I've been making this Caesar Pasta Salad for year's and it's one of Mr. Garlic's faves for when we need a quick and simple dinner. Crunchy romaine lettuce, tender pasta, quick homemade croutons, savory bacon, and shaved Parmesan cheese all tossed in Caesar dressing. It's super easy to make and feels a bit decadent (without going over the top).
Why You'll Love this Caesar Pasta Salad:
- Quick & Easy: Comes together in under 30 minutes and is easy enough for beginners in the kitchen.
- Simple Ingredients: Nothing fancy, just a few pantry and fridge staples.
- Adaptable: This recipe can easily be made gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegetarian.
Jump to:
Key Ingredients:
- Short-cut pasta: Just whatever you have on hand. My favorites are rotini and bowtie because they are perfectly bite-sized.
- Thick-cut bacon: When cooked it is crispy and crunchy yet more tender than regular bacon.
- Romaine lettuce: The classic base for Caesar salad.
- Shaved Parmesan: The classic Caesar salad cheese. It's a hard cheese with a lovely nutty, salty flavor.
- Pro-Tip: If you use a block of Parmesan for this recipe, save the rind to rind to use in a soup or broth such as this Roasted Garlic & Parmesan Butter Bean Stew.
- Caesar Dressing: To keep things simple, we are using bottled. Go with your favorite creamy Caesar (I love Ken's Creamy Caesar, and always keep a bottle in the fridge), or make your own from scratch. This Caesar Dressing recipe from Love & Lemons is a good one!
- Day-old bread (if making croutons from scratch): A crusty loaf like sourdough or a French baguette works great. Just tear into chunks and bake with some oil.
Dietary Swaps:
- Gluten-Free: Use you favorite gluten-free pasta and gluten-free bread for the croutons. Also double check that your dressing in labeled gluten-free. I love Ken's Dressing and have found that most of them are.
- Dairy-Free: Go with a dairy-free Caesar Dressing or make your own. They can usually be found at specialty grocery stores such as Whole Foods or Sprouts.
- Vegetarian: Just omit the bacon or sub it with a plant-based bacon. Morning Star Farms makes a pretty good one that can be found in the frozen section of most grocery stores.
- Low-Carb/ Keto: Leave out the pasta and croutons and double check the sugar content on your Caesar dressing.
Recipe Variations:
- Add Chicken: For an even more filling protein-rich meal, add some chopped chicken! This recipe is fantastic with rotisserie chicken.
- Put an Egg on it: A jammy egg or over-easy fried egg, yess please.
- Roasted Veggies: Toss in some roasted peppers or asparagus for a little extra nutrition.
How to Make Caesar Pasta Salad with Garlic Butter Croutons:
- Make Croutons: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Toss torn day-old bread with olive oil, melted butter, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Bake 10-12 minutes, then toss with minced garlic and bake 4-6 more until golden and crisp.
- Cook Pasta: Boil salted water and cook pasta until al dente. Drain and let cool completely.
- Cook Bacon: While pasta cooks, crisp bacon in a skillet or oven. Drain and crumble.
- Assemble Salad: In a large bowl, combine cooled pasta, chopped romaine, bacon, Parmesan, and croutons. Drizzle with Caesar dressing and toss to coat.
- Serve: Finish with more Parmesan and black pepper. Chow down.
Tips & Notes:
- Don't Overcook the Pasta: Overcooked pasta = mush and that ain't what we want for this salad. Cook pasta until al dente, then drain and cool.
- Cool Pasta (Just like Fonzie, Ayyyy): Before mixing everything together, let the pasta cool to avoid soggy, wilted lettuce.
Storage:
- Storage: Store leftovers in an air-tight container for up to a day in the fridge. Note: lettuce and croutons will soften as they sit in the fridge.
- Croutons: Store an extra croutons in a separate container on the counter for up to 3 days.
Serve Caesar Pasta Salad with:
This salad is great on it's own, but is also nice as a side dish to main. here are some ideas to round out the meal:
- Classic French Croque Madame Sandwich with Parmesan Béchamel
- Gluten-Free Cucumber & Dill Rotisserie Chicken Salad
- Tomates Farcies (Sausage & Herb Stuffed Tomatoes)
FAQs:
Is this Caesar Pasta Salad good for meal-prep?
Sort of. It's good for a day if you store it undressed. After adding the dressing the lettuce and croutons will begin to soften.
What's the best pasta to use?
Any short-cut pasta. I like rotini or bow-tie because they are perfectly bite-sized.
Can I use store-bought croutons?
For sure! Using store-bought croutons makes this pasta salad even easier, perfect for when you need a fast meal.
Is Caesar Dressing gluten-free?
Many aren't, so always double check the label. My favorite is Ken's Caesar Dressing.
More Pasta Salad Recipes You Will Love:
- Easy Cucumber Pasta Salad with Feta and Dill
- Creamy Dill Pickle Pasta Salad with Bacon & Cheddar
- Mediterranean Pasta & Kale Salad with Garlic Basil Dressing
- Easy Vintage Tuna Pasta Salad
Recipe
Caesar Pasta Salad with Bacon
This creamy Caesar Pasta Salad is the perfect balance of tender pasta, crispy bacon, crunchy romaine, and bold, garlicky homemade croutons. It's quick to make, easy to adapt for dietary needs, and always a winner.
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 8 oz short-cut pasta such as rotini or bow-tie
- 6 slices thick-cut bacon
- 1 large head romaine lettuce chopped
- ⅓ cup shaved Parmesan
- ⅓ cup Caesar dressing check label if gluten-free
For the Garlic Butter Croutons:
- 2 cups day-old bread torn into rustic chunks gluten-free if needed
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoon butter or dairy-free alternative melted
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 clove garlic minced
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil for easy cleanup.
- Make the garlic butter croutons: In a large bowl, toss the torn bread with olive oil, melted butter, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Spread in a single layer on the baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes. Remove, toss with minced garlic, and return to the oven for 4-6 minutes more until golden and crisp. Let cool.
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and let cool completely.
- Cook the bacon: While the pasta cooks, crisp bacon in a skillet over medium heat or bake in the oven at 400°F (200°C) for 15-20 minutes. Drain on paper towels and crumble once cool.
- Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, chopped romaine, crumbled bacon, shaved Parmesan, and garlic croutons. Drizzle with Caesar dressing and toss until evenly coated.
- Serve: Plate immediately and top with extra Parmesan and cracked black pepper if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
- Cool pasta: Warm pasta can wilt the lettuce and melt the cheese. Let it cool before assembling.
- To Make Gluten Free: Use gluten-free pasta and swap in gluten-free bread for the croutons. Double-check the Caesar dressing label.
- Nutrition Information is an estimate only and will vary according to ingredients and amounts used.
Nutrition
Calories: 480kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 17gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 9gFiber: 3gSugar: 2g
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Must Love Garlic says
An extra savory spin on a classic recipe!