Description
A flavorful and satisfying Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad featuring tender pan-seared chicken, al dente farfalle pasta, crisp Romaine lettuce, and a creamy Caesar dressing. Topped with golden garlicky breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese, this salad is perfect 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 preferred)
- 3 Romaine lettuce hearts (about 12 ounces), roughly chopped
- 1 1/2 cups Caesar dressing
- Parmesan cheese, for topping
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
Instructions
- Boil Pasta: Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil over high heat.
- Prepare Garlic Breadcrumbs: Melt the butter in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute, stirring frequently to avoid burning. Add the panko breadcrumbs along with a generous pinch of salt and pepper, then sauté for 2-3 minutes while stirring frequently until the breadcrumbs turn golden brown. Transfer the breadcrumbs to a bowl and set aside. Wipe down the pan clean.
- Cook the Chicken: Season both sides of the chicken breasts generously with salt and pepper. In the same sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 4-5 minutes per side until cooked through and no longer pink in the center. Transfer the chicken to a clean cutting board and let it rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing thinly into bite-sized pieces.
- Cook Pasta: Cook the pasta in the boiling salted water until just al dente according to package instructions. Drain the pasta in a colander and rinse with cold water to chill it.
- Toss Salad: In a large mixing bowl, combine the chilled pasta, chopped Romaine lettuce, sliced chicken, and Caesar dressing. Gently toss until all ingredients are evenly coated.
- Serve: Serve immediately garnished with the garlic breadcrumbs, generous amounts of Parmesan cheese, and a few extra twists of freshly ground black pepper. Alternatively, refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 4 hours and serve chilled.
Notes
- Use your favorite Caesar dressing for the best flavor.
- Garlicky breadcrumbs add a delicious crunch and flavor contrast to the salad.
- Can be served immediately or chilled for a refreshing cold salad.
- Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 hours for optimal freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1/6 of recipe)
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
