An easy Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad Recipe. This salad is loaded with pasta, romaine, tomatoes, bacon and juicy chicken mixed with a homemade Caesar Salad Dressing.

Pasta chicken Caesar salad recipe with a homemade Caesar salad dressing in a white bowl with a wooden spoon.

Do you like a good pasta salad? How about a Caesar salad? Well, this Chicken Caesar Pasta salad is those two salads combined.

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad-

The combination of flavors in this salad is so good! Seasoned and cooked chicken breast with bacon, tomatoes, and romaine tossed with pasta and croutons in homemade Caesar salad dressing.

The salad tastes so fresh from the romaine yet hearty and filling from the chicken and pasta.

Up close picture of chicken Caesar salad with pasta and tomatoes.

INGREDIENTS FOR CHICKEN CAESAR PASTA SALAD-

  • Pasta– Adds so much heartiness to the salad.
  • Chicken breast– Adds protein to the salad.
  • Tomatoes– We used cherry tomatoes, but you can use any tomatoes on hand.
  • Bacon– Classic or maple bacon may be used.
  • Croutons– Your favorite croutons.
  • Romaine– We suggest Romaine lettuce over iceberg lettuce for this recipe.
  • Dressing– Brings all of the flavors together.
Chef’s Tip: Allow chicken, pasta, and bacon to cool completely before adding to the salad and mixing.
How to cook chicken for this simple chicken Ceasar salad with pasta.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS-

Can I substitute for store-bought dressing?

Though we absolutely love our homemade dressing for this salad, you can use your favorite store-bought dressing.

What pasta do I use for this pasta salad?

We used rotini pasta when preparing this salad. However, just about any pasta will work in this recipe: penne, farfalle or rotini are all great to use.

Can I use precooked bacon?

Though we cooked the bacon ourselves, you can use precooked bacon with great results.

Can I used rotiserrie chicken?

Yes, a store-bought Rotiserrie chicken will work great as a substitute to cooking the chicken breast.

Can I prepare the salad in advance?

Yes, this chicken pasta salad is a great salad to prepare in advance. Add all of the ingredients to a bowl. DON’T mix. Prepare salad dressing and keep it separate. Mix everything before serving.
The salad may be prepared up to one day before you plan on serving it.

Pasta salad with romaine, bacon, chicken and croutons with a Caesar salad dressing in a white salad bowl.

This salad is always such a hit at parties and potlucks. It always gets rave reviews and everyone asks for the recipe.

MORE SALADS TO TRY:

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Author: Valentina
Print
5 from 6 votes
This caesar pasta salad offers an incredible medley of flavors. Crispy lettuce, pasta, and tasty chicken, all dressed with a homemade caesar dressing. Although this salad is simple, the flavors are incredibly elevated.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 1/2 lb chicken breasts, boneless skinless
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • salt & pepper, to taste
  • 6 oz uncooked pasta
  • 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes
  • 5 bacon strips
  • 1 large romaine heart
  • 1 cup croutons
  • 1 recipe for caesar dressing

Instructions

  • Using a meat mallet, beat the chicken breast to an even thickness and season both sides with salt and pepper.
  • Heat oil on a skillet and sear the chicken for 2 minutes on both sides. Proceed to turn the heat down, cover with the lid, and cook for 5-6 minutes or until the chicken is cooked. Chop up the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
  • In a pot of salted water, cook pasta according to package instructions, strain, and rinse with cold water.
  • Cut bacon into small pieces and cook until crispy. Use a paper towel to blot excess fat.
  • Chop lettuce and cut tomatoes in half.
  • In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients along with the dressing.
  • Finish with croutons, and enjoy!

Notes

  • Storage: If you’d like to store this salad for later, don’t dress the entire thing, and mix all the ingredients with the dressing when you are ready to eat. 
  • Crispy lettuce: To achieve crisp lettuce, rinse your lettuce in ice-cold water and pat dry.
  • Wait for the chicken and bacon to come to room temperature before tossing the salad. 

Nutrition

256kcal Calories27g Carbs15g Protein9g Fat3g Saturated Fat2g Polyunsaturated Fat4g Monounsaturated Fat0.03g Trans Fat36mg Cholesterol207mg Sodium373mg Potassium2g Fiber2g Sugar1841IU Vitamin A10mg Vitamin C23mg Calcium1mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Amount Per Serving
Calories 256 Calories from Fat 81
% Daily Value*
Fat 9g14%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Trans Fat 0.03g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
Monounsaturated Fat 4g
Cholesterol 36mg12%
Sodium 207mg9%
Potassium 373mg11%
Carbohydrates 27g9%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 15g30%
Vitamin A 1841IU37%
Vitamin C 10mg12%
Calcium 23mg2%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
(The nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.)