Description
A fresh take on a pasta salad. This Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is creamy, has a nice tang from the yogurt and freshness from the lemon. Adding pre-made chicken makes it a hearty, easy meal to put together or serve at a gathering.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 batch of Creamy Yogurt Caesar Dressing - about 2 cups
- 1 pound pasta, cooked according to package instructions in salted water - I like to use a larger pasta with ridges like penne or rigatoni
- 2-3 cups fresh spinach
- 2-3 cups cooked chicken - shredded or diced, a rotisserie chicken is great for this dish
- 1 cup sliced olives - kalamata are my favorite but any variety work
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon coarse black pepper
- 1 cup (or as wanted) freshly grated Parmesan cheese - Costco and Trader Joe's sell a fabulous one
- 1/4 - 1/3 cup reserved pasta water - begin with 1/4 cup but reserve 1 full cup
- salt to taste after adding everything
- additional parmesan cheese and cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Begin by making a batch of Creamy Yogurt Caesar Dressing. Set aside - you can also make ahead and store in the fridge until you are ready to make the salad.
- Boil your pasta according to package instructions in salted water - add a good amount of salt, a few tablespoons. For pasta salad I like to boil a little longer than al dente, but you decide the texture for your own taste.
- 1 pound pasta, cooked according to package instructions in salted water - I like to use a larger pasta with ridges like penne or rigatoni
- Once the pasta is done, reserve one cup of pasta water then drain and rinse the rest with cold water. I like to take a glass measuring cup and scoop out a cup of pasta water, set aside. We won't use all of it but better to have more just in case.
- Once your pasta is cool add to a large bowl. Add in your fresh spinach, olives, olive oil, cooked chicken, black pepper and your reserved dressing. Mix well to combine.
- 2-3 cups fresh spinach
- 2-3 cups cooked chicken - shredded or diced, a rotisserie chicken is great for this dish
- 1 cup sliced olives - kalamata are my favorite but any variety work
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon coarse black pepper
- 1.5 cups prepared Creamy Yogurt Caesar Dressing
- After mixing, add about 1/4 cup of pasta water. Adjust as needed, then finally mix in your Parmesan cheese. Taste and add in any additional salt as needed. Serve with large shavings of parmesan cheese and cracked black pepper. Enjoy!
- 1 cup (or as wanted) freshly grated Parmesan cheese - Costco and Trader Joe's sell a fabulous one
- 1/4 - 1/3 cup reserved pasta water - begin with 1/4 cup but reserve 1 full cup
- salt to taste after adding everything
- additional parmesan cheese and cracked black pepper
Notes
- I love using rotisserie chicken for this dish, it's an easy way to make a fabulous dish with little effort.
- You can certainly use your favorite Caesar dressing in place of making the homemade version but I HIGHLY recommend the homemade for the best flavor.
- After refrigerating you may need to add additional dressing or olive oil as the pasta does absorb some of the dressing.
- If making this warm, you'll probably need the full cup of pasta water to get a good sauce.