Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
This is my pasta take on a Caesar salad, built to hold up in the fridge better than one made with lettuce alone. Keeping the romaine separate until serving is what makes this work as meal prep instead of wilting into mush by day two.
Grilled chicken and a lightened-up Caesar dressing carry most of the flavor here, so the pasta really just needs to soak up whatever's coating it. Parmesan adds the sharp, salty finish that a Caesar dressing needs.
This is a cold option, which makes it a nice change of pace from the rest of my meal preps that need reheating. Light mayonnaise keeps the dressing rich without being as heavy as a traditional Caesar.
The recipe card has the full ingredient breakdown for the entire ten-portion batch. Let everything cool completely before mixing and sealing the containers, then refrigerate what you'll eat within four days. Toss in the romaine right before eating so it stays crisp.
Nutrition note: This is general food information, not individualized medical or nutrition advice.
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
YIELD
10 portions
ESTIMATED NUTRITION
545 calories • 52g protein • 49g carbs • 14g fat per portion
What I really like about this recipe is that it turns a Caesar salad into something sturdy enough to actually meal prep.
Ingredients
• 3 3/4 lb chicken breast, grilled and sliced
• 30 oz dry pasta, cooked
• 1 cup grated Parmesan
• 5 tbsp light mayonnaise
• 2 1/2 tbsp olive oil
• 5 tsp garlic powder and black pepper
• 2 1/2 lemon, juiced
• 5 cups chopped romaine
Directions
1. Season and grill the chicken until cooked through; slice once cooled.
2. Whisk mayonnaise, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic powder, and Parmesan into a dressing.
3. Toss the cooked pasta with the dressing and sliced chicken.
4. Let the food cool completely, then divide it evenly among 10 airtight meal-prep containers. Add romaine just before eating.
Meal-prep notes: This is a cold dish. Refrigerate promptly and keep portions chilled; eat within 3–4 days. Add the romaine fresh at serving time so it doesn't wilt. Nutrition is estimated per portion.
