Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Sometimes, I think my kids must find me a real drag. I mean, they love carbohydrates sooooo much. Why should they be forced to suffer through a salad? If they were meant to eat leaves, they would have been born cows… right? No.

I’m kidding. Just a little. Maybe. Really they don’t complain. Much.

However, this mean, green Mama came equipped with a wonderful little sensor. I can feel the resistance building. When I feel an attack of the ‘anti-leaf’ campaign approaching, I immediately resort to subterfuge. I find a way to get those greens in. I get behind their defenses and hit them where it hurts. Right in the taste buds. This recipe is a beautiful pairing of pasta and salad that they can’t resist. The secret ingredient? Bacon! They see the greens, they know they’re good for them. They know they should at least try to resist, but their surrender is inevitable. This dish is just too tasty. Support your own troops with this delicious pasta salad. Pack a punch that they won’t soon forget. Who said your greens had to taste ‘green’ anyway?!

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

•  1 cup dry pasta; cooked according to package directions
• 8 pieces bacon; cooked crisp and crumbled
• 1 tbsp bacon grease*
• 1 cup cooked chicken, diced
• 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup shredded parmesan
• 1/2 head of lettuce (or whole if small), chopped**
• 1 cup croutons (optional)
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup casesar dressing (or more to taste)

Directions

1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
2. Cook bacon, reserve 1-2 tbsp of the drippings/grease.
3. Transfer cooled pasta to a bowl and toss with the bacon drippings* until evenly combined.
4. Add in all other ingredients and stir thoroughly until evenly combined.
5. Add in more dressing if necessary, to taste, and again toss everything to evenly coat.
6. Serve immediately.**

*Don’t skip the bacon drippnigs! I know it might be tempting, but the flavor just isn’t nearly as robust without it. Also, it helps prevent the pasta from sticking together if you want to let it chill or transport.

**If not serving immediately, DO NOT add in the lettuce until you are ready to serve. If you add in the lettuce and don’t serve immediately the lettuce will be wilted and soggy.

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