Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

This Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad provides a delicious twist to classic Caesar salad with the addition of chopped cooked chicken and tender pasta. Loaded with all the usual ingredients and flavors of a classic Caesar salad, it’s perfect for summer barbecues and potlucks, or as a main meal for lunch or dinner.

The Ultimate Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Filled with the same delicious ingredients you’ll find in a traditional Caesar salad, this chicken Caesar pasta salad is tossed with tender pasta and cooked chicken for a boost of protein and added texture. 

Use leftover cooked chicken from meals prepared earlier in the week or rotisserie chicken for added convenience. Once the pasta is boiled and the fresh salad ingredients are prepared, it’s simply a matter of tossing everything together with your favorite store-bought or homemade Caesar dressing.

Much like my BLT pasta salad and chicken ranch pasta salad, this chicken Caesar pasta salad is a balanced and satisfying meal that’s perfect for your summer gatherings or whenever you’re craving the flavors and textures of Caesar salad!

Key Ingredients and Substitutions

Find the printable recipe with measurements in the recipe card below.

• Penne pasta – Feel free to make this pasta salad with another type of pasta, such as rigatoni, bowtie, ziti, or rotini pasta. 
• Chicken – I’ve used pre-cooked chicken in this recipe for convenience. Rotisserie chicken is another great option. You could also use turkey instead. 
• Parmesan cheese – Freshly shredded or grated for the best flavor and texture. 
• Caesar dressing – Use store-bought dressing or homemade Caesar dressing. 
• Romaine lettuce – Crispy lettuce is a key ingredient in Caesar salad. I don’t recommend omitting it from this pasta salad version. 
• Croutons – These can also be store-bought or homemade.

To make your own homemade Caesar salad dressing you’ll need egg yolk, mayonnaise, freshly grated parmesan cheese, minced anchovies, finely minced garlic cloves, fresh lemon juice, stone-ground mustard, and salt. Follow the directions of my classic Caesar Salad recipe on how to make your own dressing. 

How to Make Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

1. Cook the pasta: Boil the pasta in a pot of salted water according to the packaging directions. Take care not to overcook the pasta, otherwise it will become soggy and fall apart in the salad. Drain the pasta and rinse with cool water, then set it aside to cool. 
2. Assemble the pasta salad: Toss together the cooled pasta, chicken, parmesan cheese, and Caesar dressing in a large bowl.
3. Garnish and serve: Gently toss in the crisp lettuce and croutons just before serving. Top with additional croutons and shaved parmesan, if desired. 

Recipe Tips

• Optional additions: Consider adding some crispy bacon for extra flavor and texture, cherry tomatoes, chopped red onion, shredded carrots, bell pepper, and a mix of Romaine lettuce with arugula. 
• Cook the pasta until al dente to prevent soggy pasta. Shaving about 2 minutes off the cooking time on the package directions will give you al dente pasta, but you can also test the pasta yourself as it boils. 
• You can prepare this pasta salad a day in advance. Wait to add the lettuce and croutons until just before serving to help preserve their crispy/crunchy textures. 
• It’s totally normal for stored pasta salad to absorb the dressing. Add additional Caesar dressing as needed.
• Use a salad spinner to remove excess water from the rinsed lettuce as any excess moisture can make the pasta salad soggy.

Serving Ideas

The addition of cooked chicken to this Caesar pasta salad instantly turns this dish into a wholesome main meal that can be served as is or alongside corn on the cob, air fryer sweet potato fries, roasted vegetables, hamburgers, or even cheesy macaroni and cheese. Feel free to also enjoy it as a side dish to grilled meats at your next backyard BBQ!

Storing Leftovers

For best results, serve this chicken Caesar pasta salad immediately once the crispy lettuce and croutons have been added as they will quickly turn soft and soggy. Store salad without the lettuce and croutons in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Freezing is not recommended.

If you try making this Ultimate Chicken Ceasar Pasta Salad Recipe, please leave me a comment and let me know! I always love to hear your thoughts.