Spicy Chicken Caesar Pasta (Printable)

Hearty pasta bowl with spicy grilled chicken, creamy Caesar dressing, crisp romaine, and parmesan. Easy 40-minute meal.

# What You'll 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

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. In a small bowl, combine olive oil, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Rub the seasoning mixture evenly over both sides of the chicken breasts.
02 - Place seasoned chicken on the grill and cook for 6 to 7 minutes per side until fully cooked and juices run clear. Remove from heat and allow to rest for 5 minutes before slicing thinly.
03 - While chicken cooks, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain pasta and rinse briefly under cold water to stop the cooking process.
04 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked pasta, Caesar dressing, chopped romaine lettuce, and halved cherry tomatoes. Gently toss until all ingredients are evenly coated with dressing.
05 - Divide the dressed pasta mixture among serving bowls. Top each portion with sliced spicy chicken, grated Parmesan cheese, croutons, and fresh parsley. Serve immediately with lemon wedges on the side.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like dinner at a bistro but uses what you already have in the fridge.
  • The spicy chicken wakes up every bite without overpowering the Caesar flavor.
  • You can prep the chicken ahead and toss everything together in minutes.
  • Leftovers actually taste better the next day when the flavors settle in.
02 -
  • Don't skip resting the chicken or it will leak all its juices onto the cutting board instead of staying tender.
  • Rinse the pasta briefly under cold water so it doesn't continue cooking and turn gummy when you toss it with the dressing.
  • Toss the romaine in at the very end so it stays crisp and doesn't wilt from the residual heat of the pasta.
03 -
  • Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness before grilling so they cook at the same rate and stay juicy.
  • Toast your croutons in a dry skillet for a minute before adding them, it brings out their flavor and makes them extra crunchy.
  • If your Caesar dressing is too thick, thin it with a teaspoon of lemon juice or pasta water for easier tossing.
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