Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad with Light Caesar Dressing: Pasta and salad greens tossed with grilled chicken and a delicious, homemade Light Caesar Dressing.
If this was 1996, my name would be right next to Caesar Salad in the dictionomary.
It didn’t matter what high class/low class restaurant I was at, I would order me a Caesar Salad with Chicken each and every time. I thought I was the healthiest person on the planet because I wasn’t touching all that other stuff on the menu. I was sticking to a SALAD! With a verrrryyyy CREAMY dressing.
For those that don’t remember, like those that were BORN in 1996, lemme tell you… In the early to mid-90’s, all you knew was to eat fat-free-this and salad-that. These things were supposed to make you/keep you skinny. Eating 24 fat-free cheese slices was all good. Fat-Free ice cream? Bring it on!
I know a few people that would inhale a tub of said ice cream, thinking that they would never gain weight because it was Fat Free. Dumba**. 😀
Then, the 20/20 people, or maybe it was the Nightline people… Dateline? Umm, whatev. One of those reported that fat-free labeled foods AND salads were making people gain weight. And I was all like, What the what the whaaaaaat?
Come to find out, a Chicken Caesar Salad had 10,000 calories. Maybe it was 1,000. But still! It’s a salad! My food-world was shattered, if only for a minute.
But because I’m smart (kidding) and know my way around the kitchen, and since I barely know what a salad is without a gazillion ingredients, I started making my own salad dressings at home! I was 18 and brilliant! (kidding again) Umm, I had a 3.98 GPA in college. Not kidding. #bragging
Pat on the back, please.
Thanks. 😀
This whole salad thingamajig doesn’t seem like a meal, but it’s very filling. You can make it as big or as little as you want. I’ve made it for big crowds as an appetizer and I’ve made it for just the four of us.
If you love a caesar salad as much as moi, you’ll die for this! The dressing is heaven-sent! SO GOOD! Trust me. Just make it and you’ll see.
ENJOY!
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad with Light Caesar Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 pound multi-color fusilli pasta
- 6 cups chopped Romaine Lettuce
- 4 chicken breast halves , grilled and cut into bite-size pieces
- grated parmesan cheese , for garnish
- 1/2 cup NonFat Plain Yogurt (I use Dannon)
- 1 ½ tablespoons dijon mustard
- 1 garlic clove
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon water (add 1 more tablespoon for a thinner consistency)
- 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
- salt and fresh ground pepper , to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to the directions on the package; rinse, drain and completely cool.
- Layer the chopped lettuce on a large, shallow plate.
- Add cooked pasta over lettuce and top with chicken; set aside.
- Prepare the dressing by combining all ingredients in a blender.
- Blend until creamy and smooth.
- Drizzle over salad.
- Garnish with grated parmesan cheese.
- Serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
Nice salad and the dressing looks healthy enough! I heard using yogurt for the dressing is actually as tasty as using mayo. I’d like to try it out!
Ah yes, I remember the SnackWell’s phase. My mom would stock up on their Devil’s Food cookies!
Lovely chicken Caesar salad; I need this after all the “photo-shoot” cake I noshed on over the weekend!!
You had me cracking up with your description of the 90’s and salads. I love that you lightened it with yogurt!
What a delicious looking pasta salad! Love the toppings!
Love Caesar salad! Can’t wait to try your lighter version of the dressing! Thanks 🙂
Haha, you are so right about Caesar salad and the 90s. Your lightened up version is just brilliant!
Three great meals in one. Love it. 🙂
This looks delicious! I will definitely be trying the dressing recipe that’s for sure.
If there’s pasta and chicken and cheese, I’d call that dinner for sure!!
Girlfriend, you ARE brilliant. Love this lighter version of a good ol’ 90s classic!
I love caesar salad, and I love that you lightened it up! 🙂 And, nice GPA!!!
What an absolutely gorgeous salad my dear!!