Chicken and Bacon Caesar Pasta Salad with Beef Bacon
The best Chicken and Bacon Caesar Pasta Salad is here. Loaded with juicy chicken, crispy beef bacon and fresh lettuce all tossed with a homemade caesar salad dressing, this creamy caesar pasta salad is the perfect 30 minute summer lunch. Grab it from the fridge and enjoy with a Strawberry Watermelon Mocktail.
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Why This Recipe is So Good
There isn’t anything better than a chicken caesar pasta salad with bacon. This simple meal takes 30 minutes to prep and is truly the best pasta salad ever. It’s creamy, flavorful, filling and just so good.
This pasta salad is basically a traditional caesar salad made with pasta, making it even more filling. A homemade caesar salad dressing without anchovies is tossed with tender pasta, fresh lettuce (I added tomatoes and red onion), beef bacon, chicken and tons of freshly grated parmesan cheese.
Recipe Ingredients
- Chicken: 2 cups of cooked chicken, this could be leftover grilled, baked or homemade fried chicken.
- Bacon: Crispy beef bacon adds a pop of salty and savory flavor to this chicken pasta salad.
- Vegetables: All of the vegetables are optional. This chicken Caesar pasta salad will be so delicious, even without lettuce, tomatoes, and onions. It just adds a nice freshness.
- Caesar salad dressing: This recipe is made using my homemade Caesar salad dressing without anchovies. It takes 10 minutes to make in 1 bowl.
- Pasta: Any shape of pasta will work for this salad. I used einkorn fusilli pasta, but rotini, bowtie, penne, or a swirly pasta like cavatappi will work here.
How to Make Chicken and Bacon Caesar Pasta Salad
All ingredients, measurements, and instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Make the Caesar salad dressing
To a bowl, mash garlic with salt until it becomes a paste. Add mayo, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, black pepper, mayo, and Parmesan cheese. Stir until combined then set aside. (Alternatively: Add all the ingredients into a food processor then pulse for a few seconds until combined.)
Boil pasta
In a medium sized pot, bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions. Don’t overcook the pasta, just cook until it’s tender but still has some bite to it. Drain then rinse really well with cold water then add cooked pasta to a large serving bowl.
Cook bacon
Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil then cook 4 pieces of bacon until crispy. Drain bacon on paper towels, then once cool, crumble into large-ish pieces.
Make the pasta salad
Add caesar salad dressing to the cooked pasta, stirring until completely coated then add the cooked chicken, bacon, chopped vegetables and parmesan cheese. Stir to combine and enjoy.
Looking For More Recipes?
- Beef Bacon BLT Pasta Salad
- 4-Ingredient Macaroni Salad
- Orzo Pesto Pasta Salad
- Smoked Salmon Caesar Salad
- Blackened Salmon Caesar Salad
- Bacon Caesar Salad
- Tuna Caesar Salad
- Roasted Chicken Salad Recipe without Grapes
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Chicken Bacon Caesar Pasta Salad with Beef Bacon
Equipment
- Medium-sized pot
- Sheet pan lined with aluminum foil
Ingredients
Pasta salad
- 2 cups dry fusilli pasta can also use bowties, rotini, or macaroni, about 5.5 ounces
- 4 ounces beef bacon about 4 slices, cooked and crumbled
- 2 cups cooked chicken shredded or chopped
- ¾ cup Caesar salad dressing homemade or store-bought
- 2 – 3 cups green leaf lettuce or romaine rinsed and roughly chopped
- ¼ cup diced tomatoes about ½ small tomato
- 2 – 3 tablespoons red onion finely diced
- ¼ cup finely grated parmesan cheese for serving
Caesar salad dressing
- 3 large cloves of garlic
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1- 1 ½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice freshly squeezed
- ¾ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
- ¾ cup mayo
- ¼ cup finely grated parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
Boil pasta
- In a medium sized pot, bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions. Don’t overcook the pasta, just cook until it’s tender but still has some bite to it. Drain then rinse really well with cold water then add cooked pasta to a large serving bowl.2 cups dry fusilli pasta
Cook bacon
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil then cook 4 pieces of bacon until crispy. Drain bacon on paper towels, then once cool crumble into large-ish pieces.4 ounces beef bacon
Make the Caesar salad dressing
- To a bowl mash garlic with salt until it becomes a paste. Add mayo, worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, dijon mustard, black pepper, mayo and parmesan cheese. Stir until combined, then set aside.3 large cloves of garlic, ¼ teaspoon salt, 1- 1 ½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, 2 teaspoons lemon juice freshly squeezed, ¾ teaspoon Dijon mustard, ½ teaspoon black pepper freshly ground, ¾ cup mayo, ¼ cup finely grated parmesan cheese for serving
- (Alternatively: Add all the ingredients into a food processor then pulse for a few seconds until combined.)
Make the pasta salad
- Add caesar salad dressing to the cooked pasta, stirring until completely coated then add the cooked chicken, bacon, chopped lettuce, tomatoes, onion and parmesan cheese. Stir to combine and enjoy.2 cups cooked chicken, ¾ cup Caesar salad dressing, 2 – 3 cups green leaf lettuce or romaine, ¼ cup diced tomatoes, 2 – 3 tablespoons red onion, ¼ cup finely grated parmesan cheese for serving
Notes
How To Store/ Make Ahead
Store leftovers in the fridge in an air tight container for 2 – 3 days.Tips and Tricks
- Make it gluten free: Use your favorite gluten free pasta
- Make it dairy free: Use a dairy free caesar salad dressing or if you are making it from scratch use vegan parmesan cheese or simply leave it out.
- The lettuce likes to wilt inside the salad, so add it right before serving so it remains crisp.
