Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Creamy, tangy, and packed with texture—this Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is a fresh twist on a classic, with crushed taralli (or grissini) for that signature crunch.

For more easy chicken recipes, try our chicken piccata, Mediterranean chicken, creamy chicken pasta, and rasta pasta.

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

This Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is everything you love about a classic Caesar: creamy, tangy, and full of umami, but with the heartiness of pasta and the crunch of Italian taralli or grissini (croutons work as well).

It’s simple to throw together, easy to customize, and perfect for feeding a crowd or prepping ahead. Here’s why people love this:

• Big flavor, minimal effort – Made with pantry staples and rotisserie chicken or leftovers.
• Texture heaven – Creamy dressing, al dente pasta, crispy pancetta, and crunchy toppings.
• Great for gatherings – Holds up well for picnics, potlucks, or BBQs.
• Make-ahead friendly – Just keep the crunchy bits separate until serving.
• Versatile – Swap in your favorite proteins or keep it vegetarian.

Whether you're serving it for lunch, packing it up for a road trip, or making it the star of your summer table, this pasta salad brings bold Caesar flavor in every bite.

For quantities, see recipe card at the bottom of the page.

• Mayonnaise → Use all Greek yogurt for a lighter dressing
• Greek yogurt → Sour cream or more mayo
• Extra-virgin olive oil → Neutral oil (like avocado or canola), though you'll lose the Italian flavor
• Fresh lemon juice → White wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
• Dijon mustard → Whole grain mustard or American mustard
• Garlic (fresh grated) → Garlic powder (about ¼ teaspoon per clove)
• Worcestershire sauce → Soy sauce + a tiny splash of vinegar, or anchovy paste
• Anchovy fillets → Anchovy paste or a few drops of fish sauce; omit for vegetarian version
• Grated Parmesan → Pecorino Romano or Grana Padano
• Pasta → Any short pasta like penne, fusilli, farfalle, or even orzo
• Romaine lettuce → Little gem, iceberg, or skip it entirely for a pure pasta salad
• Chicken breasts → Use rotisserie chicken for ease and flavor. It’s a tasty shortcut that adds protein with zero extra cooking. Grilled or seared Shrimp also works!
• Crushed taralli → Grissini (breadsticks), plain bagel chips, croutons, or pita chips
• Cherry tomatoes → Optional
• Pancetta or bacon → Optional

🍃 Vegetarian Variation → Skip the chicken, pancetta, and anchovies. Add roasted chickpeas, white beans, or grilled zucchini for protein and texture. You can also boost flavor with capers instead of anchovies or a touch of smoked paprika in the dressing.

1. Cook the Pasta

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook your pasta until al dente according to package instructions.

Before draining, reserve about ½ cup of the pasta cooking water. Then drain the pasta and rinse under cold water for 15 seconds to cool. Set aside.

2. Make the Dressing

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, chopped anchovies (if using), salt, pepper, and grated Parmesan until creamy.

3. Assemble the Salad

To the bowl with the dressing, add the cooled pasta, cooked and chopped chicken, halved cherry tomatoes (if using), and chopped romaine lettuce. Toss well to coat everything in the dressing.

Tip -> If dressing is too thick, slowly stir in 2 to 4 tablespoons of the reserved pasta water, one spoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.

4. Add the Crunch and Finish

Just before serving top with crushed taralli (or grissini or croutons), crispy pancetta or bacon (if using), and extra shaved Parmesan. Add a few grinds of black pepper and a final squeeze of lemon.

For the Crispy Bacon (if using) -> In a small skillet over medium heat, cook the diced pancetta or bacon until crispy, about 5–7 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel–lined plate to drain and cool.

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If you tried this Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad recipe or any other recipe on our blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let us know how it goes in the comments. We love hearing from you!