Toss together tender pasta, juicy grilled chicken, and the bold flavors of classic Caesar dressing for a fresh twist on a beloved favorite—without the lettuce. Combine al dente noodles with savory Parmesan, and a creamy, garlicky sauce for a dish that’s hearty yet refreshing. Serve the Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad Without Lettuce, chilled for a make-ahead lunch, or bring to your next potluck!
Enjoy more recipes with grilled chicken breast like my Greek Caesar Salad, or add it to my Cilantro Lime Pasta Salad for extra protein. Toss the chicken in a little buffalo sauce and you can enjoy my Buffalo Chicken Salad recipe. Make a quick lunch with my Honey Mustard Chicken Wrap or add chicken to a classic with my French Onion Chicken Pasta.
Ingredients
Find below the list of ingredient to make my Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad.
- Rotini Pasta
- Bacon (your choice of which kind)
- Greek Yogurt
- Mayonnaise
- Lemon Juice
- Fresh Chives
- Garlic Clove
- Dijon Mustard
- Grated Parmesan Cheese
- Cooked Chicken Breast
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions
Protein swaps
- Replace grilled chicken with rotisserie chicken for a quicker option.
- Use shrimp, salmon, or turkey for a different flavor profile.
- Go vegetarian by adding chickpeas or roasted tofu.
Pasta options
- Swap short pasta (penne, rotini, farfalle) for whole wheat or gluten-free pasta.
- Try cheese tortellini for extra richness.
Extra mix-ins
- Stir in vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, or cherry tomatoes for color and flavor.
- Add a handful of sun-dried tomatoes or olives for a Mediterranean flair.
- Mix in dill pickles and add a splash of the pickle juice to the dressing.
- Add buffalo sauce to the salad dressing for a little kick
Cheese choices
- Replace Parmesan with Asiago, Pecorino Romano, or even shaved Manchego.
How to make Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
- Start by bringing a large pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente. Drain the pasta and set aside to cool. Cook the bacon at this stage so it has time to cool.
- Combine in a large bowl, the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, chives, garlic, salt, and lemon juice. Whisk until smooth.
- Chop up the cooked chicken into small cubes. At the same time you can chop up the cooked bacon into bits.
- Add the cooled pasta and cubed chicken into the bowl with the dressing. Fold everything together until well coated. Serve with the bacon on the side or fold it into the pasta salad.
Cover the bowl and keep refrigerated if not serving right away.
Storage
Transfer the salad to an airtight container to keep it fresh. Refrigerate for up to 3 days for best flavor and texture. Toss again before serving to redistribute the dressing, as it may settle at the bottom. Avoid freezing, since pasta and dressing can become watery and lose their creamy consistency
Recipe
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad Without Lettuce
Ingredients
- 250 grams Rotini Pasta
- 4 slices Bacon cooked
- ½ cup Greek Yogurt
- 3 tablespoon Mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoon Lemon Juice
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 clove Garlic finely minced
- 2 tablespoon Fresh Chives finely chopped
- ½ cup Parmesan Cheese grated
- 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
- 2 pieces Chicken Breast cooked, about 2 cups
Instructions
- Start by bringing a large pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente. Drain the pasta and set aside to cool. Cook the bacon at this stage so it has time to cool.250 grams Rotini Pasta , 4 slices Bacon
- Combine in a large bowl, the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, chives, parmesan cheese, garlic, salt, and lemon juice. Whisk until smooth.½ cup Greek Yogurt , 3 tablespoon Mayonnaise , 2 tablespoon Lemon Juice, 1 teaspoon Salt , 1 clove Garlic, 2 tablespoon Fresh Chives, 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard , ½ cup Parmesan Cheese
- Chop up the cooked chicken into small cubes. At the same time you can chop up the cooked bacon into bits.2 pieces Chicken Breast
- Add the cooled pasta and cubed chicken into the bowl with the dressing. Fold everything together until well coated. Serve with the bacon on the side or fold it into the pasta salad.
- Cover the bowl and keep refrigerated if not serving right away.
I used leftover rotisserie chicken for this, and it turned out perfect! It made such a great lunch for our camping trip.