Description
This Caesar Pasta Salad is a perfect blend of creamy Caesar dressing, crisp romaine lettuce, savory rotisserie chicken, and crunchy croutons, all tossed with hearty bowtie pasta. Topped with bacon and shaved Parmesan, it’s a crowd-pleasing dish that’s great for any occasion, whether as a side or a main. The addition of a squeeze of fresh lemon juice brings a bright contrast to the rich flavors, making this salad both refreshing and indulgent.
Ingredients
6 cups cooked bowtie pasta (1-pound package)
2 cups romaine lettuce, chopped (about 1 small head)
2 cups chopped rotisserie chicken
1 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
5 ounces classic Caesar croutons (about 2 cups)
½ cup crumbled bacon
12 ounces Caesar salad dressing
Freshly cracked pepper and sea salt (optional)
Lemon wedges for garnish
Instructions
Cook the bowtie pasta in a pot of salted water according to package instructions. Once cooked, drain and rinse with cold water to cool the pasta completely.
In a large salad bowl, combine the cooled pasta, chopped romaine lettuce, rotisserie chicken, shaved Parmesan cheese, croutons, and crumbled bacon.
Drizzle the Caesar salad dressing over the ingredients and toss until everything is well-coated.
Optionally, sprinkle with freshly cracked black pepper and a pinch of sea salt to taste.
Garnish with lemon wedges and serve immediately for the freshest taste.
Notes
This salad is best served right after mixing to keep the croutons crunchy. For added texture, you can also add sliced cherry tomatoes or a few extra crispy bacon bits. If you want to make it ahead, store the pasta salad and dressing separately and toss just before serving.