Chicken Caesar Pasta

Chicken Caesar plus pasta equals a winning combination.

By
Laurel Randolph
Laurel Randolph
Laurel Randolph
Laurel has over 10 years of experience developing recipes and writing about food. She is the author of 4 cookbooks, including the bestselling "The Instant Pot Electric Cookbook."
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Updated April 01, 2024
Laurel Randolph
Chicken caesar pasta in a pan

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

The only salad that I know of that most kids routinely and voluntarily eat is Caesar salad. Kids love it, adults love it—the umami-packed dressing is a great unifier. What do you if you want something heartier than salad, but you still want the punchy flavors and creaminess of Caesar? Make this chicken Caesar pasta.

This magical dish is what would happen if you combined Alfredo and Caesar into one dish to rule them all. The sauce has all of the makings of Caesar dressing but swaps the egg for heavy cream and combines it with juicy chicken tenderloins. You can’t go wrong serving it over your favorite pasta, or, for a low-carb option, serve it over romaine hearts with croutons. 

I guarantee as soon as your family or dinner guests hear the words “chicken” and “Caesar” and “pasta,” they’ll come running.

Close-up: chicken caesar pasta recipe

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Adventurous Caesar

Chicken Caesar Pasta

Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 45 mins
Servings 4 servings

This recipe was developed by Melissa Gray.

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Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast tenderloins

  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt, divided

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided, plus more for garnish

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

  • 8 ounces dried farfalle pasta (about 3 cups)

  • 3 large garlic cloves, minced

  • 2 teaspoons finely chopped drained canned anchovies

  • 1 3/4 cups heavy cream

  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

  • 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning

  • 1/2 cup (2 ounces) grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish

  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

Method

  1. Boil water:

    Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat.

  2. Meanwhile, cook the chicken:

    Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Sprinkle evenly with 1 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. 

    Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet over medium heat, about 3 minutes. Add the seasoned chicken and cook, turning as needed, until a thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the chicken registers 165°F, about 8 minutes. 

    Remove the chicken from the skillet, set aside on a plate, and loosely cover with aluminum foil to keep warm.

    chicken breast tenderloins cooking in a pan for chicken caesar pasta recipe

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
    cooked chicken tenderloins on a plate for chicken caesar pasta recipe

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
  3. Cook the pasta:

    Stir the pasta and 1 tablespoon of the salt into the boiling water. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente, about 11 minutes.

    pasta boiling in a pot for chicken caesar pasta recipe

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
  4. Meanwhile, make the sauce:

    While the pasta is cooking, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil in the same skillet over medium heat (do not wipe the skillet clean). Add the garlic and anchovies and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. 

    Slowly whisk in the cream, Dijon, and Italian seasoning and use the whisk to scrape any browned bits from the skillet. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. 

    Remove from the heat and whisk in the Parmesan, lemon juice, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper until the cheese is melted.

    heavy cream whisked into the rest of the sauce ingredients in the pan for chicken caesar pasta recipe

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
    chicken caesar pasta sauce in the pan

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
  5. Assemble and serve:

    When pasta is done cooking, drain well. Transfer to the skillet with the sauce. Stir in the chicken tenders until fully coated. Garnish with additional Parmesan and black pepper, if desired.

    Love the recipe? Leave us stars and a comment below!

    farfalle pasta added to the pan with the sauce for chicken caesar pasta recipe

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
    caesar pasta topped with chicken tenderloins for chicken caesar pasta recipe

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
    close-up: chicken caesar pasta on a fork

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
781 Calories
56g Fat
24g Carbs
44g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 781
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 56g 72%
Saturated Fat 29g 144%
Cholesterol 222mg 74%
Sodium 986mg 43%
Total Carbohydrate 24g 9%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 44g
Vitamin C 2mg 10%
Calcium 231mg 18%
Iron 3mg 14%
Potassium 462mg 10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.