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caesar pasta salad on a plate, bowl with more in the background

TAHINI CAESAR PASTA SALAD

This Caesar Pasta Salad takes your usual pasta salad to the next level with a creamy, flavourful tahini Caesar dressing. Loaded with bacon, parmesan, and crunchy sourdough croutons, this healthy twist on a classic is a stand-out recipe you’ll want again and again.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 8 Servings

Ingredients

  • 7 oz. (~2 cups cooked) Short-Cut Pasta (like rotini, cavatappi, or penne)
  • 6 slices Bacon* cooked until crispy and crumbled
  • ⅓ cup Freshly Grated or Shaved Parmesan
  • 1.5 cups Sourdough Croutons (homemade or store-bought—see note)
  • 4 cups Romaine Lettuce chopped
  • Salt and Fresh Black Pepper to taste
  • Lemon Wedges for serving
  • 1 recipe Tahini Caesar Dressing (or regular Caesar dressing, to taste—see note)

Instructions

  • Boil pasta in salted water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cool water to stop the cooking. Let it cool slightly while you prep the rest. Optional: Drizzle with a touch of olive oil to prevent sticking.
    rotini pasta boiling in a pot of water, spoon lifting some up
  • In a large bowl, add the cooled pasta, the chopped romaine, crumbled bacon, Parmesan, and a generous drizzle of the tahini Caesar dressing.
    bowl of chopped romaine, shaved parmesan, and crumbled bacon drizzled with creamy dressing
  • Toss until well combined. Season to taste with salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
    caesar pasta salad in a bowl next to lemon wedges
  • Just before serving, toss in the sourdough croutons so they stay crispy. Finish with an extra shave of Parmesan and a crack of black pepper. Serve chilled or at room temp with lemon wedges on the side.
    tossed pasta with romaine, croutons, parm, bacon bits, and caesar dressing

Notes

This recipe serves 4–6 as a main dish or 6–8 as a side salad. Nutritional information is calculated based on 8 servings as a side.
For perfectly crispy bacon with minimal mess, try my broiled bacon method. It’s easy, hands-off, and adds maximum flavour to your salad.
Swap in regular croutons if you don’t have sourdough on hand.
This salad shines with tahini Caesar dressing, but you can easily swap in classic Caesar dressing if you prefer.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2–3 days. Keep croutons separate until serving to stay crispy.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Serving | Calories: 218kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 236mg | Potassium: 172mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 2088IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 1mg
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