This Summer Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad with Crispy Pasta Chips is about to become your new go-to summer meal! It combines all the classic caesar flavors with juicy chicken, sweet corn and shallots, then swaps the croutons for the most addicting crispy pasta chips made in the air fryer. It’s fresh, hearty and perfect for everything from weekday dinners to backyard BBQs. This is a viral trend that’s actually worth the hype!
Crispy pasta chips have been a viral social media trend for years now, and recently people have been transforming them into crispy pasta salads! In true Maddie fashion, I’m months late to the trend but I’m so glad I finally hopped on it. Think of this summer chicken caesar pasta salad as your favorite salad, but with crispy pasta chips instead of croutons. We’re also throwing in a few twists, like sweet charred corn and some thinly sliced shallots to give it that summer feel!
Although this could easily be a cookout side dish, it’s also a full & balanced meal all on its own! It’s a bit more substantial than a typical caesar salad, thanks to the crispy pasta chips and plenty of cubed chicken thighs. In fact, each serving has 33g of protein to keep you nice and full! As if you needed more of an excuse to try this recipe…
Every bite of this summer chicken caesar pasta salad is bursting with texture and flavor. You get the crunchy pasta chips (which actually help you eat slower lol), the crisp romaine, tender bites of chicken, sharp shallot flavor, and plenty of parmesan in between. It’s a nostalgic combo that just got a little modern upgrade. Can’t wait for you to try it this summer!
Why You’ll Love this Summer Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad with Crispy Pasta Chips
- It’s everything you love about a caesar salad, with added texture & summer flair!
- Crispy pasta chips are the best replacement for croutons…you won’t want to go back.
- It’s loaded with juicy chicken, making it a protein-packed meal that actually keeps you full.
- This recipe can easily be made both gluten & dairy free with a few small swaps.
- It will be the star of the show at your next summer cookout!
What You Need to Make this Summer Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
For the Crispy Pasta Chips:
- Pasta: I like farfalle for this recipe, but feel free to experiment with other shapes — just keep an eye on them as the cook time may vary. To achieve the perfect crispy pasta chips, we first need to boil the pasta until al-dente, then dry it well, toss with oil & spices and air fry/bake.
- Avocado Oil: Or olive oil, for coating the pasta in before air frying/baking.
- Kosher Salt, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Paprika & Black Pepper: These same simple seasonings will go on the chicken, too!
For the Chicken:
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs: I like thighs here as they’re juicier and more forgiving, but you can totally substitute some thinly sliced chicken breast instead.
- Avocado Oil: Or olive oil, for marinating the chicken.
- Kosher Salt, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Paprika, Oregano & Black Pepper: This is a classic, unbeatable seasoning blend for some delicious chicken!
For the Pasta Salad:
- Romaine Lettuce: It’s not a caesar salad without it! You’ll need 6 oz, which typically comes out to about 1.5 heads.
- Corn: For summer twist to this chicken caesar pasta salad, we’re adding in some charred corn, cut directly off the cob.
- Shallot: Thinly sliced shallot adds a sharp kick of flavor! Feel free to reduce or omit if you’re sensitive to that.
- Parmesan Cheese: I like shaved parmesan here, and then I typically top it with even more freshly grated parmesan.
- Caesar Dressing: My favorite caesar dressing is the Primal Kitchen one, which is made with real ingredients & healthy fats from avocado oil. You will use about 3/4 of one bottle.
How To Make This Summer Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad with Crispy Pasta Chips
Boil Pasta & Dry Well:
First, cook your pasta in heavily salted water for 1 minute less than package instructions. Drain & add it back to the pot on low heat for 1-2 more minutes, stirring constantly to remove any excess moisture. Alternatively, you can pat the pasta dry well with paper towels.
Air Fry or Bake Pasta until Crispy:
Once dry, toss pasta with avocado oil and seasonings. Spread out evenly on an air fryer tray, or baking sheet, making sure there’s minimal overlap. There are a few different methods you can use to make these crispy pasta chips — a standard air fryer, air fryer setting of oven, or a standard oven bake.
For a standard air fryer — air fry at 400F for about 6 minutes. Keep an eye on them as every air fryer is different. You want them to be lightly golden and crunchy. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you will likely have to do this in several batches. If your oven happens to have an air fry setting — air fry at 400F for 16-20 minutes, flipping once halfway. If you don’t have access to an air fryer, or your oven doesn’t have an air fryer setting, you can oven bake these at 400F for about 24 minutes, flipping once halfway. Allow the pasta chips to cool down completely.
Grill Chicken Thighs & Corn on the Cob:
While the pasta chips are baking, add all of the chicken ingredients to a medium bowl and toss to coat. Preheat your grill to 450F (about medium-high heat), and add the chicken, as well as the shucked corn sprayed or brushed with oil. Cook the chicken for ~5 minutes per side, or until done through. Rotate the corn every few minutes until all sides are charred, about 12 minutes total. Allow both to cool down, then cube the chicken & cut the kernels off the cobs.
Assemble Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad:
Finally, assemble your pasta salad with chopped romaine, corn, cubed chicken, thinly sliced shallot, shaved parmesan, crispy pasta chips and caesar dressing. Toss to combine. Best enjoyed fresh!
What are Crispy Pasta Chips? Tips for Success?
Crispy pasta chips became trendy on social media several years ago, and now they’re being transformed into crispy pasta salads! It’s pretty much just boiled pasta, tossed in oil and spices, then air fryer or oven baked until crispy. The options are endless here — you can customize the spices or even switch up the pasta shape. They are a fun snack all on their own, paired with a dip, or as a replacement for croutons, like in this summer chicken caesar pasta salad.
To achieve the perfect crispy pasta chips, you’ll want to boil your pasta for about 1 minute less than the package instructions. Then, it’s important to get them really dry which you can do one of two ways — my preferred method is to add the drained pasta back to the pot on low heat and stir constantly for 1-2 minutes until really dry. Alternatively, you can just pat the pasta dry very well with paper towels. Excess moisture will prevent the pasta chips from getting crispy!
It’s also important to minimize overlap on the baking sheet or air fryer tray. I typically use the air fry setting on my oven, which allows me to spread everything out on a large baking sheet and cook these all in one batch. However, most air fryer trays or baskets are much smaller, so you will likely have to do this in batches. If you’re using a standard air fryer, you will likely have to decrease the cook time to about 6 minutes, but keep an eye on them. You can also oven bake them at 400F for 24 minutes, flipping halfway.
Substitution FAQs:
- Can I make this gluten free? For sure! Just substitute your favorite brand of gluten free pasta (Jovial brown rice pasta would be great here) & keep an eye on it because the cook time may vary slightly.
- Can I make this dairy free? Yup, all you need to do is substitute dairy-free parmesan cheese or omit it entirely. The Primal Kitchen caesar dressing is already naturally dairy free!
- Is it possible to use chicken breast instead of thighs? Yes. I prefer chicken thighs because they’re less prone to drying out, but thinly sliced chicken breast will also work just fine for a leaner option. Grilling time may vary slightly.
- What if I don’t like the taste of shallots? You can certainly omit them entirely, or soak the thinly sliced shallots in ice water for 10-20 minutes (then dry well) to reduce some of that sharp bite.
- Can I use raw, canned or frozen corn instead? All of these will work! Raw corn cut off the cob is great for added texture, while canned and frozen are convenient options. Be sure to drain & dry the canned corn, or thaw your frozen corn fully before using in this recipe.
How Should I Store Leftovers?
Due to the crispy pasta chips, this Summer Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is best enjoyed fresh. However, if you have leftovers, they are still pretty good for up to 24 hours in the fridge, when stored in an airtight container. You can expect both the pasta chips to soften & romaine to wilt slightly. If you’re looking to prep this ahead of time, try storing the pasta chips in a separate airtight container at room temperature, and the remaining ingredients in an airtight container without the caesar dressing. When ready to eat, assemble your portion by tossing with the crispy pasta chips and caesar dressing.
Find the full recipe below. As always, please let me know if you tried it by commenting below or tagging me on Instagram, @munchinwithmaddie_.
Looking for More Caesar Recipes?
- Chicken Caesar Meatball Sheet Pan Dinner
- Caesar Chicken Salad
- Cajun Chicken Caesar Salad with Shaved Brussels Sprouts
- Crispy Chicken Caesar Salad
Summer Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad (with Crispy Pasta Chips)
Equipment
- medium pot
- colander
- baking sheet
- Air Fryer (optional)
- grill
- large salad bowl with tongs
Ingredients
For the Crispy Pasta Chips:
- 8 oz dry farfalle pasta (sub gluten free pasta as needed)*
- 1 tbsp avocado oil or olive oil
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp paprika
- ¼ tsp black pepper
For the Chicken:
- 1.25 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 tbsp avocado oil or olive oil
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp oregano
- ¼ tsp black pepper
For the Pasta Salad:
- 6 oz romaine lettuce chopped (about 1.5 heads)
- 2 ears of corn shucked
- 1 small shallot very thinly sliced
- 1.5 oz shaved parmesan (about ½ cup)
- 6 oz Primal Kitchen Caesar Dressing (or caesar dressing of choice)
Instructions
- First, cook your pasta in heavily salted water for 1 minute less than package instructions. Drain & add it back to the pot on low heat for 1-2 more minutes, stirring constantly to remove any excess moisture. Alternatively, you can pat the pasta dry well with paper towels.8 oz dry farfalle pasta
- Once dry, toss pasta with avocado oil and seasonings. Spread out evenly on an air fryer tray, or baking sheet, making sure there’s minimal overlap. STANDARD AIR FRYER: Air fry at 400F for about 6 minutes. Keep an eye on them as every air fryer is different. You want them to be lightly golden and crunchy. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you will likely have to do this in several batches.AIR FRY SETTING ON OVEN:This is my preferred method, if your oven happens to have an air fry setting. Air fry at 400F for 16-20 minutes, flipping once halfway.STANDARD OVEN BAKE:If you don't have access to an air fryer, or your oven doesn't have an air fryer setting, you can oven bake these at 400F for about 24 minutes, flipping once halfway. Allow the pasta chips to cool down completely.1 tbsp avocado oil, ½ tsp kosher salt, ¼ tsp garlic powder, ¼ tsp onion powder, ¼ tsp paprika, ¼ tsp black pepper
- While the pasta chips are baking, add all of the chicken ingredients to a medium bowl and toss to coat. Preheat your grill to 450F (about medium-high heat), and add the chicken, as well as the shucked corn sprayed or brushed with oil. Cook the chicken for ~5 minutes per side, or until done through. Rotate the corn every few minutes until all sides are charred, about 12 minutes total. Allow both to cool down, then cube the chicken & cut the kernels off the cobs.1.25 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, 1 tbsp avocado oil, 1 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, ½ tsp paprika, ½ tsp oregano, ¼ tsp black pepper
- Assemble your pasta salad with chopped romaine, corn, cubed chicken, thinly sliced shallot, shaved parmesan, crispy pasta chips and caesar dressing. Toss to combine. Best enjoyed fresh!6 oz romaine lettuce, 2 ears of corn, 1 small shallot, 1.5 oz shaved parmesan, 6 oz Primal Kitchen Caesar Dressing
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
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