This Kale Caesar Pasta Salad is creamy, refreshing, and filling. It’s perfect for lunch or a summer side dish, easy to make, and packed with healthy ingredients.
I meant to post this Kale Caesar Pasta Salad Recipe before Memorial Day weekend, but time got away from me. This Caesar pasta salad is easy, delicious, and can be enjoyed all year round. It’s a variation of traditional Caesar salad made with pasta, chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, and kale instead of romaine. And it’s so good!
Last week, I shared my recipe for Bruschetta Pasta Salad, and I’m honestly having difficulty deciding which recipes I like better. Both have so many delicious ingredients and can be served warm or cold.
Why Your Body Will Love This Caesar Pasta Salad
- Vitamins, Minerals, and Antioxidants – Dark leafy greens like kale are high in antioxidants, which help to reduce inflammation in the body. Excess inflammation can lead to many illnesses, including cancer. It contains potassium, nitrates, and iron, which contribute to heart and blood health; vitamin K, magnesium, and calcium, which support strong bones; and Vitamin A and lutein, which support our eyes and vision.
- Chickpeas are super(food!) – Chickpeas contain saponins, which help fight cancer, and calcium, iron, and other nutrients that contribute to bone health. Chickpeas help the brain and nervous system function properly and contain vitamins A, C, E, folate, and magnesium.
- Fiber – I love beans for many reasons, especially their fiber content. The fiber in chickpeas helps digestion (including passing healthy bowel movements) and blood sugar regulation. It binds to toxins and carries them out of our system. Fiber also helps us feel full for longer, contributing to weight management.
What You’ll Need For This Kale Caesar Pasta Salad
- Pasta – You can use any kind of pasta you like: regular, whole wheat, or gluten-free. I recommend using something bite-sized. I had some bowties and penne, so I mixed them together, and it worked great.
- Kale – Traditional Caesar salads are made with crunchy romaine lettuce. I happen to love kale, though, so I made this recipe using kale instead. It is nice and hearty and stands up well to the pasta and dressing.
- Croutons – You can use store-bought or homemade croutons. I just bought a package of Caesar croutons, and they worked great. They soften up a little after mixing with the dressing, so they have a nice texture.
- Caesar Dressing – Again, you can use store-bought or homemade. I used store-bought because it was much easier, and I don’t have a go-to homemade recipe I use regularly.
- Chickpeas – I realize there are a lot of carbs in this pasta salad, haha, but I love the taste and texture they add. You can easily omit them if you like, though.
Why You’ll Love This Kale Pasta Salad
I love this pasta salad for a few reasons:
- It’s really easy to make – The only cooking you have to do is make the pasta and crisp the chickpeas. Other than that, you simply add all the ingredients to a large bowl and mix together. Using store-bought croutons and dressing really helps cut down on the preparation time!
- You can enjoy it warm or cold – You can eat the pasta immediately after making it or refrigerate it for 3-4 days. Using kale instead of lettuce really helps it stand up better in the refrigerator.
- It’s great for lunch or a side dish – When I made this recipe, we enjoyed it for both lunch and dinner. It’s also great for a BBQ, picnic, or potluck.
How To Make This Kale Caesar Pasta Salad
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions. Drain pasta and rinse in cold water. Add to a large mixing or serving bowl.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil, chickpeas, and spices. Stir and cook until the chickpeas are crispy, about 10 minutes.
- Add the chickpeas to the pasta and all the other ingredients, and mix well. Make sure all ingredients are equally coated with the dressing. Season with salt and pepper and top with grated parmesan cheese.
Have a question about this pasta salad? Ask me in the comments, and I’ll get back to you ASAP.
Looking For More Vegetarian Pasta Salad Recipes?
Bruschetta Pasta Salad with Parmesan
Fall Pasta Salad with Butternut Squash
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Kale Caesar Pasta Salad
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Kale Caesar Pasta Salad is creamy, hearty and refreshing! Perfect for lunch or a potluck side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 5–6 cups dry pasta, whatever kind you like
- 1 (15 oz) can chickpeas, drained, rinsed and patter dry
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon regular paprika
- 3 cups chopped kale
- 1 cup croutons
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, cut in half
- 1 cup caesar dressing
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add pasta and cook according to package directions. Drain pasta and give a rinse in cold water. Add to a large mixing or serving bowl.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add olive oil, chickpeas and spices. Stir and cook until chickpeas are crispy, about 10 minutes.
- Add the chickpeas to the pasta, along with all the other ingredients and mix well. Make sure everything is equally coated with dressing. Season with salt and pepper and top with grated parmesan cheese.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Category: Lunch, Vegetarian
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
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