Tortellini Ceasar Salad
Ceasar Salad with cooked and cooled tortellini added is so simple, yet so delicious. This salad is perfect as a side dish, easily made vegetarian and perfect to take to your next potluck.
Ingredients
- 1-1½ lb tortellini
- 3 heads romaine lettuce
- 1 cup Ceasar salad dressing
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, shredded
- 1 cup chicken, cut up (leftover grilled or rotisserie) optional
- 6 strips bacon
- croutons
Instructions
- Cook the tortellini according to the package instructions. Pour into a colander, rinse with cold water then set aside to rest and cool.
- Take off the outer leaves of the romaine, if they are looking rough. Chop off the very top, if the leaves are browning. Slice up the whole head, down to the core. Repeat with the other heads of lettuce. Place all the lettuce in a colander to rinse and clean, or a salad spinner to rinse and spin to get the water off. If a spinner is not available, gently shake the colander with the wet lettuce to shake off as much water as possible, then move through the lettuce with a few paper towels to soak up as much water as you are able to. We don't want the lettuce to be dripping wet.
- Place the cleaned lettuce into a very large salad bowl, or separate into two big bowls, which is what I normally do.
- Lay out the strips of bacon together in a bunch, on a cutting board. Cut into small pieces. Place the bacon pieces into a large, hot skillet. Stir and watch closely till done. Scoop out the pieces with a large, slotted spoon onto a plate with paper towels to absorb the grease. Set aside.
- Cut up a couple pieces of grilled or broiled chicken or some rotisserie chicken.
- Add the chicken and bacon to the salad. Pour the dressing over the top. Use more than a cup if you wish. Add the parmesan cheese. Use salad tongs to toss it all together. Add the cooled tortellini on top and use a large spoon to fold the pasta into the salad.
- Serve with a bowl of croutons on the side. This salad keeps well if covered tightly in the fridge for 1-2 days. Except the croutons, which is why we keep them on the side.
Notes
**If using as a side dish I keep the chicken out, but still add the bacon. If you are serving a vegetarian, keep the bacon on the side with the croutons for those who want it.
**My absolute favorite dressing to use on this salad is the Ken's Steak House Lite Creamy Ceasar.