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This gluten-free Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is everything you love about the classic Caesar salad—tossed with pasta and juicy grilled chicken for a hearty, satisfying meal. It’s made with a homemade Caesar dressing (no anchovies needed!), crisp romaine lettuce, gluten-free pasta, bacon, ripe summer tomatoes, and a sprinkle of Parmesan. It’s the ultimate warm-weather lunch, dinner, or BBQ side dish—easy to prep, easy to love!
Why You’ll Love This Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
If you’re like me and have always loved a good Caesar salad, then this will be a favorite. My Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad checks all the boxes when it comes to a protein-packed meal, gluten-free and family friend, satisfying, and great for meal prep. Think of it as a cross between your favorite chicken Caesar salad and a summer pasta salad—and yes, it’s as good as it sounds.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s what you need to make this crave-worthy salad:
*See the recipe card for all details*
For the Salad:
- Gluten-free pasta – We love brown rice or chickpea pasta here. Pick your favorite shape—something short like rotini or penne works great.
- Grilled chicken – Use leftovers or cook up some fresh chicken breasts or thighs.
- Romaine lettuce – Crisp and cool, it adds the perfect crunch.
- Parmesan cheese – Freshly grated is always best. Here is my favorite grater (link cheese grater)
- Crispy Bacon – you can cook it however you prefer (in the oven or the air fryer)
- Optional add-ins – Cherry tomatoes, avocado, or gluten-free croutons for texture and flavor.
- Lemon, Salt, and Pepper – finishes the Caesar pasta salad off with just a little extra flavor
For the Homemade Caesar Dressing:
- Mayo – Can swap Greek yogurt for a lighter option if you wish, but we love the classic.
- Olive Oil – For richness and smooth blending.
- Vinegar – Balances the dressing.
- Dijon mustard – Adds tang and depth.
- Anchovy paste – The flavor without the actual anchovy.
- Garlic – Just one clove goes a long way.
- Lemon juice – Fresh is best for that bright Caesar flavor.
- Salt and pepper – To taste.
How to Make It
This salad comes together in just a few easy steps:
- Cook the pasta: Follow package directions, then rinse under cold water and set aside to cool.
- Grill or prepare your chicken: Use leftover grilled chicken or cook fresh on the grill (our preferred method).
- Make the dressing: In a blender, combine mayo, olive oil, vinegar, dijon, lemon juice, anchovy paste, garlic, salt, and pepper. Pulse until blended, then adjust as needed and set aside.
- Assemble the salad: Toss together the pasta, chopped romaine, chicken, and Parmesan. Drizzle with dressing and gently mix to combine.
- Serve or store: Enjoy right away or chill in the fridge until you’re ready to eat.
Tips for Success
- Cool your pasta completely before mixing—this keeps the lettuce crisp and fresh.
- Toss just before serving if you’re prepping ahead to avoid soggy lettuce.
- Want it dairy-free? Use a dairy-free yogurt and skip the cheese (or use a vegan option).
- Add crunch with gluten-free croutons or roasted chickpeas on top.
How Do You Keep Gluten-Free Pasta from Getting Mushy?
There are a couple of things that you can do to prevent your pasta from getting mushy as it sits:
- Cook al dente. Slightly underdone pasta has a little bit more structure so it holds up better in the dressing.
- Rinse it. Rinsing the pasta with cold water immediately after cooking stops the cooking process so it stays perfectly al dente.
- Add some oil. A light layer of oil on each piece of pasta creates a barrier so the pasta doesn’t mush together.
- Serve right away. The longer the pasta sits in the dressing, the mushier it will get. Once the Caesar pasta salad is totally assembled, serve it immediately or as soon as possible.
Make It a Meal
This pasta salad makes an easy weeknight dinner, but it’s also great for:
- Potlucks and gatherings—everyone loves a Caesar salad twist
- Meal prep lunches (it holds up well for a few days!)
- Summer picnics and BBQs
- Pair it with:
How to Store
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. If you’re planning ahead, store the dressing separately and mix everything just before serving to keep the lettuce nice and crisp.
FAQs:
Yes! This salad is great for meal prep or entertaining. If you’re making it ahead, we recommend storing the dressing separately and tossing everything together just before serving to keep the lettuce crisp and the pasta from soaking up too much dressing.
Short-cut pastas like rotini, penne, or fusilli work really well because they hold the dressing and mix easily with the other ingredients. We love using brown rice or chickpea-based pasta for added texture and protein.
Of course! If you’re in a pinch, a high-quality store-bought Caesar dressing will work just fine. Just be sure to check the label if you’re gluten-free, and note that many traditional Caesar dressings contain anchovies.
Yes! Our version skips the anchovy (but still includes anchovy paste), you can simply omit the paste, no issue.
You can! Swap in your favorite dairy-free yogurt for the Greek yogurt and use a dairy-free Parmesan alternative or omit the cheese altogether. The salad will still be delicious and flavorful.
This salad will keep for up to 3 days in the fridge. If you know you’ll have leftovers, keep the lettuce and dressing separate until just before eating to avoid sogginess.
Grilled chicken adds great flavor, but baked or sautéed chicken breast (or even rotisserie chicken) works too. Just make sure it’s seasoned and fully cooked before tossing it into the salad.
Absolutely! This salad is super customizable. Try adding halved cherry tomatoes, chopped cucumber, sliced red onion, or avocado for extra color and nutrition.
*omit the chicken and it’s vegetarian!
More Pasta Salads to Try
- Classic Macaroni Salad
- BLT Pasta Salad
- Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad
- Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
- Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
- Tuna Pasta Salad
GLUTEN-FREE CHICKEN CAESAR PASTA SALAD
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayo homemade or store-bought
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice divided
- 1/2 teaspoon anchovy paste
- 1 clove garlic crushed
- Pinch of fine sea salt
- Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
- 4 pieces of bacon cooked
- 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast
- 1 head romaine lettuce cleaned and roughly chopped
- 1 16- ounce package gluten-free pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 lemon
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Make the dressing: In a high-speed blender combine mayo, olive oil, vinegar, dijon, lemon juice, anchovy paste, garlic and big pinch salt and pepper. Pulse once or twice just until blended. Taste and adjust seasoning and set aside.
- 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.
- Make pasta as instructed on package. Rinse with cool water and drain and place into a large bowl.
- Assemble: To the large bowl, add pasta, bacon, tomatoes, lettuce, and chicken. Pour over dressing and mix to combine. Season to taste with salt, pepper and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Serve warm or room temperature.
Notes
- If you want it creamier, making extra dressing!
- You can use rotisserie chicken, too!
Made this for a lunch meal prep – it was amazing! Because I’m using it for multiple days, I saved the dressing on the side and it seems to keep all the lettuce crisp over multiple days! Absolutely delicious! Thanks for the recipe! Will be making again
I am SO glad you loved it!
Everyone LOVED this recipe! I can’t wait to make it again for a crowd!
SO HAPPY.
This was soooo good!!
Going to have to try your homemade dressing. I love ceasar salads. And I have tried may store bought and just do not like them, they do not compare to restaurants. I did find a recipe online and made it and it was very good. But would like to see what yours taste like.
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!
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!
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.
Oh yes please. that dressing alone makes me hungry. Do you deliver? LOL!
LOL come on over!!!!! 🙂
This looks SOOOOO good Lexi!
Looks so delicious! Perfect weeknight food 🙂
Love this pasta salad!
So good for parties…I bet it goes fast!
Perfect for bbq’s and p0t lucks! Love the flavors Lexi!!
Can’t get recipe for the Caesar sauce. Will you email that recipe to me.
It’s written in the recipe!
Craving this RIGHT NOW! Looks like the perfect dinner for a warm night!
Can Greek yogurt substitute the mayo?
Yes probably!