Packed with tender chopped kale, pasta, and all the caesar salad works including a homemade lemon caesar dressing, this kale caesar pasta salad will soon be a cookout staple for the summer.
We are now firmly in May and I’m officially kicking off summer salad season today with this beaut! If caesar salad + pasta salad had a baby and it all got drenched in lemon.
The dream team of flavors and a salad I plan to have in my face at all times for the next 3 months, thank you.
We’ve got all the caesar salad essentials here today which means crunchy croutons, lots of shaved Parm, homemade creamy caesar dressing, and even a little leafy kale for an extra kick of greens.
Trust me, you’re gonna need ’em if you plan to eat this one as much as I do this summer.
This Pasta Salad Features…
- Tender kale and spiral pasta
- Crunchy croutons and lots of shaved Parmesan cheese
- A creamy lemon caesar dressing
Making the Pasta Salad
(scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full recipe)
Ingredients You Will Need
- Mayonnaise
- Lemon
- Worcestershire sauce
- Dijon mustard
- Garlic
- Parmesan cheese
- Pasta
- Kale
- Croutons
- Capers
Choosing Your Pasta
I recommend using a short cut of pasta such as spiral, elbow, farfalle, penne, or cavatappi. Make sure to cook pasta only to al dente in salted boiling water and rinse well in cold water before adding to salad.
Tips for Perfect Pasta Salad
- Use fresh lemon in dressing – fresh lemon juice and zest makes a huge difference flavor-wise in the dressing.
- Rinse pasta in cold water after cooking – this will stop the cooking process and cools down the pasta quickly for the salad.
- Massage kale – this helps tenderize and break down the fresh kale. Drizzle a little bit of the caesar dressing over kale and use your fingers to massage kale until it becomes tender.
- Dress salad just before serving – for best results, wait to dress the salad until just before serving so all the ingredients stay crisp and fresh. Keep reading for make-ahead instructions.
Recipe Variations
Try these ideas for a different twist on this salad.
- Add meat – try adding shredded chicken, turkey, crispy bacon bits, or diced ham.
- Use a different green – try baby spinach in place of the kale.
- Add more veggies – try adding shredded carrot, sweet pepper, or lettuce.
Make Ahead Instructions
Follow these instructions for time-saving make ahead tips.
- Make the dressing – mix the dressing and store in refrigerator up to 1 week.
- Prep the kale – massage the kale and store separately from other ingredients in refrigerator up to 4 days.
- Cook the pasta – store pasta in refrigerator up to 6 days.
- Assembly – when ready to assemble, toss all ingredients with the dressing and serve immediately.
Every bite of this pasta salad is singing with fresh lemon flavors and oh my gosh, the TEXTURE! From the crunchy croutons to the tender pasta and all those leafy greens, it’s just all-around the dream pasta salad.
Kicking salad season off right that’s for dang sure!
Save this recipe using the ‘save to recipe box’ button below. If you make it, please let us know! Leave a comment + star rating below, or take a photo and tag it on Instagram with #wholeandheavenlyoven.
Try these other favorite pasta salads next!
Lemon Kale Caesar Pasta Salad
This recipe may included paid links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
Ingredients
Lemon Caesar Dressing
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons freshly-squeezed lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (or anchovy paste)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 medium clove garlic, grated
- 1/4 cup freshly-grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Pasta Salad
- 8 oz pasta (spiral, shells, penne, etc)
- 4 cups firmly-packed chopped fresh kale
- 2 cups croutons
- 1/2 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup jarred capers, drained
Instructions
Lemon Caesar Dressing
- In a small bowl, whisk all dressing ingredients until smooth. Season dressing with salt and pepper to taste and store in refrigerator until ready to use.
Pasta Salad
- Cook pasta according to package instructions in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain pasta and rinse well in cold water until cooled. Drain well and set aside for a moment.
- Place kale in a large bowl and drizzle with 1 tablespoon Caesar dressing. Massage kale well with your fingers until the fibers break down into tender leaves.
- Add pasta, croutons, Parmesan shavings, capers, and remaining Caesar dressing to bowl and toss well until evenly coated. Serve pasta salad immediately and enjoy!
Leave a Reply