Description
A quick and delicious Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad combining tender rotisserie chicken, crispy bacon, crunchy croutons, and fresh romaine lettuce tossed in creamy Caesar dressing, perfect for a light lunch or easy dinner in just 15 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Proteins
- 1 cup dry pasta, cooked according to package directions
- 1 cup cooked rotisserie chicken, roughly chopped
- 6 slices thick-cut bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
- 1 tbsp bacon grease
Vegetables and Cheese
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 2 cups chopped romaine or green leaf lettuce
- 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Dressing and Extras
- 1/2 cup Caesar dressing, or more to taste
- 1 cup croutons (optional)
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook the dry pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Drain well and rinse under cold water to stop further cooking and cool the pasta. Set aside.
- Prepare Bacon: Cook the thick-cut bacon slices until they are crisp. Carefully reserve 1 tablespoon of the bacon grease for flavoring the salad. Crumble the cooked bacon into small pieces.
- Combine Ingredients: Place the cooled pasta in a large mixing bowl. Toss with the reserved bacon grease to evenly coat the pasta. Add the chopped rotisserie chicken, thinly sliced red onion, crumbled bacon, chopped romaine lettuce, and shredded Parmesan cheese. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Add Dressing: Pour the Caesar dressing over the salad mixture. Add more dressing if needed to suit your taste. Toss everything together carefully to ensure all components are evenly coated with dressing.
- Serve: Optionally, sprinkle croutons over the salad before serving for added crunch. Serve immediately for the best texture and flavor.
Notes
- Using cooked rotisserie chicken speeds up preparation and adds great flavor.
- Rinsing pasta under cold water stops it from overcooking and helps keep the salad cool.
- Save some bacon grease to add a smoky depth of flavor to the pasta.
- For a lighter version, reduce the amount of Caesar dressing or substitute with a low-fat version.
- Croutons add crunch but are optional if you want to keep it lighter or gluten-free.
