This pasta caesar salad recipe combines crisp romaine lettuce, tangy dressing and fresh parmesan with bow tie pasta to create a hearty, flavorful side dish that is sure to satisfy.

This caesar pasta recipe is a delightful fusion of classic Caesar salad and perfectly cooked pasta. It’s a refreshing twist on a timeless favorite.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

We often convert this into an easy chicken caesar salad simply by adding a rotisserie chicken to the grocery list. The key to the best tasting pasta salad is the creamy caesar dressing.

I love, love, love this homemade caesar dressing recipe. I often make a double batch and keep it in a mason jar in the fridge to use all summer long.

This delicious pasta salad is a caesar salad lovers dream! The combo of tender pasta and creamy dressing is to die for. And it makes the perfect side dish for summer, great for pairing with beer can chicken, barbecue chicken drumsticks or smoked chicken.

Supplies:

Large bowl
Measuring cups
Measuring spoons
Serving spoon
Sharp knife
Cutting board

Creamy caesar pasta salad:

Ingredients:

3 cups bowtie pasta, cooked
3/4 cup caesar salad dressing *
1 cup croutons
1 head romaine lettuce, chopped (about 1 cup)
1/2 cup bacon bits
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
Salt & pepper to taste
Lemon juice

* We like to make our own caesar salad dressing but your favorite store-bought dressing will work too.

Directions:

1. Cook the pasta, drain and allow to cool completely.

Tip: for perfect al dente pasta, rinse it with cold water after draining.

2. In a large mixing bowl combine pasta, crispy croutons, parmesan and bacon bits.

3. Add dressing and mix well.

4. Add crisp romaine lettuce and toss to combine.

5. Top with a squeeze of lemon juice.

This recipe makes four servings as a side dish or can be easily made into an entree by adding fresh grilled chicken or steak.

Tips & Tricks:

Store salad in an airtight container or covered in plastic wrap in the fridge for a day.
This is best prepared separately from the dressing and then combined when ready to serve.
Not a fan of caesar dressing? Try a mixture of olive oil, greek yogurt, vinegar and lemon zest instead.

I am forever experimenting in the kitchen and this is one of those recipes where you can totally do that. Have fun experimenting with these substitutions or additions!

Substitutions & additions:

Add green onions, red onion or chives.
Make homemade croutons and add them to the salad.
Add black pepper, fresh herbs or a pinch of salt to taste.
Make our homemade dressing with a combo of mayonnaise, worcestershire sauce, dijon mustard, anchovy paste and garlic cloves.
Top with crispy chickpeas, nutritional yeast or panko breadcrumbs for even more texture.
Add cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, black olives or cheddar cheese.
Use penne pasta or rotini pasta instead of the bowtie.
Add cooked chicken diced into bite-size pieces to create a main dish salad.

This is the perfect side dish for the warm summer months because it’s easy to prepare in advance and bring to an event. Just store the salad dressing separately until ready to serve.

This creamy pasta salad is awesome because it makes a flavorful side for your barbecue favorties or a complete main course when paired with grilled chicken and garlic bread. Add this easy recipe to your weekly meal prep!

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