Crispy Pasta Caesar Salad
Crispy Pasta Caesar Salad
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 250 g short pasta, such as rigatoni, penne, or farfalle
- 2 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1/2 cucumber, diced
- 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 handful fresh parsley, chopped
- 100 g grated Parmesan cheese
For the Chicken
- 250 g chicken breast, cut into small cubes
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1 salt, to taste
- 1 black pepper, to taste
For the Pasta Seasoning
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, for pasta, optional
For the Creamy Sauce
- 3 tablespoons plain yogurt
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 4 garlic cloves, grated
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, adjust to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- 1
Cook the short pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the cooked pasta and let it steam dry completely.
⏱️ 10 min
- 2
Preheat the oven to 200 °C (390 °F) fan/ventilated heat. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 200 - 3
Spread the drained pasta evenly on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1 tablespoon smoked paprika. Toss the pasta to ensure it is evenly coated. Optionally, sprinkle 2 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese over the pasta at this stage.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Bake the seasoned pasta for 25-30 minutes, or until it is golden and crispy. Keep an eye on it to prevent burning.
⏱️ 30 min•🌡️ 200
- 5
While the pasta bakes, cut the chicken breast into small cubes. Heat a pan with 1 tablespoon of butter and a splash of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken cubes, 1 tablespoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon oregano, and salt and black pepper to taste. Cook the chicken until it is fully cooked through and lightly browned.
⏱️ 10 min
- 6
Chop the romaine lettuce, dice the cucumber, thinly slice the red onion, and chop the fresh parsley.
⏱️ 10 min
- 7
In a medium bowl, whisk together the plain yogurt, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, grated garlic cloves, lemon juice, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese until the mixture is very smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed, adding a little more yogurt or mayonnaise if a richer consistency is desired.
⏱️ 5 min
- 8
In a large serving bowl, combine the cooked chicken, chopped romaine lettuce, diced cucumber, sliced red onion, and chopped fresh parsley. Pour the prepared creamy sauce over the ingredients. Add 100 grams of grated Parmesan cheese to the bowl. Toss gently to combine all ingredients.
⏱️ 5 min
- 9
Top the salad with the crunchy oven-baked pasta. Serve immediately for maximum crunch and creaminess. You can also top with additional grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
⏱️ 5 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Crispy Pasta Caesar Salad
For the Salad
- 250 g short pasta, such as rigatoni, penne, or farfalle
- 2 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1/2 cucumber, diced
- 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 handful fresh parsley, chopped
- 100 g grated Parmesan cheese
For the Chicken
- 250 g chicken breast, cut into small cubes
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1 salt, to taste
- 1 black pepper, to taste
For the Pasta Seasoning
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, for pasta, optional
For the Creamy Sauce
- 3 tablespoons plain yogurt
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 4 garlic cloves, grated
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, adjust to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- 1
Cook the short pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the cooked pasta and let it steam dry completely.
⏱️ 10 min - 2
Preheat the oven to 200 °C (390 °F) fan/ventilated heat. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 200 - 3
Spread the drained pasta evenly on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1 tablespoon smoked paprika. Toss the pasta to ensure it is evenly coated. Optionally, sprinkle 2 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese over the pasta at this stage.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Bake the seasoned pasta for 25-30 minutes, or until it is golden and crispy. Keep an eye on it to prevent burning.
⏱️ 30 min•🌡️ 200 - 5
While the pasta bakes, cut the chicken breast into small cubes. Heat a pan with 1 tablespoon of butter and a splash of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken cubes, 1 tablespoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon oregano, and salt and black pepper to taste. Cook the chicken until it is fully cooked through and lightly browned.
⏱️ 10 min - 6
Chop the romaine lettuce, dice the cucumber, thinly slice the red onion, and chop the fresh parsley.
⏱️ 10 min - 7
In a medium bowl, whisk together the plain yogurt, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, grated garlic cloves, lemon juice, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese until the mixture is very smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed, adding a little more yogurt or mayonnaise if a richer consistency is desired.
⏱️ 5 min - 8
In a large serving bowl, combine the cooked chicken, chopped romaine lettuce, diced cucumber, sliced red onion, and chopped fresh parsley. Pour the prepared creamy sauce over the ingredients. Add 100 grams of grated Parmesan cheese to the bowl. Toss gently to combine all ingredients.
⏱️ 5 min - 9
Top the salad with the crunchy oven-baked pasta. Serve immediately for maximum crunch and creaminess. You can also top with additional grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
⏱️ 5 min