Spicy Chicken Caesar Pasta (Printable)

Hearty pasta bowl with spicy grilled chicken, creamy Caesar dressing, crisp romaine, and parmesan. A satisfying 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 & 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 Steps:

01 - Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
02 - In a small bowl, combine olive oil, smoked paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Rub the mixture evenly over both sides of chicken breasts.
03 - Grill chicken for 6-7 minutes per side 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 lettuce, and cherry tomatoes. Mix gently to coat evenly.
06 - Divide pasta mixture among serving bowls. Top with sliced spicy chicken, Parmesan cheese, croutons, and fresh parsley.
07 - Serve immediately with lemon wedges.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It satisfies both your craving for creamy comfort and your need for something with a kick.
  • You can have dinner on the table in the time it takes to watch one episode of anything.
  • It uses mostly pantry staples and transforms them into something that feels restaurant-worthy.
  • Leftovers actually get better overnight when the flavors soak into the pasta.
02 -
  • Let the chicken rest after grilling or all the juices will run out onto your cutting board instead of staying in the meat.
  • Rinse the pasta briefly under cold water to stop it from overcooking and turning into mush when you toss it with the dressing.
  • Toss the pasta with dressing while it's still slightly warm so the dressing clings better and the flavors meld.
03 -
  • Slice the chicken thinly on a diagonal so every piece has a bit of that charred, spicy crust.
  • Save a splash of pasta water before draining to loosen the dressing if it gets too thick when you toss everything together.
  • Toast your croutons in a dry skillet for a minute before adding them, it makes them extra crunchy and they taste homemade.
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