Description

This Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is a flavorful and satisfying dish perfect for lunch or dinner. Featuring tender seasoned chicken, crispy bacon, rotini pasta, fresh romaine, and a creamy Caesar-ranch dressing blend, it’s a crowd-pleasing salad that combines hearty pasta and classic Caesar flavors with the delightful crunch of croutons and parmesan cheese.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Bacon

1.5 lbs chicken breasts or tenderloins, diced
2 tablespoons poultry seasoning (such as cajun or lemon pepper)
8 strips bacon, diced
2 tablespoons olive oil

Pasta and Salad

1 lb short pasta (rotini or fusilli)
12 oz romaine lettuce, chopped
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, freshly shredded (plus more for topping)
1/2 cup garlic butter croutons, partially crushed
1 teaspoon salad supreme seasoning (such as Perfect Pinch brand), or to taste
1/2 cup Caesar dressing
1/3 cup ranch dressing

Optional Homemade Caesar Dressing

1 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
3 small garlic cloves, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

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Instructions

Season the Chicken: Liberally season the diced chicken pieces on all sides with your desired poultry seasoning, such as cajun or lemon pepper.
Cook the Bacon: Heat a skillet over medium-low heat and add the diced bacon. Cook until crispy on both sides, then remove and place on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess grease. Remove most of the bacon grease from the skillet.
Cook the Chicken: Add 2 tablespoons olive oil to the skillet and cook the chicken for about 3-4 minutes per side or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C).
Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Drain the pasta in a colander and rinse with cold water to cool.
Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the cooled pasta, cooked chicken, crispy bacon, shredded parmesan cheese, salad supreme seasoning, Caesar dressing, and ranch dressing. Avoid adding romaine lettuce and croutons to the entire bowl if you are storing leftovers, as romaine will wilt and croutons will get mushy over time.
Serve: When ready to serve, add chopped romaine lettuce and partially crushed garlic butter croutons on top. Garnish with extra parmesan cheese and sprinkle additional salad supreme seasoning for extra flavor.

Notes

For leftover storage, add romaine lettuce and croutons fresh when serving to keep the salad crisp.
You can use any short pasta shape like rotini or fusilli for best texture and to hold the dressing well.
Customize the poultry seasoning according to your taste preferences, such as cajun for spice or lemon pepper for a zestier flavor.
Make homemade Caesar dressing using the optional ingredients for a fresher, more flavorful dressing.
If you want to reduce fat, consider using turkey bacon or skipping the bacon altogether.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 480 kcal
Sugar: 3 g
Sodium: 720 mg
Fat: 25 g
Saturated Fat: 8 g
Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 35 g
Fiber: 3 g
Protein: 35 g
Cholesterol: 85 mg