Grilled chicken, my go-to dairy-free caesar dressing, crisp romaine lettuce, bacon, and ripe heirloom tomatoes come together perfectly in this Gluten-Free Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad! The perfect make-ahead lunch, BBQ side, or dinner for any night of the week!
I’ve always love a good caesar salad, since I was a kid! I especially loved a good creamy caesar dressing. The Creamy Caesar Dressing from my cookbook is my all-time favorite, it’s ‘cleaned up’ from junky ingredients but doesn’t skimp on the creaminess and the flavor! I’m sharing it with you in today’s recipe!
Make all of your ingredients and then COMBINE. It’s really that simple! This dish will be a hit at your BBQ, as your easy weeknight dinner option, or simply anytime of year!
Want other Caesar Salad Ideas? Try my Chicken Caesar Burgers or my Grilled Romaine Caesar Salad with Blackened Shrimp!
Gluten-Free Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup homemade mayo, homemade or store-bought
- 2 teaspoons avocado oil or extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon anchovy paste
- Pinch of fine sea salt
- Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
- 1 8-ounce package bacon, cooked crispy
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast
- 1 head romaine lettuce, roughly chopped
- 1 16-ounce package gluten-free pasta
- 8-ounces cherry tomatoes, sliced
- 1 lemon, juiced
- Salt and pepper, as desired
Batch Caesar Dressing from page 320 of the Lexi's Clean Kitchen Cookbook
Everything Else
Directions
1. Make the dressing: In a high-speed blender combine all caesar salad ingredients. Pulse once or twice just until blended. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired and set aside.
2. Season chicken with salt and pepper and grill for 8-10 minutes on each side until no pink remains. Cut into cubes and set aside.
3. Make pasta as instructed on package then drain and place into a large bowl.
4. Assemble: In a large bowl, add pasta, bacon, tomatoes, lettuce, and chicken. Pour over dressing and mix to combine. Add 1/2 lemon juiced, and salt and pepper to taste. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
- If you want it creamier, making extra dressing!
- You can use rotisserie chicken, too!
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16 comments on “Gluten-Free Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad”
Can Greek yogurt substitute the mayo?
Yes probably!
Craving this RIGHT NOW! Looks like the perfect dinner for a warm night!
Can’t get recipe for the Caesar sauce. Will you email that recipe to me.
It’s written in the recipe!
Perfect for bbq’s and p0t lucks! Love the flavors Lexi!!
So good for parties…I bet it goes fast!
Love this pasta salad!
Looks so delicious! Perfect weeknight food 🙂
This looks SOOOOO good Lexi!
Oh yes please. that dressing alone makes me hungry. Do you deliver? LOL!
LOL come on over!!!!! 🙂
My kids are not interested in eating vegetables they just want fast food, now I decide to put something spicy at home. I follow your recipes.
Good flavor. jThe only thing I didn’t add was the anchovy paste. Did anyone else need to double the dressing? There seemed to be a lot of pasta & lettuce to dress with what I made so I ended up making another batch.
Also, I wouldn’t dirty a blender, it mixed up well with a whisk!
Looks amazing! Definitely going to make this.
Does it keep overnight in the fridge? Specifically curious if the GF pasta holds up.
I like Jovial if serving the next day!