The Pioneer Woman's Transformative Take On Pasta Salad Makes it Entrée-Worthy

There are a few dishes we eat pretty much all summer long, without fail. Cold salads top the list. From macaroni salad and cole slaw to caprese made with summer tomatoes, cool salads are the perfect way to beat the heat. But you need to put a little extra love into the ones you want to stand on their own as entrées, rather than serving as a side to whatever you decide to throw on the grill. So how does Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman television star, blogger, and cookbook author do it? She combines two classic summer favorites into one epic pasta salad, which we already know we’ll be devouring all summer long.

If you’ve ever found yourself trying to choose between a chicken Caesar salad or a bowl of pasta at a restaurant, then this recipe is for you: chicken Caesar pasta salad. It’s satisfying and refreshing, light yet hearty, and features the crisp green flavor of romaine lettuce, crunchy croutons, seared chicken breast, a creamy homemade dressing, pasta, and (of course) a shower of shaved Parmesan to serve.

Now, if you’re daunted by the thought of making your own Caesar dressing, Drummond says you can use a bottle of creamy Caesar dressing from the store, but you owe it to yourself to try making it from scratch at least once. The dressing has a rich, creamy texture, but the flavor is punchy thanks to plenty of garlic, capers, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and the optional anchovy filets. If you skip the anchovy, you can add a dollop of miso instead, or just taste the dressing at the end and adjust for salt as needed.

Another way to simplify this chicken Caesar pasta salad recipe is to use a rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken to make it, but Drummond’s chicken cooking technique couldn’t be easier. Just season some boneless, skinless chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and paprika, then sear them in butter until golden on both sides. Using butter instead of oil helps the chicken brown, and also adds flavor.

Toss your favorite shape of cooked, rinsed pasta (Drummond uses medium shells, but farfalle or rotini would work here too) with the dressing, lettuce, chicken, croutons, and cheese, and you’ve got dinner. It’s exactly the type of food we want to eat when it’s hot outside, and even though it tastes cool and fresh, it’s actually deeply satisfying thanks to the protein, pasta, and creamy dressing. Salad lovers, pasta lovers, and chicken lovers unite, because this Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is going to be your dish of the summer.

In search of more summer recipes? Giada De Laurentiis has plenty:

Watch: How to Make Watermelon Mango Salsa

Best of SheKnows

• Over-Salted Your Food? Don't Worry, It Can Easily Be Fixed With These Hacks

• 41 Star Wars-Inspired Recipes to Celebrate May the 4th

• Costco's Bakery Section Is Severely Underrated — Here Are the Items You Need to Try

Sign up for SheKnows' Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.