Spicy Chicken Caesar Pasta (Printable version)

Grilled spicy chicken meets creamy Caesar dressing in this hearty pasta bowl with crisp romaine and fresh parmesan.

# What you need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
04 - 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
05 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
07 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Pasta

08 - 12 ounces penne or rotini pasta

→ Salad and Dressing

09 - 1/2 cup Caesar dressing
10 - 2 cups chopped romaine lettuce
11 - 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
12 - 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
13 - 1/4 cup croutons
14 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
15 - Lemon wedges for serving

# Steps to follow:

01 - Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
02 - In a small bowl, mix olive oil, smoked paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Rub the mixture evenly over both sides of chicken breasts.
03 - Grill chicken for 6 to 7 minutes per side, or until cooked through and juices run clear. Remove from heat, let rest 5 minutes, then slice thinly.
04 - Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse briefly under cold water to stop cooking.
05 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked pasta, Caesar dressing, romaine, and cherry tomatoes. Mix gently to coat.
06 - Divide pasta mixture among serving bowls. Top with sliced spicy chicken, Parmesan, croutons, and parsley.
07 - Serve immediately with lemon wedges.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like restaurant food but uses mostly pantry staples and one good piece of chicken.
  • The spice level wakes up your palate without overwhelming the creamy Caesar flavors.
  • Leftovers actually get better overnight as the dressing soaks into the pasta.
  • You can dial the heat up or down depending on who's at your table.
02 -
  • Don't skip resting the chicken after grilling or all the juices will run out onto your cutting board instead of staying in the meat.
  • Rinse the pasta just until it's cool to the touch, not ice cold, or the dressing won't cling as well.
  • Toss the salad right before serving so the lettuce stays crisp and doesn't wilt under the warmth of the pasta.
03 -
  • Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness before seasoning so they cook at the same rate and stay juicy.
  • Save a little pasta water before draining in case you need to loosen the dressing if it gets too thick.
  • Grate your Parmesan fresh right before serving because it melts slightly into the warm pasta and tastes twice as good.
Return