Name: Caesar Salmon Pasta Salad Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 8 oz. cavatappi pasta (or other curly pasta); 1 head romaine lettuce (about 6-8 cups sliced); shredded parmesan cheese for serving; 1 lb. salmon filet; 1/2 tsp. sea salt; 1/8 tsp. black pepper; 1 clove of garlic; 1 Tbsp. anchovy paste; pinch of salt; 1 egg yolk; 4 Tbsp. lemon juice (about 1 lemon, ok if it’s less); 1 tsp. dijon mustard; 2 Tbsp. olive oil; 2 Tbsp. canola oil

Jump to Recipe· 5 from 3 reviews

This EASY Caesar pasta salad recipe is ready in just 30 minutes and it’s a healthy meal that the entire family will love! Caesar salmon pasta salad features chewy pasta, crunchy romaine lettuce, a zippy homemade Caesar dressing (don’t worry, it’s simple), and topped with a piece of easy grilled salmon (if you want a chicken version, try the chicken Caesar pasta salad). It’s a satisfying, delicious, and family-friendly meal. (Tips for serving salmon to picky eaters here.)

If you love salmon as much as we do, give my classic salmon Caesar salad, panko salmon, teriyaki salmon, and furikake salmon a try next time.

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How to Make Caesar Salmon Pasta Salad:

This Caesar pasta salad recipe with salmon is ready in just 30 minutes! Here’s how to make it.

Cook pasta. Cook to al dente, according to package instructions. Set aside to cool and drizzle with a touch of olive oil to prevent sticking.
Make dressing. The trick to the best Caesar salad dressing with anchovy paste is fresh ingredients and turning the garlic into a paste so that it’s nice and smooth. Use the side of a knife to scrape together a paste of garlic, anchovy paste, and salt. Then add egg yolk, lemon juice, dijon mustard, olive oil, and canola oil. Whisk or shake together in a jar until dressing is emulsified.
Grill salmon. Pre-heat grill to medium-high and create a small grill pan with aluminum foil so that the salmon doesn’t stick to the grill. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper and cook for about 4-6 minutes per side, or until salmon reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F.

Assemble Caesar salmon pasta salad. Toss together pasta with romaine lettuce and homemade Caesar dressing. Season with shredded Parmesan cheese, sea salt, and black pepper to taste. Serve with grilled salmon on the side or over the top of the Caesar pasta salad recipe.

ingredients for Caesar pasta salad in a bowl

How to Store Caesar Pasta Salad:

Store this pasta salad with Caesar dressing in the refrigerator for 1 day, but it’s really best eaten right after you make it.

If you know you’ll have leftovers, don’t toss the pasta with the romaine or the Caesar dressing with anchovy paste until right before serving.

How to Serve Simple Caesar Pasta Salad with Salmon to the Whole Family:

My kids happily gobble this meal up every time I make it, but I do have some serving tips to make it family-friendly:

Serving Suggestion – Reserve some of each component to serve separately if your kids don’t like their food mixed. Serve pasta and salmon separately and then drizzle some of the romaine with the dressing. Let kids add Parmesan where they would like it.
Sides – While we’ve got pasta as a portion of this meal, you could also include a slice of bread or some fresh fruit on the side if you think your kiddos aren’t going to love it.

Caesar Pasta Salad Recipe Nutrition + Substitutes:

How Many Calories in Salmon Caesar Pasta Salad?

Each serving of healthy salmon pasta salad has 550 calories. The full nutrition stats can be found below the recipe.

Easy Salmon Pasta Salad Substitutes:

I’ve got a few easy swaps and additions ideas for this salmon pasta salad with Caesar dressing:

Pasta – I prefer the texture and chew of white pasta most of the time, but feel free to swap in your favorite here – gluten-free, bean-based pastas, or whole wheat.
Kale – Add some thinly sliced kale to this dish Caesar pasta recipe.
Salmon – Don’t love salmon? Swap it for shrimp or chicken.

Caesar pasta salad in serving bowl with salmon

More Easy Salmon Recipes:

If you like this Caesar salmon pasta salad recipe, you might also like some of these other salmon recipes:

Apricot Glazed Salmon – Just two ingredients to make this sweet and savory glaze that the whole family will love. Seriously, a little sweetness can sway young eaters!
Salmon with Fresh Dill Butter – Restaurant quality salmon is possible and this 30-minute recipe makes it easy.
Panko Salmon – Get your kids to help you with this one, it’s beyond easy and a favorite in the weeknight dinner club.
Healthy Salmon Tacos – Dry rubbed salmon + a crunchy slaw + creamy avocados? It’s a dream taco!

Helpful Tools to Make Caesar Salmon and Pasta Salad Recipe:

Instant Read Meat Thermometer – I know, I know. I always mention this little tool. But it’s because I think EVERYONE should have one and use it frequently! Less than $15, too.
Microplane Zester – A great alternative to mincing garlic is to use a microplane, which will grate the garlic into a pulp – no chunks of garlic to worry about!
Flaky Sea Salt – Maldon, or finishing salt is the best way to elevate a meal. This container will last you a while as you don’t use it while you’re cooking, but after.