Pasta salad season is here, and this Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is the perfect light summer meal! It’s cold and creamy but still hearty enough to get you through a long day at the beach or at the park with the family. The best part? Those freshly made, extra crunchy garlic bread croutons, made with store bought garlic Texas toast for a quick recipe hack that you don’t need to tell anyone about 😉 Looking for more salads to add to your summer barbecue? Try this Easy Potato Salad Recipe, this Dill Pickle Pasta Salad, this Creamy Ranch Bowtie Pasta Salad Recipe or this Tortellini Pasta Salad.
Why we love this pasta salad:
it’s not too heavy — in the summer we are rarely craving hot and heavy foods so this pasta salad really fits the bill! it’s easy to prep ahead — all of the ingredients can be prepped ahead: the pasta, the chicken, the lettuce, the croutons, and then you can simply stir everything together before serving. it’s a one-and-done portable meal — summer means picnic season which means we are often taking food on the go. I love that we get carbs, protein, veggies and crunch all in one tasty package!
Ingredients Needed:
How to make Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad:
This recipe is easy to make and perfect for prepping ahead! See the full recipe down in the recipe card.
Tips and Variations:
Cool your pasta: always cool your pasta as soon as it’s done cooking for pasta salads — this will prevent it from being mushy as it sits and clumping together. Rinsing under cold water a couple of times and draining will do the trick. Add some lemon: Add a squeeze of lemon or some zest to brighten the flavors if you prefer. Don’t stir too soon: don’t stir the salad together too soon, as the lettuce and pasta can become soggy if the dressing sits on it for too long. An hour or two before serving is fine, but try not to do it sooner than that. Add some bacon: it’s hard to go wrong with the smoky flavor of bacon, and it’s a great addition to this pasta salad recipe. Simply cook up a few slices in a skillet, chop and drain the fat. You can add the reserved bacon fat to the dressing for extra smoky flavor. Add some heat: some freshly cracked pepper or a sprinkling of red pepper flakes is a great addition for those that like a little kick.
More summer salad recipes you’ll love:
Creamy Italian Potato Salad
Easy Instant Pot Potato Salad
German Potato Salad
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