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This high-protein chicken Caesar pasta salad is everything you love about a classic Caesar salad, transformed into a satisfying, protein-packed meal in under 30 minutes! Made with tender chicken, cannellini beans for an extra boost of protein and fiber, and protein pasta, every bite is filling, fresh, and incredibly delicious. It’s all tossed in a creamy homemade Greek yogurt Caesar dressing that’s rich, tangy, and lighter than traditional Caesar dressing.
We can’t get enough of this healthy chicken Caesar pasta salad! What makes this recipe extra special is the addition of cannellini beans, which add a creamy, hearty texture and an extra boost of protein and fiber. This pasta salad is perfect for meal prep, easy lunches, quick weeknight dinners, or as a side dish for BBQs or summer gatherings. It’s so good that you’ll want to make it on repeat! If you love protein-packed pasta salads, try our chicken pesto pasta salad, high-protein Italian pasta salad, and high-protein Mexican street corn pasta salad next!
🔍 Quick Look: Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
- ⏱️ Prep Time: 15 minutes
- ⏱️ Cook Time: 10 minutes
- 🕒 Total Time: 25 minutes
- 🍽 Calories: ~305 kcal per serving
- 👥 Servings: 8 servings
- 🥣 Key Ingredients: Protein pasta, cooked chicken, cannellini beans, cherry tomatoes, romaine hearts, Greek yogurt Caesar dressing
- 📖 Dietary Information: High-protein, high-fiber
- 👩🍳 Cook Method: The pasta is cooked until al dente. The rest of the ingredients are tossed in a bowl.
- ⭐ Difficulty: Easy
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- High-Protein & High-Fiber: This chicken Caesar pasta salad is packed with protein and fiber from the protein pasta, chicken, cannellini beans, and Greek yogurt Caesar dressing.
- Healthy: There is no mayo in this recipe! The Caesar dressing is made with non-fat Greek yogurt for a lighter twist on the classic while still delivering that creamy, tangy Caesar flavor.
- Filling & Satisfying: Thanks to the combination of protein and fiber, this pasta salad is hearty enough to enjoy as a complete meal for lunch or dinner.
- Easy to Make: This pasta salad comes together quickly in under 30 minutes with a handful of simple ingredients, making it perfect for busy weekdays, meal prep, and last-minute gatherings.
- Customizable: This recipe is easy to customize. You can make our homemade Caesar dressing, or use your favorite store-bought one to save time.
Key Ingredients
- Protein Pasta: We love using a high-protein and high-fiber pasta, such as Brami or Kaizen, to add an extra boost of protein and fiber. It also makes this pasta salad more filling and satisfying. If you don’t have protein pasta, you can substitute it with regular pasta.
- Chicken: Use fully-cooked, shredded chicken breast for this recipe. We used rotisserie chicken for an easy option, but our slow-cooker shredded chicken also works great.
- Cannellini Beans: The secret ingredient! Cannellini beans add a creamy, hearty texture along with extra protein and fiber, making this pasta salad even more satisfying.
- Tomatoes: Cherry or grape tomatoes add a fresh, juicy burst of flavor that pairs perfectly with the creamy Caesar dressing.
- Romaine: Crisp romaine lettuce adds crunch and gives this pasta salad all the classic Caesar salad flavors.
- Caesar Dressing: Our homemade Greek yogurt Caesar dressing is creamy, tangy, and lighter than traditional Caesar dressing. We doubled our recipe for this pasta salad, which makes about 1¾ cups, but you can use store-bought if preferred. It’s also great in our chicken Caesar wrap recipe and Caesar salad with chicken!
Find the full measurements in the recipe card below.
Substitutions & Variations
- Short on Time: If you’re using a store-bought dressing, we love the Bolthouse Farms Caesar Yogurt Dressing. It’s creamy, flavorful, and a lighter option than most store-bought Caesar dressings.
- Make It Your Own: Feel free to add chopped pepperoncini peppers, pitted Castelvetrano olives, sliced pitted black olives, grated Parmesan cheese, croutons, cooked turkey bacon, or regular bacon for extra flavor and texture.
- Boost the Protein & Fiber: Love beans as much as we do? Add an extra can of cannellini beans for even more protein and fiber.
- Add Avocado: Diced avocado is one of our favorite additions. It adds a creamy texture and pairs perfectly with the Caesar flavors.
How To Make High-Protein Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
- Cook the protein pasta according to package directions until al dente. Once done, run cold water over it to cool, then drain well and set aside.
- Wash, dry, and chop the romaine hearts. I like to use this salad spinner to remove excess water from the romaine.
- Add the romaine, cooked protein pasta, fully cooked chicken, rinsed and drained cannellini beans, and halved cherry tomatoes to a large bowl. Lightly toss to combine.
- Pour the Caesar dressing over the salad and toss until evenly coated. Serve and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Cool and Drain the Pasta: Run the cooked pasta under cold water to cool it down, then make sure to drain it well before assembling. Don’t add hot or watery pasta, or it can affect the texture of the salad.
- Cook the Pasta Al Dente: Be sure not to overcook the pasta. You want it al dente, so it holds its shape and doesn’t turn mushy in the salad.
- Toss Before Dressing: Lightly toss everything together before adding the dressing so the ingredients are evenly combined.
- Meal Prep Tip: For the best texture and freshness, store the salad without the dressing and add it right before serving. This helps it stay fresh longer and makes it perfect for meal prep.
- Add Dressing: Pour the dressing over the salad right before serving for the freshest flavor and texture.
Serving Suggestions
This high-protein chicken Caesar pasta salad works great as a complete meal on its own or as a satisfying side dish. If desired, before serving, sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese for an extra burst of flavor.
We love serving it with roasted vegetables like air fryer garlic parmesan asparagus, air fryer frozen broccoli with parmesan, or air fryer cauliflower. It also pairs perfectly with air fryer corn on the cob for a classic summer meal.
It’s also delicious served with a side of garlic bread or warm, crusty bread. You can even serve it as a side at BBQs or picnics alongside our spinach and feta turkey burgers and healthy coleslaw with Greek yogurt.
Storage Instructions
- Mixed with Dressing: This pasta salad is best enjoyed within 1-2 days when already tossed with the dressing.
- Stored Separately: Store it in an airtight container without the dressing for 3-4 days. Add the dressing right before serving for the best texture and freshness.
- Freezing: We don’t recommend freezing this pasta salad, as it can change the texture of the pasta, lettuce, and Greek yogurt dressing.
More Recipes to Try Next!
If you try this recipe, please be sure to leave us a comment and star rating, ★★★★★, letting us know how it turns out for you.
High-Protein Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 12 ounces dried protein pasta, we like Brami and Kaizen, fusilli, penne, or bowtie
- 2 romaine hearts, chopped
- 2 cups fully-cooked chicken breast, chopped or shredded (we used rotisserie chicken)
- 1, 15.5-ounce can of cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
- 10-12 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 ¾ cup Caesar salad dressing, homemade or store-bought
- 1/4-1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, optional
Instructions
- Cook the protein pasta according to package directions until al dente. Once done, run cold water over it to cool, then drain well and set aside.
- Wash, dry, and chop the romaine hearts.
- Add the romaine, cooked protein pasta, fully cooked chicken, rinsed and drained cannellini beans, and halved cherry tomatoes to a large bowl. Lightly toss to combine.
- When ready to serve, pour the Caesar dressing over the salad and toss until evenly coated. Sprinkle with optional grated parmesan cheese, serve, and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Caesar Dressing: Double our healthy Caesar dressing recipe, or use your favorite store-bought Caesar dressing. We like the Bolthouse Farms Caesar Yogurt Dressing.
- Protein Pasta: We love using a high-protein and high-fiber pasta, such as Brami or Kaizen, to add an extra boost of protein and fiber. If you don’t have protein pasta, you can substitute it with regular pasta.
- Meal Prep Tip: For the best texture and freshness, store the salad without the dressing and add it right before serving. This helps it stay fresh longer and makes it perfect for meal prep.
- Make It Your Own: Feel free to add chopped pepperoncini peppers, pitted Castelvetrano olives, sliced pitted black olives, grated Parmesan cheese, croutons, diced avocado, cooked turkey bacon, or regular bacon.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
