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Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Loop & Dash
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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