This Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is loaded with croutons, parmesan cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, pasta, and chicken; all smothered in a creamy Caesar dressing. Serve this cold pasta salad as a side for your next BBQ, or as an easy weeknight dinner!

Looking for more pasta salad recipes? I love this Italian Pasta Salad, Creamy Pesto Tortellini, and Teriyaki Pasta Salad!

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad in a large serving bowl.

Why I love this recipe:

  • Quick and Fresh: Done and ready to eat in just 30 minutes! Bursting with fresh ingredients, this easy pasta salad is fresh, tasty, and I just love the crunch from the lettuce and croutons!
  • On the Go – No heating and no mess, I love to make this for BBQ’s, picnics, or to toss in my kid’s lunches!

How to make Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad:

Cook Pasta: Follow instructions on package to cook pasta. Drain water then set aside to cool.

A colander with cooked penne pasta, just drained to make Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad.

Combine Ingredients: Chop the grilled chicken breasts into small chunks. In a large bowl, toss together chicken, cooked penne pasta, lettuce, cucumber, carrot, green onion, cherry tomatoes, Parmesan cheese and croutons.

Chopped chicken, lettuce, carrots, cucumber, green onions, cherry tomatoes, and parmesan cheese in a mixing bowl.

Add Dressing: Drizzle with desired amount of Caesar salad dressing then toss to coat. Serve.

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad mixed together in a salad bowl, ready to serve.

Make Ahead and Storage Instructions:

To Make Ahead: The chicken can be cooked and all the ingredients can be chopped ahead of time. Wait to add the dressing until ready to serve.

To Store: This creamy chicken pasta salad is best served fresh, but it will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for a day or two. To make it work for meal prep I’d suggest storing the lettuce separately, and mixing it in just before eating.

Recipe Variations:

  • Dressing – You can make homemade Caesar dressing, or buy a good quality creamy Caesar dressing from the store. I like Newman’s Own or Brianna’s brand.
  • No Chicken – I love how the chicken makes it more filling, but you can leave it out.

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Recipe

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad in a serving bowl.
Prep 15 minutes
Cook 15 minutes
Total 30 minutes
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Ingredients
 
 

  • 6 ounces penne pasta
  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts , grilled
  • 4 cups Romaine lettuces , chopped
  • 1/2 medium size cucumber , chopped
  • 1 carrot , shredded
  • 1/4 cup green onion , thinly sliced
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes , halved
  • 1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup croutons (optional)
  • Caesar salad dressing , to taste

Instructions
 

  • Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain water and set aside to cool.
  • Chop the grilled chicken breasts into small chunks.
  •  In a large bowl toss together chicken, cooked penne pasta, lettuce, cucumber, carrot, green onion, cherry tomatoes, Parmesan cheese and croutons.
  • Drizzle with desired amount of Caesar salad dressing and toss to coat.

Notes

*Nutritional label does not include dressing.
Make Ahead Instructions: The chicken can be cooked and all the ingredients can be chopped ahead of time. Wait to add the dressing until ready to serve.
Storing Instructions: This creamy chicken pasta salad is best served fresh, but it will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for a day or two. To make it work for meal prep I’d suggest storing the lettuce separately, and mixing it in just before eating.
Dressing – You can make homemade Caesar dressing, or buy a good quality creamy Caesar dressing from the store. I like Newman’s Own or Marzetti brand.

Macros Recipe Adaptation

1 cup carrots, 20 croutons, 1 cup cucumber, Kens Lite Caesar Dressing.

Per Serving Amount

2.6 oz. cooked chicken, 3.3 oz. cooked noodles, ¼ cup carrots, cucumber, ½ cup cherry tomatoes, ⅛ cup Kens Lite Caesar Dressing, 5 grams green onion, 1 cup romaine lettuce, 5 croutons, 1 Tbsp parmesan cheese.

Macros

401kcal, Fat: 14g, Carbs: 24g, Protein: 43g (serves 4) | MFP: Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad (TBFS Macros)

Nutrition

Calories: 372kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 34gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 80mgSodium: 330mgPotassium: 930mgFiber: 4gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 7201IUVitamin C: 24mgCalcium: 130mgIron: 2mg

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*I originally shared this recipe May 2014. Updated June 2018 and July 2022.

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Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I have received so many compliments on this recipe. This is such a delicious and fresh recipe, I can’t wait to enjoy this recipe at a BBQ in the summer months paired with a Sauvignon Blanc.

  2. 5 stars
    Great meal for a hot summer night. Our family has eclectic tastes, but this was enjoyed by all. I stuck straight to the recipe with the one exception of marinating the chicken in Italian dressing for a few hours before grilling. I think the key to this salad is ensuring all ingredients are well chilled before tossing. Will definitely make again.

  3. 5 stars
    I made this last night as a quick, easy meal. It was delicious. I made two different batches, one with Brianna’s Asiago Caesar dressing and the other a plant-based Caesar for my lactose-free kids. Highly recommend giving this one a try!

  4. 5 stars
    So yummy and easy! My whole family (including a 5 and 3 year old) loved it. What a relief to have something easy and delicious to throw together on a busy summer night.

  5. This was delicious. A friend makes it with cheese tortellini, making it a big heartier to satisfy growing teenagers with seemingly endless appetites.

    1. Hi Beki, I love to make mine from scratch (I’ll post the recipe soon)!. Otherwise I like Girard’s light caesar. Hope you like the salad!

  6. Love this recipe. I am sooo NOT a good cook, but all 4 of my kids have requested that I make this again! Wooohoooo! Thanks again!

  7. Wow, this looks DELICIOUS! In fact.. I wish I had some for lunch today! Thanks for the great recipe. Pinning!