Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
By Alison Stoner
I don’t know how we’ve gotten here, but here we are: August 26, 2025. The last week of summer.
As my kids have grown a little older, I have fallen in love with summertime. I used to be a fall girly through and through. I absolutely love pumpkin patches, hayrides, hot apple cider, and bonfires that leave your hoodie smelling like smoke. These simple joys still bring me so much happiness, but there’s something that hits me differently these days about summertime.
The long days in the sunshine. The endless smiles that brighten their faces. Watching them learn new things like riding bikes, swimming, and how best to build a fort. The little faces that are made sticky from popsicles and s’mores. The scuffed up knees on golden skin.
Maybe it’s just me, but life seems a little easier in the summertime. I can let my hair down a little more in the summer. “It’s summer” becomes a treasured excuse for pushing back bedtime and letting the yard fill with toys.
I think I like summertime Alison mom better than the Alison mom of the rest of the year.
But, we can’t live in our summer bubble forever. The temps are already starting to drop. The school books are scattered all over my dining room table as I prepare for the start of school next week. Pumpkin spice everything (yuck!) is available. The inevitable is here: summer is ending.
BUT…
I still have one last summertime hurrah and I’m going to soak up this Labor Day weekend campout in all its summer glory!
A food staple of mine this summer has been Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad. It’s quick to make, (somewhat) healthy, you can make it ahead of time (and eat it for lunch four days in a row), and I’ve gotten so many raves about it as I’ve taken it to potlucks this summer. If you’re attending a Labor Day party this weekend and need an idea for a dish to pass, try this one!
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
(I’m going to apologize ahead of time for not being an exact measurements kind of girl.)
3 hearts of romaine lettuce
1-2 chicken breasts
16 oz box of Rotini pasta
1-2 cups of caesar dressing
5 oz bag of croutons
Parmesan cheese - shredded
Directions:
Cook pasta (Yes, I could give more detailed instructions here, but I’m going out on a limb and believing you all can handle this step. If you need further instruction, the box provides that for you.). Rinse and let cool.
Cook chicken breasts thoroughly. For this step you can have some flexibility. I’ve made this salad with grilled chicken breasts and by sticking some frozen chicken tenders in the airfryer - both were easy and delicious! Once chicken is properly cooked, chop into bite sized pieces.
Cut up romaine hearts (don’t forget to wash your lettuce - I’ve found little buggies in them before!) and put in a large serving bowl.
Mix in Caesar dressing. Use as much as your little heart desires. I just kind of pour it in until it feels (and looks) right. I also use a Vegan Caesar dressing because most of my family can’t eat dairy so feel free to alter this recipe to fit your needs. You can easily make this dish Gluten free as well by using GF pasta and GF croutons.
Shred the parmesan cheese (guys, I’m going to be real with you, the pre-shredded stuff in the store is terrible. Consider switching to buying blocks of cheese and shredding your own (the kids will think it’s so fun!).) For this step I use white cheddar goat cheese to fit my family’s needs. Mix the cheese in thoroughly. Again, cheese it up until you feel it’s a good amount!
Now it’s time to add the pasta! I was a little leary about adding pasta to a lettuce based salad, but trust me, it’s so good. Mix the pasta in completely.
The last piece of the puzzle is croutons! You can buy store bought ones or make your own (I’ve done both), but whatever you do I recommend holding off mixing in the croutons until you’re ready to serve and eat. If you mix the croutons in with the rest of the salad mix they become soggy and no one loves soggy bread!
Whether you’re a summer girl or a fall girl, I hope you soak up this “last” week of summer - complete with sunshine and good food!