Caesar Pasta Salad
My Caesar Pasta Salad features crisp romaine, juicy tomatoes, and flavorful parmesan tossed with perfectly cooked pasta. It is the side that always vanishes first when I host picnics
l love fun picnic sides like frog eye salad, orange fluff, mexican street corn, or my famous cheesecake salad. Another one I make several times a year in the summer is this Caesar pasta salad. It has everything you love about a steakhouse Caesar but fits in perfectly at potluck. It travels better than traditional Caesar salad (no wilted lettuce disasters), doubles easily for crowds, and transforms into a complete meal when you add shredded rotisserie chicken.
I love the contrast of the creamy dressing with the crunchy veggies and croutons. Best of all it only requires seven common ingredients and 15 minutes of prep.
Katerina's Review
★★★★★
This Caesar pasta salad is a new favorite! The creamy Caesar dressing pairs perfectly with the pasta, and the addition of crisp romaine gives it that classic Caesar crunch. Super easy to make, and it was a hit with everyone—definitely adding this to the regular rotation.
Why This Recipe Works: A Sprinkle of Food Science
- Perfect Pasta Shape: Penne has ridges and hollow tubes to trap the dressing for maximum flavor.
- Lettuce That Stays Crunchy: Romaine has sturdier cell walls made with more cellulose. This means it stays crispy even after hours of sitting in the fridge. Iceberg gets soggy quickly under the same conditions.
- Cold Water Rinse: This stops the cooking process and washes away excess starch. This prevents overcooked noodles and a gummy dressing.
Ingredient Notes and Shopping Tips
- Penne Pasta: Always weigh your pasta (8 ounces dry equals about 4 cups cooked). Rotini, farfalle, cavatappi, or shells work too.
- Green Onions: These add a mild onion bite without overpowering the Caesar flavors. A minced shallot works well too.
- Parmesan: Use real shredded Parmesan not the powdered stuff in the green can.
- Romaine Lettuce: Look for heads that are bright green with tightly packed, firm leaves. Avoid any with brown edges. You can also use bagged lettuce but it tends to be pricier.
- Caesar Dressing: I love Ken's Caesar dressing but if you're feeling ambitious, homemade takes this to the next level.
How To Make Caesar Pasta Salad
- Cook pasta. Rinse and drain.
- Combine pasta and veggies.
- Fold in dressing and cheese.
- Top with croutons just before serving.
Krystle's Tips: Steal My Culinary School Secrets
- Salt Your Pasta Water: Don't forget to season your pasta water. Bland noodles will ruin even the best dressing.
- Rinse Your Pasta: Pasta salad is one occasion where you should rinse your pasta. This stops it from overcooking and prevents it from sticking together.
- Add Croutons Just Before Serving: If taking to a potluck I like to take them in a Ziploc and add just before we eat so they don't get soggy.
- Chill Before Serving: I suggest at least an hour but longer is fine too. This helps the flavors come together.
FAQs
Absolutely! Assemble everything except the croutons up to 24 hours ahead.
More Easy Picnic Sides
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📖 Recipe
Easy Caesar Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 8 Ounces Penne Pasta
- 1 Pint Cherry Tomatoes Halved
- 3 Green Onions Thinly Sliced
- 1 Head Romaine Lettuce Chopped
- ½ Cup Caesar Salad Dressing
- ½ Cup Parmesan Cheese Shredded
- Croutons To Serve If Desired
Instructions
- Cook penne according to package directions. Rinse in cold water. Drain well.
- In a large bowl, combine pasta, lettuce, onions, and tomatoes.
- Fold in dressing, and parmesan cheese until well combined.
- Refrigerate at least an hour before serving.
- Just before serving, top with croutons if desired.
Notes
-
- Penne Pasta: Always weigh your pasta (8 ounces dry equals about 4 cups cooked). Rotini, farfalle, cavatappi, or shells work too.
- Parmesan: Use real shredded Parmesan not the powdered stuff in the green can.
- Romaine Lettuce: Look for heads that are bright green with tightly packed, firm leaves. Avoid any with brown edges. You can also use bagged lettuce but it tends to be pricier.
- Caesar Dressing: I love Ken's Caesar dressing.
- Salt Your Pasta Water: Don't forget to season your pasta water.
- Rinse Your Pasta: This stops it from overcooking and prevents it from sticking together.
- Add Croutons Just Before Serving
This seems like a good recipe and twist to the classic salad. I never thought of adding pasta to it but I am sure it will taste delicious. Gonna surely make it this way next time. Thanks for sharing.
I love pasta. Pasta with salad will be a perfect dish, fresh and filling. My family will love it. Thank you for sharing the recipe that really helped me.
This pasta salad would be perfect for a summer backyard get together! I might make it for our annual family gathering!
I just made your Caesar Pasta Salad, and it was a hit! The creamy dressing paired perfectly with the pasta, and the crunchy croutons added the best texture.
This Caesar pasta salad is a new favorite! The creamy Caesar dressing pairs perfectly with the pasta, and the addition of crisp romaine gives it that classic Caesar crunch. Super easy to make, and it was a hit with everyone—definitely adding this to the regular rotation.
Made this Caesar pasta salad for a potluck last weekend and it was a BIG hit! I'll be bringing it to every get together from now on.
This is such a delicious spin on pasta salad! I loved it!
I love a good twist on a Caesar Salad. This pasta salad is perfect for picnics or potlucks.
This is such a delicious mashup of flavors and textures. I really enjoyed it.