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Grilled Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on April 14, 2014

Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Grilled Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Ingredients

1 pound fusilli, penne, or other short, tubular pastaSalt and pepper 1 ½ cups mayonnaise 1 ounce Parmesan cheese, grated (½ cup), plus extra for serving2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 2 garlic cloves, minced6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 4 (6- to 8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed2 romaine lettuce hearts (12 ounces), halved lengthwise through core

Instructions

  1. Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot. Add pasta and 1 tablespoon salt and cook, stirring often, until al dente. Drain pasta, rinse under cold water until cool, and drain again.
  2. Whisk mayonnaise, Parmesan, lemon juice, Worcestershire, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper together in large bowl. Slowly whisk in 1/4 cup oil until incorporated. Add pasta and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  3. Brush chicken and lettuce with remaining 2 tablespoons oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill chicken and lettuce over hot fire until chicken is cooked through and lettuce is charred, about 5 minutes per side for chicken and 1 to 2 minutes per side for lettuce. Transfer chicken and lettuce to cutting board; tent chicken loosely with foil and let rest for 5 minutes. Roughly chop lettuce, toss with pasta, and transfer to platter. Slice chicken crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices and arrange on top of pasta. Sprinkle with extra Parmesan and serve.
Grilled Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Grilled Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 pound fusilli, penne, or other short, tubular pasta
Salt and pepper
1 ½ cups mayonnaise
1 ounce Parmesan cheese, grated (½ cup), plus extra for serving
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 garlic cloves, minced
6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 (6- to 8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed
2 romaine lettuce hearts (12 ounces), halved lengthwise through core

Ingredients

1 pound fusilli, penne, or other short, tubular pasta
Salt and pepper
1 ½ cups mayonnaise
1 ounce Parmesan cheese, grated (½ cup), plus extra for serving
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 garlic cloves, minced
6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 (6- to 8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed
2 romaine lettuce hearts (12 ounces), halved lengthwise through core

Ingredients

1 pound fusilli, penne, or other short, tubular pasta
Salt and pepper
1 ½ cups mayonnaise
1 ounce Parmesan cheese, grated (½ cup), plus extra for serving
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 garlic cloves, minced
6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 (6- to 8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed
2 romaine lettuce hearts (12 ounces), halved lengthwise through core

Why This Recipe Works

Grilling both the lettuce and the chicken imparts great smoky flavor to this pasta salad.

Instructions

  1. Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot. Add pasta and 1 tablespoon salt and cook, stirring often, until al dente. Drain pasta, rinse under cold water until cool, and drain again.
  2. Whisk mayonnaise, Parmesan, lemon juice, Worcestershire, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper together in large bowl. Slowly whisk in 1/4 cup oil until incorporated. Add pasta and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  3. Brush chicken and lettuce with remaining 2 tablespoons oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill chicken and lettuce over hot fire until chicken is cooked through and lettuce is charred, about 5 minutes per side for chicken and 1 to 2 minutes per side for lettuce. Transfer chicken and lettuce to cutting board; tent chicken loosely with foil and let rest for 5 minutes. Roughly chop lettuce, toss with pasta, and transfer to platter. Slice chicken crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices and arrange on top of pasta. Sprinkle with extra Parmesan and serve.

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