Description
A quick and delicious Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad combining tender rotisserie chicken, crispy bacon, and fresh romaine lettuce tossed with Parmesan cheese, crunchy croutons, and creamy Caesar dressing for a perfect crowd-pleasing meal or side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Proteins
- 1 cup dry pasta, cooked according to package directions
- 6 slices thick-cut bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
- 1 tbsp bacon grease (reserved from cooked bacon)
- 1 cup cooked rotisserie chicken, roughly chopped
Vegetables and Cheese
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups chopped romaine or green leaf lettuce
Dressing and Extras
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup Caesar dressing, or more to taste
- 1 cup croutons (optional)
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Once cooked, drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set the pasta aside to cool.
- Prepare Bacon: Cook the thick-cut bacon slices until they are crisp. Reserve 1 tablespoon of the bacon grease on the side for added flavor in the salad. Crumble the bacon once cooled.
- Combine Ingredients: Transfer the cooled pasta to a large mixing bowl. Toss the pasta with the reserved bacon grease to coat it evenly. Add the chopped rotisserie chicken, thinly sliced red onion, shredded Parmesan cheese, chopped romaine lettuce, and crumbled bacon. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Add Dressing: Pour in the Caesar dressing, starting with 1/2 cup, and toss the mixture well to coat all ingredients. Adjust the amount of dressing to taste if necessary.
- Serve: Optionally, add croutons for extra crunch before serving immediately for the best texture and freshness.
Notes
- Use rotisserie chicken for convenience and flavor, but grilled or baked chicken can be used as well.
- To make this salad ahead, keep the croutons separate to maintain their crunch.
- Adjust the amount of Caesar dressing to suit your taste preferences, adding more if you like it creamier.
- For a lower-fat option, use reduced-fat Caesar dressing and turkey bacon.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
