With just a few ingredients and a super simple method, you can make the yummiest Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad as an easy meal to share with the kids. It works well packed as kids lunch, too!
This post is sponsored by Yumbox.
I often talk about how Caesar Salad has been the gateway salad for my kids—or the one type of salad that helped them to realize that they actually, in fact, enjoy salad! And by adding pasta and chicken to the mix, we can easily turn it into a kid-friendly meal that works for dinner or lunch.
This meal is super versatile, too. You can make it with my homemade Caesar dressing and Italian Chicken Cutlets or Baked Chicken Tenders. Or you can use store-bought dressing and rotisserie chicken. You can mix it all together or serve it deconstructed with the dressing as a dip if the kids prefer it that way.
I love packing the ingredients for this easy pasta salad up into Yumbox lunch boxes as nutritious lunches for my two elementary age kids. It holds up well in the leak-proof lunchbox, which are also super easy for my kindergartener to open on his own. (Which is key in a little kids lunchbox!) They make a few styles, so you can pick the design that works best with the types of foods you usually send for your kids lunches, too.
Find the full range of Yumbox options, including insulated lunch bags and snack bags, too.
(You may also like Pesto Pasta Salad, Healthy Pasta Salad with Chicken, and Farro Salad.)
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Ingredients You Need
Here’s a look at how to make this Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad so you know what to have on hand or pick up from the store.
- Pasta: You can use any type of cooked pasta in this recipe, though I prefer shorter shapes like wagon wheels, farfalle, penne, fusilli, or rotini pasta.
- Olive oil: We add a little olive oil to the cooked pasta as it cools so it doesn’t stick together and is easy to mix in the salad.
- Chicken: You can use any cooked chicken that your family likes or that you have on hand including rotisserie chicken, chicken cutlets, chicken breast, or chicken thighs. Or even chicken nuggets!
- Romaine lettuce: Shredded romaine gives the pasta salad the crunch we want. I like to shred crisp romaine lettuce it so it’s easy for the kids to eat.
- Croutons: I prefer “Caesar croutons” since they tend to have the flavor we expect in a restaurant-style Caesar salad, so look for that at your store.
- Caesar dressing: You can use store bought dressing or my homemade Caesar dressing, which is easy to stir together using mayonnaise or yogurt, garlic, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and lemon.
- Parmesan cheese: Extra Parmesan makes the whole pasta salad really come together flavor-wise.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Below is an overview of how to make the Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad recipe so you know what to expect from the process. Scroll down to the end of the post for the full information.
Step 1. Chop the lettuce.
Step 2. Cook the pasta and drain.
Step 3. Cut the chicken into stripes, if needed.
Step 4. When the pasta is cool, add it to a large bowl with the rest of the ingredients.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can store the mixed pasta salad in an airtight container in the fridge or store the elements of the recipe in separate containers and mix as you want them.
You can do any type of cooked chicken breast, chicken thighs, chicken nuggets, chicken tenders, rotisserie chicken, or really any chicken you like. Cut into slices or bite-size pieces.
Sure, add olives, thinly sliced red onion, cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes, and a sprinkle of feta cheese as an easy recipe variation.
How to Store
Store leftover Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. The lettuce may soften a little as it sits.
You can also store the components of the dish separately and mix them together whenever you need an easy meal or have kids lunches to pack.
Best Tips for Success
- You can make it with my Italian Chicken Cutlets or Baked Chicken Tenders, or rotisserie chicken or other cooked chicken from the store.
- Use a gluten-free pasta as desired.
- Use gluten-free croutons if needed.
- Try my easy Caesar dressing or one from the store.
- Mix the pasta salad together or serve the elements side-by-side so everyone can mix and match as they like. The dressing can also be used as a dip if the kids prefer to eat it that way.
- Add cherry tomatoes, black pepper, or extra lemon juice if you like.
I’d love to hear your feedback on this recipe, so please comment below to share!
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Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain, then toss with a olive oil to prevent sticking as it cools.
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When the pasta is cool, add it to a large bowl with the rest of the ingredients.
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Gently toss to combine. Serve.
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Or, serve the elements side-by-side and let everyone add their own dressing or use the dressing as a dip.
- Store leftover pasta salad in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. The lettuce may soften a little as it sits.
- You can make it with my Italian Chicken Cutlets or Baked Chicken Tenders, or rotisserie chicken or other cooked chicken from the store.
- Use a gluten-free pasta as desired.
- Try my easy Caesar dressing or one from the store.
Calories: 483kcal, Carbohydrates: 51g, Protein: 26g, Fat: 19g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 53mg, Sodium: 382mg, Potassium: 450mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 6218IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 129mg, Iron: 3mg