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Caesar Pasta Salad Recipe

This Caesar Pasta Salad Recipe is bursting with flavor from the juicy tomatoes, sharp parmesan, and crunchy romaine lettuce. Perfect for a summer cookout, barbeque, or weeknight meal!

Caesar Pasta Salad in a bowl with ingredients in small bowls in the background

Classic Pasta Salad

Caesar Pasta Salad is a classic and delicious side that is a favorite for any occasion. It is a perfect make-ahead dish full of flavor with crunchy croutons, Romaine lettuce, tomatoes, olives, and pasta. The best part is that it is so simple to make with bottled Caesar dressing. This is a perfect side dish to enjoy at a cookout or any weeknight meal.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

So delicious and tasty!

Easy to make using simple ingredients.

Make ahead in only 20 minutes.

Always a hit at any holiday or get-together.

Ingredients

  • Pasta: The noodle choice is up to you. Make it simple with a classic macaroni, go fancy with bowtie, or use penne like the pictures.
  • Cherry Tomatoes: I like the look of cherry tomatoes plus they’re so much easier to use. Just slice them in half or even keep them whole if you prefer. But dicing up a larger tomato won’t change the flavor at all.
  • Shredded Parmesan: This can be confused easily with grated parmesan but I highly suggest you use shredded instead. They have two totally different flavors. The shredded is typically found in the refrigerated section with other cheeses and comes in a small container.
  • Olives: this seems to add a little sharpness and Italian flavor to the dish but is totally optional if olives aren’t your thing.
  • Romaine Lettuce
  • Caesar Croutons: I love the extra crunch that croutons bring to the dish. Can be left out but I think your tastebuds might be a little disappointed.
  • Caesar Dressing: Ken’s Caesar Dressing works so well with this dish since it’s extra thick and creamy with a good strong flavor that pops. But you absolutely can use any other brand or homemade if you prefer.
penne pasta, croutons, romaine lettuce, shredded parmesan cheese, black olives

Step-by-Step Instructions

This pasta salad is easy to make. All you have to do is:

  1. Prepare pasta: Cook the pasta until al dente and then rinse it with cold water.
  2. Assemble the pasta salad: Add the cooled pasta, tomatoes, olive, parmesan cheese, and lettuce to a large bowl. Then pour in the dressing and mix until the dressing is evenly covering all the ingredients.
  3. Chill and serve: Refrigerate until ready to serve. Top with croutons and add a little extra dressing if necessary.
close up of the caesar pasta salad

Budget/Time Saving Ideas

This recipe is fairly inexpensive and quick to make there are always ways to save money or time. Here are a couple of ways to save time or money:

  • Add grilled chicken to make this into a main dish for it to go a little farther.
  • Use whatever tomato is the best price and readily available.
  • Eliminate tomatoes or olives.
  • Meal prep will last up to 3 days in the refrigerator. You may need to freshen it up with a little more dressing the longer it sits. Add the croutons when ready to eat.
Caesar Pasta Salad in bowl with spoon and croutons, olives, cheese, and tomatoes in small bowls in the background

Storage options

To store leftovers of the Caesar Pasta Salad, cover in an air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Take note that after a few hours, the pasta will absorb some of the liquid. The texture will change and become softer but it is still delicious. You can add a little extra dressing if it becomes dry or needs to freshen up. Keep in mind, the croutons will get soggy if they sit overnight.

side view of a bowl of Caesar Pasta Salad with individual ingredients in the background
What can I eat with Caesar Pasta Salad?

Pasta salad is a perfect side dish for any meal like fried chicken, steak, or pork chops, or to enjoy at a barbeque.

Does pasta salad go bad?

Once the dressing has been added, the pasta will gradually absorb the liquid and the lettuce will tend to become soft. While the texture changes, the taste is still delicious.

What type of pasta is best for pasta salad?

Any shape of pasta such as penne, macaroni, or rotini will equally taste good in Caesar Pasta Salad.

More delicious side dishes

Caesar Pasta Salad in a bowl.

Caesar Pasta Salad Recipe

Braghan
This Caesar Pasta Salad Recipe is bursting with flavor from the juicy tomatoes, sharp parmesan, and crunchy romaine lettuce. Perfect for a summer cookout, barbeque, or weeknight meal!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 252 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 lb penne pasta
  • 1 heart romaine lettuce chopped
  • 1/2 pint cherry tomatoes halved
  • 2.25 oz can sliced black olives drained
  • 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
  • 1 bag Caesar flavored croutons
  • 1/2 cup Ken's Steak House Caesar Dressing or any brand caesar dressing

Instructions
 

  • Cook pasta al dente according to the directions. Drain and rinse with cold water.
  • Combine all other ingredients except croutons to the pasta and mix well. Chill. Add croutons when ready to serve. Enjoy!

Notes

Helpful Tips:
  • The amount of dressing is to taste. Add more or less to desired. 
  • Add more dressing to leftovers as it tends to dry a little in the refrigerator.
  • Only add croutons when ready to serve as they will get soggy when left overnight in the refrigerator. 
*Nutritional values and cook times vary due to differences in cookware and product brand selection.

Nutrition

Serving: 12gCalories: 252kcal
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Nutrition Facts
Caesar Pasta Salad Recipe
Serving Size
 
12 g
Amount per Serving
Calories
252
% Daily Value*
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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