Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Caesar Pasta Salad combines tender pasta with parmesan, crispy bacon, juicy chicken, croutons, crunchy romaine and dressings. This salad makes a hearty dinner or a great meal prep option for work lunches.
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs chicken breasts or tenderloins, diced
- 2 tablespoons poultry seasoning like cajun, lemon pepper, etc.
- 8 strips bacon diced
- 1 lb. short pasta like rotini or fusilli
- 12 oz romaine lettuce chopped
- 1/2 cup parmesan freshly shredded (plus more for topping)
- 1/2 cup garlic butter croutons partially crushed
- 1 teaspoon salad supreme seasoning, or to taste Perfect Pinch brand
- 1/2 cup caesar dressing
- 1/3 cup ranch dressing
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Optional Homemade Caesar Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 3 small garlic cloves chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- Season chicken pieces liberally on all sides with your desired seasoning, I use cajun or lemon pepper.
- In a skillet over medium low, add in the diced bacon. Cook until crispy on both sides, remove and place on a paper towel lined plate to absorb the grease. Remove most the bacon grease from the skillet.
- Add 2 tablespoons olive oil and cook the chicken about 3-4 minutes per side until internal temp reaches 165 degrees.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add in the pasta and cook to al dente according to package instructions. Strain pasta in a colander and rinse with cold water.
- In a large bowl, add cooled pasta, chicken, bacon, parmesan, salad supreme seasoning, and dressing. I don't advise adding in the croutons or romaine to the entire bowl if you plan to have leftovers, romaine will wilt in a few hours and croutons get mushy.
- To serve, top with some extra parmesan and salad supreme seasoning.