This simple Caesar Pasta Salad brings together a homemade Caesar dressing with crisp romaine lettuce, croutons, Parmesan shreds, and rotini pasta. It’s a fantastic salad for Spring and Summer, and it’s always a crowd-pleaser! Feel free to add diced chicken, avocado, tomatoes, or bacon crumbles for extra flavor and texture.

If you’re a fan of Caesar Salad and pasta salad, this Caesar Pasta Salad is the perfect combination of both!

This salad is not only perfect for warmer months but also goes well with other salads like Italian Pasta Salad, Mediterranean Orzo Salad, and Chicken Macaroni Salad.

Adding pasta to a green salad is an excellent way to make it more satisfying and turn it into a main dish.

What’s great about this recipe is that it’s incredibly easy to make! The most time-consuming part is cooking the pasta.

It’s a fantastic go-to salad for BBQs, parties, potlucks, or summer gatherings. People always love the familiar flavors with the unique twist of added pasta.

Moreover, we all need an easy and delicious salad recipe for our busy lives, and this one checks all the boxes for being tasty, healthy, and extremely easy!

Why This Recipe Works:

– Ready in 20 minutes or less!
– Uses simple, easy-to-find ingredients.
– Can be a side dish or a main meal by adding chicken or shrimp for protein.
– Features a lightened-up salad with a Greek yogurt-based Caesar dressing.
– Is versatile! You can use different noodle shapes and add in ingredients like avocado, tomatoes, bacon, olives, etc.

Ingredient Notes:

For detailed ingredient measurements and the complete recipe, check the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

– Caesar dressing: You can make the dressing from scratch or use a good-quality store-bought Caesar dressing if you’re short on time.
– Croutons: Caesar-flavored croutons add a delicious crunch, but any type of croutons will work.
– Romaine lettuce: The crispy, fresh flavors of romaine hearts complement the salad and hold up well with the rotini pasta.
– Parmesan: Opt for large shaved Parmesan shreds for both taste and aesthetics.
– Rotini pasta: I used 8 oz., which was plenty with about 4-6 cups of romaine lettuce. Adjust pasta quantity based on your preference.

Caesar Pasta Salad

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

- 8 oz. rotini pasta
- 4-6 cups romaine lettuce washed and chopped
- 1 cup shaved Parmesan plus more for serving
- 1 4.5 oz. bag Caesar-flavored croutons
- Black pepper and salt to taste
- Optional add-ons: tomatoes avocado, chicken, bacon crumbles
Caesar Dressing:
- 3/4 cup Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup fresh Parmesan cheese grated
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tsp. anchovy paste
- 2 tsp. Dijon mustard
- 2 cloves garlic finely minced
- 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Cook the pasta al dente according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water. Add to a large salad bowl.
To the pasta, add the chopped romaine, Parmesan, croutons, salt, and pepper.
Whisk together the yogurt, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, anchovy paste, Dijon, garlic, Worcestershire, salt, and pepper. Slowly whisk in the olive oil until emulsified. Add a touch of water if needed to thin out the dressing. Alternatively, use a food processor for an ultra-smooth and creamy dressing.
Toss the salad with the desired amount of dressing. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
Serve immediately and enjoy!
If you try this recipe, please leave a review and rating to let us know how you liked it! Your feedback helps us thrive and continue providing free recipes.

Notes

- Caesar dressing: You can make the dressing from scratch or use a good-quality store-bought Caesar dressing if you're short on time.
- Croutons: Caesar-flavored croutons add a delicious crunch, but any type of croutons will work.
- Romaine lettuce: The crispy, fresh flavors of romaine hearts complement the salad and hold up well with the rotini pasta.