Hot Honey Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
This Hot Honey Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad combines tender pasta, juicy chicken, crisp romaine lettuce, Parmesan cheese, crunchy croutons, creamy Caesar dressing, and a sweet-and-spicy hot honey drizzle. Perfect for summer cookouts, potlucks, meal prep lunches, and easy family dinners.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 8 SERVINGS 1x
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, SIDE DISH | PASTA SALAD
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken
- 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons hot honey
For the Pasta Salad
- 12 ounces rotini pasta
- 1 large head romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup croutons
For the Caesar Dressing
- 1 cup Caesar dressing
- 2 tablespoons hot honey
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
For Garnish
- Shaved Parmesan cheese
- Extra hot honey
- Crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh parsley
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- Season chicken with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken until golden brown and cooked through.
- Drizzle chicken with hot honey and toss to coat. Allow to cool slightly.
- In a small bowl, whisk together Caesar dressing, hot honey, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and black pepper.
- In a large serving bowl, combine pasta, romaine lettuce, Parmesan cheese, and chicken.
- Pour dressing over the salad and toss until evenly coated.
- Top with croutons, shaved Parmesan, parsley, and an extra drizzle of hot honey.
- Serve immediately or chill until ready to serve.
Notes
- Rotisserie chicken can be substituted for a quick shortcut.
- Add croutons just before serving to keep them crunchy.
- Store leftovers without croutons for best texture.
- For extra heat, sprinkle with red pepper flakes before serving.