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Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad Recipe

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4.3 from 6 reviews

This Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is a delicious and satisfying dish combining tender sautéed chicken, crisp Romaine lettuce, al dente pasta, and creamy Caesar dressing. Enhanced with homemade garlic Panko breadcrumbs for a crunchy topping and sprinkled with Parmesan cheese, this salad is perfect for a light lunch, picnic, or easy dinner.

Ingredients

Chicken

  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • Fine sea salt and freshly-ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Pasta Salad

  • 1 pound uncooked pasta (farfalle recommended)
  • 3 Romaine lettuce hearts (12 ounces), roughly chopped
  • 1 1/2 cups Caesar dressing

Garlic Breadcrumbs

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
  • 1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs
  • Fine sea salt and freshly-ground black pepper, to taste

For Serving

  • Parmesan cheese, for topping

Instructions

  1. Prep the pasta water: Bring a large pot of generously-salted water to a boil over high heat to prepare for cooking the pasta.
  2. Cook the garlic breadcrumbs: Melt butter in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté for 1 minute, stirring frequently to release aroma. Add the Panko breadcrumbs along with a generous pinch of salt and pepper, then sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until golden and crispy. Transfer to a bowl and set aside. Wipe the pan clean.
  3. Cook the chicken: Season the chicken breasts generously with salt and pepper on both sides. Heat olive oil in the same sauté pan over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add chicken and cook for 4 to 5 minutes per side until fully cooked and no longer pink inside. Remove and let rest on a cutting board for 5 to 10 minutes, then thinly slice into bite-sized pieces.
  4. Cook the pasta: Add pasta to the boiling salted water and cook until just al dente. Drain the pasta through a colander and rinse under cold water until chilled, stopping the cooking process and cooling the pasta.
  5. Toss the pasta salad: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, chopped Romaine lettuce, sliced chicken, and Caesar dressing. Gently toss everything together until evenly coated and mixed well.
  6. Serve: Serve immediately, garnished with the homemade garlic breadcrumbs, a generous amount of freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and a few twists of black pepper. Alternatively, refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 4 hours and serve chilled.

Notes

  • Use farfalle or another sturdy pasta shape to hold the dressing well.
  • Chilling the pasta after cooking prevents it from becoming mushy and helps maintain the salad’s texture.
  • The garlic breadcrumbs add a delicious crunchy texture; don’t skip them!
  • Resting the chicken after cooking keeps it juicy and easier to slice thinly.
  • You can prepare the garlic breadcrumbs and chicken ahead of time to save on meal prep.

Find it online: https://bitezly.com/chicken-caesar-pasta-salad-recipe/