Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

This is a keeper recipe per hubby, so I'll give this the labels of super easy and hubby approved!

This was made a bit easier this go as I had 2 already leftover baked chicken breasts in the freezer.  They had been seasoned with garlic and rosemary but I think if you want to add chicken, you can decide how you want to do this.  Or... you can go vegetarian and leave off the meat or add roasted chickpeas.  I bet they would be awesome on this salad!

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Ingredients:
Cooled Cooked Pasta (I used bowtie)
Chopped Romaine Lettuce
2 Cubed Chicken breasts
Shredded Parmesan Cheese
Caesar Dressing of Choice
Seasonings of choice for Pasta (water is usually salted for boiling so I choose unsalted seasonings like garlic and pepper)
EVOO
croutons (optional) I served hubby's with 1/2 pita. 


Cook Pasta and drain.  Put pasta back in pan and toss a little EVOO, garlic, pepper, and parsley for flavor.  Let cool. 

If you need to cook your chicken breasts.  Bake or pan fry as preferred.  Do this along with the pasta so both can set aside to cool a bit.  When cool, cube chicken breasts.

While everything is cooking, you can begin chopping your lettuce. 

Now that everything is done... it's time to plate!

I put a pasta fork full of pasta on the plate first.

Then I topped with a ton of Romaine

Then I added about a handful (I have small hands) of chicken.

Top with the shredded parmesan

Drizzle with your Caesar dressing

Enjoy!

I made my pasta ahead of time so it had time to cool a lot so my lettuce didn't get soggy.  It was also helpful having the chicken only warm rather than hot for the same reason.  I'm guessing this dinner, from "scratch" wouldn't take but 30 minutes to prepare (depending on your chicken and pasta cooking times and allowing to cool a bit. 

I had enough left to make a 3rd salad for lunch the next day. 

Easy Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup

There are tons of variations of this recipe on Pinterest.  This is not an original recipe, but I don't know who to tell you who should get the credit.  Also, I read the ingredients on a recipe then did my own thing.  But this is a recipe share that I think you'll LOVE! 

I love that this basically takes about 14 - 20 minutes to make and although the tortellini absorbs a ton of broth, this soup is still fabs as leftovers.  BONUS:  This yummy soup freezes too!  I put the extra leftovers in single serve containers and freeze for work lunches.  Did I mention this is a BONUS?

I hope you'll love this.  Feel free to make this your own and then let me know how you varied the recipe!

Easy Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup 

Ingredients
6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
1 20 oz. package of Cheese Tortellini.  I use Buitoni from the refrigerated section
1 pint grape tomatoes (halved)
1/2 cup heavy cream
2/3 cup sun dried tomato or tomato basil pesto
1 pinch of red pepper flakes
salt & pepper (optional)

Directions

Bring your broth to a boil (TIP:  I halved the tomatoes while the broth came to a boil)

Add the tortellini and simmer on low/med for 7 minutes

Add the tomatoes and simmer for 2 more minutes

Add the cream, pesto, and red pepper flakes.  I did add a tad of pink salt and pepper

Let simmer for about 5 more minutes to reheat.

Enjoy!

A few variations, off the top of my head, would be to add spinach or other veggies or maybe change up the pesto!

Don't forget to let me know your variations!