Caesar Pasta Chicken Bowl (Printable)

Grilled chicken, pasta, fresh romaine, and creamy Caesar dressing combined in a satisfying bowl. Ready in 35 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Protein & Pasta

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 14 oz)
02 - 9 oz short pasta such as penne, rotini, or farfalle

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 large head romaine lettuce, chopped
04 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

→ Dressing & Toppings

05 - ½ cup Caesar dressing
06 - ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
07 - 1 cup garlic croutons
08 - Freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Marinade

09 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
10 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
11 - ½ teaspoon salt
12 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

# Directions:

01 - Cook pasta in salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside to cool slightly if serving chilled.
02 - While pasta cooks, preheat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat.
03 - Brush chicken breasts with olive oil and season evenly with garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
04 - Grill chicken for 6 to 7 minutes per side until cooked through and juices run clear. Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice into strips.
05 - In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, chopped romaine, cherry tomatoes, and Caesar dressing. Toss gently to coat.
06 - Top with sliced grilled chicken, Parmesan cheese, croutons, and freshly ground black pepper.
07 - Serve immediately warm, or chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before serving cold.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It transforms simple pantry ingredients into something that feels like a restaurant-quality meal without the restaurant effort or cleanup
  • The warm chicken against cool crisp romaine creates this perfect temperature contrast that makes every bite interesting
  • You can serve it immediately after cooking or meal prep it for lunches all week because the flavors actually get better
02 -
  • Overcooking the chicken is the quickest way to ruin this dish so invest in a meat thermometer and pull it at 165°F
  • Adding dressing to hot pasta makes the lettuce wilt instantly so let the pasta cool for just a couple minutes first
03 -
  • Pound your chicken breasts to even thickness before seasoning so they cook evenly throughout
  • Homemade croutons from stale bread tossed with olive oil and garlic powder are absolutely worth the minimal effort
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