Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

 

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces rotini or penne pasta
• 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 cup sliced black olives
• 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1/2 cup Caesar dressing (store-bought or homemade)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional: croutons for serving

Directions:

Cook the Pasta:

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
2. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente.
3. Drain the cooked pasta and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.

Prepare the Ingredients:

1. Cook and dice or shred the chicken breast if you haven’t already done so.
2. Halve the cherry tomatoes.
3. Slice the black olives.
4. Chop the fresh parsley.
5. Have the shredded Parmesan cheese and Caesar dressing ready.

Combine Ingredients:

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, diced or shredded chicken, halved cherry tomatoes, sliced black olives, shredded Parmesan cheese, and chopped fresh parsley.
2. Toss everything together until evenly distributed.

Add Dressing:

1. Pour the Caesar dressing over the pasta salad mixture.
2. Toss well to coat all the ingredients with the dressing.
3. Season with salt and pepper to taste, if needed.

Chill and Serve:

1. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or transfer the pasta salad to an airtight container.
2. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.

Serve:

1. Before serving, give the pasta salad a final toss.
2. Optionally, top with croutons for added crunch.
3. Serve chilled as a side dish or a light main course.