Description

A creamy, cold pasta salad featuring rotini, shredded chicken, romaine lettuce, and a tangy Caesar dressing made with Greek yogurt and anchovy paste. Perfect for summer gatherings, meal prep, and busy weeknights.

Ingredients

Scale

1 pound (450g) Rotini or Fusilli pasta
Salt for boiling water
Ice water for ice bath
2 large chicken breasts, cooked and shredded (rotisserie or poached)
2 large heads romaine lettuce, chopped and dried
1/2 small red onion, finely diced
1/2 cup Mayonnaise
1/4 cup Plain Greek Yogurt
2 cloves Garlic, minced
2 tablespoons Lemon Juice, freshly squeezed
1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
1 teaspoon Anchovy Paste
1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
Freshly cracked Black Pepper, to taste
1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese, freshly grated
1 cup Croutons

Instructions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add rotini and cook until al dente.
Drain pasta and immediately transfer to an ice water bath for 2 minutes to stop cooking. Drain again and set aside to cool completely.
Shred the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces.
In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, minced garlic, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, anchovy paste, and Dijon mustard. Season with black pepper.
Chop romaine lettuce and dice red onion. Soak onion in cold water for 10 minutes if desired to mellow the bite, then drain and pat dry.
In a large bowl, combine cooled pasta, shredded chicken, chopped romaine, and red onion.
Pour the dressing over the mixture and toss gently but thoroughly to coat everything.
Stir in half of the parmesan cheese. Taste and adjust seasoning.
Transfer to serving bowls and top with remaining parmesan and croutons just before serving.
Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving for best flavor.

Notes

Do not overcook the pasta; use an ice bath to maintain al dente texture. Add croutons only at serving time to prevent sogginess. The salad can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If the salad becomes dry after storage, add a splash of olive oil or lemon juice to revive it.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bowl
Calories: 450
Sugar: 4
Sodium: 600
Fat: 18
Saturated Fat: 5
Carbohydrates: 40
Fiber: 3
Protein: 35

Keywords: chicken caesar pasta salad, summer pasta salad, meal prep, cold pasta salad, easy dinner, rotisserie chicken recipes