parmesan cheese as needed. We like Violife.
3 Tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 Tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 cloves garlic
2 teaspoons anchovy paste or 2 anchovy fillets finely diced , optional but highly recommended. For a vegan option, you can sub with 2 teaspoons of finely diced capers and 2 teaspoons of caper juice from the jar.
salt and black pepper to taste

For the Salad:

3 cups dried gluten-free pasta cooked according to package directions and cooled (I used gluten-free farfalle)
4 cups romaine lettuce chopped
2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes cut into halves
1 green onion thinly sliced
1 Tablespoons fresh basil leaves thinly sliced
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese plus more for topping
salt and pepper to taste
1-2 cups cooked chicken breasts diced (grilled, roasted or rotisserie would work great). Leave out for meatless.
1 cup gluten-free croutons

Instructions

To make the dressing: In a small food processor or a high speed blender, add all the dressing ingredients and puree until creamy and smooth. Or alternatively, you may add all ingredients to a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake vigorously until mixture is well-blended. Season with additional salt and pepper if needed, and add 1-2 teaspoons milk or water if needed to thin out the dressing to your desired consistency.
To assemble the salad: In a large bowl, mix the pasta with enough dressing to coat evenly. Cover and chill in the fridge for 10 minutes. Toss in the rest of the ingredients, except for the croutons. Pour the remainder of the dressing on top of the salad and gently toss to combine. Season with additional salt and pepper, as needed.
Sprinkle with grated Parmesan and croutons. Serve immediately or cover and chill in the fridge for up to 3 hours.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

You can prep the dressing and coat the pasta up to 2 days ahead before assembling with the rest of the salad ingredients. Just keep in an airtight covered container.

Nutrition Facts

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Amount Per Serving (1 serving (1/6 recipe))

Calories 282 Calories from Fat 81

% Daily Value*

Fat 9g14%

Saturated Fat 2g10%

Cholesterol 28mg9%

Sodium 260mg11%

Potassium 280mg8%

Carbohydrates 30g10%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 19g38%

Vitamin A 2845IU57%

Vitamin C 5.1mg6%

Calcium 177mg18%

Iron 1.3mg7%

* Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy using the WPRM recipe calculator. It is best to make your own calculations to ensure accuracy. We expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.