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
salt, to taste
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

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

Instructions

1
Cook the short pasta (such as rigatoni, penne, or farfalle) according to package directions until al dente.
⏱️ 10 min
2
Drain the cooked pasta thoroughly and spread it out to steam dry completely. This is crucial for crispiness.
⏱️ 5 min
3
Preheat the oven to 200 °C (390 °F) using the fan/ventilated heat setting.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 200
4
While the oven preheats, spread the dried pasta evenly on a baking sheet. In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder, and 1 tablespoon of smoked paprika. Drizzle this seasoning mixture over the pasta and toss to coat evenly.
⏱️ 5 min
5
Bake the seasoned pasta for 25-30 minutes, or until it is golden brown and crispy. Keep an eye on it to prevent burning.
⏱️ 30 min•🌡️ 200
6
While the pasta bakes, cut the chicken breast into small, uniform cubes.
⏱️ 5 min
7
Heat a pan with 1 tablespoon of butter (or olive oil if preferred) over medium-high heat. Add the cubed chicken, 1 tablespoon of paprika, 1/2 teaspoon of oregano, and salt and black pepper to taste. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is fully cooked through and lightly browned.
⏱️ 10 min
8
Chop the romaine lettuce, fresh parsley, dice the cucumber, and thinly slice the red onion. Set aside.
⏱️ 10 min
9
In a medium bowl, whisk together the plain yogurt, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, grated garlic cloves, lemon juice, olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper, and 2 tablespoons of grated parmesan until the mixture is very smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. If you prefer a richer sauce, add a little more yogurt or mayonnaise.
⏱️ 5 min
10
In a large serving bowl, combine the cooked chicken, chopped romaine lettuce, diced cucumber, thinly sliced red onion, and chopped parsley. Pour the creamy sauce over these ingredients and toss gently until everything is well coated.
⏱️ 2 min
11
Once the crispy pasta is ready, remove it from the oven. Top the salad with the crunchy oven-baked pasta and an extra sprinkle of grated parmesan cheese.
⏱️ 1 min
12
Serve the Crispy Pasta Caesar Salad immediately to enjoy maximum crunch and creaminess.
⏱️ 1 min