Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
A unique take on a traditional Caesar salad. Pasta makes it more fun!
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients
Croutons:
- 6 slices of bread
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp garlic powder
Pasta:
- 1 lb cavatappi pasta
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Chicken:
- 1/2 c olive oil
- Juice from 1 lemon
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 3 cloves garlic, pressed or finely minced
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
Salad:
- 1 head of romaine lettuce, chopped
- 2 cups store bought Caesar salad dressing
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
Marinate the chicken:
- Add 1 ½ cups of olive oil, the juice from one lemon, 1 ½ tsp of salt, and 3 cloves of finely minced garlic to a gallon sized resealable plastic bag. Add the chicken and marinate for 30 minutes minimum and up to 8 hours.
Make the croutons:
- Preheat oven to 375℉. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cut the bread slices into cubes and arrange them on the baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat. Sprinkle with the garlic powder and a pinch of salt. Toss again and bake in the oven for about 15 minutes, turning once, until crisp. *Baking time will vary depending on the thickness of your bread so keep an eye on it!
- Remove from the oven and set aside
Cook the Pasta:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta, give it a good stir, and boil for 9-10 minutes, until the pasta is al dente. Drain and toss with 1 tbsp of olive oil.
Grill the chicken:
- Outdoor grill – After the chicken is marinated, grill until cooked through. Remove to a plate to rest for 5 minutes, then slice.
- Grill pan – Heat a grill pan over high heat for a couple of minutes until steaming hot. Reduce the heat to medium-high and brush with olive oil. Cook the chicken for 5-6 minutes per side until it is cooked through and reached an internal temperature of 165℉. Remove to a plate to rest for 5 minutes, then slice.
Assemble the salad:
- Place the lettuce in a large bowl. Add the cooked pasta and Caesar dressing and toss until well mixed together.
- Add the croutons and toss again.
- Arrange the sliced chicken on the lettuce and pasta and top with parmesan cheese.
Nutrition
Calories: 640kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 75mg | Sodium: 821mg | Potassium: 851mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 6869IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 172mg | Iron: 3mg
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