Description
This Caesar Pasta Salad is just like a classic Caesar salad, but with added pasta! It's made with homemade dressing and sourdough croutons, and so easy to make! It can be served on its own for a light lunch or as a side with protein like grilled salmon, shrimp, or chicken for dinner.
Ingredients
Sourdough Croutons
- 1 tbsp butter (salted or unsalted)
- 1 tbsp cooking oil
- 2-3 slices of sourdough bread, torn into bite-sized pieces
- 1/4 tsp each garlic powder (optional)
- 1/4 tsp onion powder (optional)
Caesar Pasta Salad
- 6-8 oz dry pasta or approx. 3 cups (I used Farfalle bow-tie pasta but any small-medium shape works)
- 1-2 heads of romaine lettuce, chopped (10 cups chopped)
- 1/2-3/4 cup homemade Caesar dressing
- 1/2 cup shaved parmesan
Instructions
Sourdough Croutons
- Add butter and cooking oil to a hot large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the torn-up bread slices and toss to coat well with the oil and butter.
- Season with garlic and onion powder if desired and toss again.
- Cook over medium-low heat, stirring a few times, for 15 minutes or until golden and crispy.
- Set aside until ready to serve.
Caesar Pasta Salad
- Cook the pasta in salted water according to package instructions.
- Drain and rinse the pasta and at it to a large mixing bowl with chopped romaine lettuce.
- Add ½ cup Caesar dressing and toss until everything is well-coated. Add more dressing if desired.
- Serve the salad topped with croutons and shaved parmesan. Alternatively, you can mix the two with the salad before serving it. Enjoy!
Notes
Storing: This salad is best enjoyed the day it’s made because romaine lettuce will wilt when mixed with the dressing quite quickly. You can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.
Prep it ahead: If you need to make it ahead, I recommend cooking the pasta ahead and tossing it with a splash of olive oil to prevent it from sticking together. Store it in the fridge for 2-3 days. You can also chop the lettuce and prepare your dressing and the croutons ahead of time, and store them separately in the fridge. The croutons can be stored at room temperature.