Description
This Healthy Creamy Caesar Pasta Salad combines the comfort of pasta with the fresh, tangy profile of a classic Caesar, featuring a yogurt-based dressing that offers high protein and is free from heavy mayo.
Ingredients
12 oz Whole grain or chickpea fusilli
3 cups Fresh Romaine lettuce, chopped
1 cup Grilled chicken breast or chickpeas (optional)
1/2 cup Plain Greek yogurt (full fat preferred)
2 tablespoons Extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons Freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 cloves Fresh garlic, minced
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon Raw honey or maple syrup
1/4 cup Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Sea salt and cracked black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Boil the pasta in salted water until al dente
- Prepare the dressing by whisking Greek yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, honey, and Parmesan cheese until smooth
- Cool the pasta by rinsing it under cold water after draining
- Chop the Romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces and ensure it is dry
- In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, chopped lettuce, and any optional protein, then pour the dressing over the top
- Toss everything together until well coated, then season with salt and pepper as needed
- Garnish with additional Parmesan cheese or red pepper flakes if desired
Notes
For Vegan version, substitute Greek yogurt with unsweetened almond or cashew yogurt and Parmesan cheese with nutritional yeast.
To make Gluten-Free, use chickpea or brown rice pasta.
Store pasta and dressing separately if meal prepping to keep lettuce crisp.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 385 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg