Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad with Garlic Breadcrumbs Recipe
This Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is a flavorful and satisfying dish combining tender sautéed chicken, al dente farfalle pasta, fresh Romaine lettuce, and a creamy Caesar dressing. Enhanced with homemade garlicky breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese, it makes a perfect chilled salad for lunch or a light dinner with a delightful mix of textures and flavors.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta Salad Ingredients:
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Fine sea salt and freshly-ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound uncooked pasta (farfalle recommended)
- 3 Romaine lettuce hearts (12 ounces), roughly chopped
- 1 1/2 cups Caesar dressing
- Parmesan cheese, for topping
Garlic Breadcrumbs Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
- 1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Prep the pasta water: Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a vigorous boil over high heat, preparing it for cooking the pasta.
- Cook the garlic breadcrumbs: While the pasta water heats, melt butter in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute, stirring continuously to avoid burning. Add Panko breadcrumbs with a pinch of salt and pepper, and cook for 2-3 minutes until golden brown, stirring frequently. Remove breadcrumbs to a bowl and set aside. Wipe the pan clean.
- Cook the chicken: Season chicken breasts generously with salt and pepper on both sides. Heat olive oil in the sauté pan over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add chicken and cook 4-5 minutes per side until fully cooked and no pink remains inside. Transfer chicken to a cutting board and let rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing into bite-sized pieces.
- Cook the pasta: Add pasta to the boiling salted water and cook until just al dente according to package instructions. Drain pasta in a colander and rinse with cold water to chill and stop cooking.
- Toss the pasta salad: In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked pasta, chopped Romaine lettuce, sliced chicken, and Caesar dressing. Gently toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Serve: Serve the salad immediately topped with the garlic breadcrumbs, a generous sprinkling of Parmesan cheese, and freshly ground black pepper. Alternatively, refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 4 hours and serve chilled.
Notes
- If using homemade Caesar dressing, prepare 1.5 batches to yield 1.5 cups as called for in the recipe.
- For best flavor, allow chicken to rest before slicing to retain juices.
- The salad can be served immediately or chilled briefly for a refreshing cold dish.
- Rinsing pasta with cold water after cooking stops the cooking process and helps maintain the ideal texture.
Keywords: chicken caesar pasta salad, pasta salad, caesar salad recipe, easy pasta salad, garlic breadcrumbs, farfalle pasta, healthy chicken salad