Description

This Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad combines tender, seasoned chicken breasts with al dente pasta, crisp romaine lettuce, and a creamy Caesar dressing. Enhanced by homemade garlicky breadcrumbs and topped with Parmesan cheese, this dish offers a delightful balance of textures and flavors. Perfect for a quick dinner or a hearty lunch, it can be served immediately or chilled for a refreshing meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Seasoning

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

Pasta and 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

Topping

Parmesan cheese, for topping

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Prepare Pasta Water: Bring a large pot of generously-salted water to a boil over high heat to cook the pasta.
Make Garlic Breadcrumbs: Melt butter over medium heat in a large sauté pan. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute, stirring frequently to release aroma. Add Panko breadcrumbs with a pinch of salt and pepper, cook for 2-3 minutes until golden, stirring often. Transfer to a bowl and set aside. Wipe pan clean.
Cook Chicken: Season chicken breasts generously with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in the same sauté pan over medium-high heat until shimmering. Cook chicken for 4-5 minutes per side until cooked through and no longer pink inside. Remove from pan, let rest for 5-10 minutes, then slice thinly into bite-sized pieces.
Cook Pasta: Add pasta to boiling salted water and cook until just al dente. Drain through a colander and rinse with cold water to chill pasta immediately.
Combine Salad: In a large mixing bowl, gently toss pasta, chopped romaine lettuce, sliced chicken, and Caesar dressing until evenly coated.
Serve: Plate the salad and garnish generously with garlic breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and a few twists of freshly ground black pepper. Serve immediately or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 4 hours and serve chilled.

Notes

This recipe features a homemade touch with garlicky breadcrumbs that add crunch and flavor to the salad.
Use farfalle pasta for its ability to hold dressing and mix well with other ingredients.
The salad can be served warm immediately after preparation or chilled for a refreshing cold dish.
Ensure to rest the chicken before slicing to keep it juicy.
Customize the dressing based on preference, though a classic Caesar dressing is recommended.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1/6 of recipe)
Calories: 520 kcal
Sugar: 3 g
Sodium: 730 mg
Fat: 18 g
Saturated Fat: 6 g
Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 55 g
Fiber: 4 g
Protein: 38 g
Cholesterol: 90 mg