Description
A recipe for a cold pasta salad featuring grilled chicken, romaine lettuce, parmesan cheese, and a creamy Caesar dressing.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound pasta (rotini or penne)
- 2 cups cooked, diced chicken breast (grilled or rotisserie)
- 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup Caesar dressing (creamy style)
- 1/4 cup croutons
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water to cool it completely. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the Caesar dressing, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and black pepper until smooth.
- Add the cooled pasta, diced chicken, and chopped romaine lettuce to the bowl with the dressing.
- Toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated.
- Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese.
- Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to combine.
- Just before serving, sprinkle the croutons over the top.
Notes
- For a make-ahead option, mix all ingredients except the croutons up to 24 hours in advance. Add croutons right before serving to keep them crisp.
- Use grilled chicken for the best flavor, or use pre-cooked rotisserie chicken for a quicker preparation.
- If you prefer a lighter salad, use a vinaigrette-style Caesar dressing instead of a creamy one.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Category: Lunch
- Method: No Cook (Assembly)
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 550
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Unsaturated Fat: 16
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 38
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 28
- Cholesterol: 75