Shrimp Caesar Pasta Salad

Name: Shrimp Caesar Pasta Salad Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 8 ounces rotini pasta; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 lb shrimp (dried with paper towels); 1 teaspoon sweet paprika; 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning; ½ teaspoon sea salt; ½ lemon; 4 cups romaine hearts (chopped); 1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes (cut in half); 1 cup croutons; 1 cup caesar salad dressing; ½ cup grated parmesan cheese

5 stars (24 ratings)

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This shrimp caesar pasta salad is everything we love about pasta salad and caesar salad in one bowl. It's creamy and crunchy and great for weeknights because it's easy to toss together, plus it's ready in just 25 minutes!

For more delicious pasta salad recipes, try our Greek pasta salad, Mexican pasta salad, or pasta salad with Italian dressing.

Shrimp Caesar Pasta Salad in a bowl with a fork

There are lots of things to love about this shrimp caesar pasta salad. It's toothsome rotini, crisp romaine lettuce, crunchy croutons, and perfectly seasoned shrimp lightly tossed in a creamy zippy dressing.

This elevated version of caesar salad with homemade croutons and shrimp is a twist on the classic that everyone will love. Serve it as a lighter weeknight dinner or alongside Italian-inspired main dishes. It's also the perfect meal-style salad for BBQs season and outdoor summer gatherings!

It tastes especially great with our homemade easy caesar dressing, but you could use your favorite store-bought version in a pinch. Save yourself some time by making the dressing and croutons ahead of time, then all you have to do is toss it all together.

Shrimp Caesar Pasta Salad in a bowl with caesar dressing poured over the top

Caesar pasta salad ingredients

Here's everything you'll need to make this shrimp caesar pasta salad:

Rotini pasta – this twisty pasta shape is great for holding lots of flavorful dressing.
Olive oil – for frying the shrimp.
Shrimp – peeled and deveined.
Seasonings: paprika, Italian seasoning*, and salt
Lemon – to brighten everything up
Romaine – for the base of the caesar salad.
Cherry tomatoes
Croutons – for their wonderful savory crunch.
Caesar dressing – your favorite caesar dressing. Try it with our easy casear dressing for a real treat!
Parmesan – for a bold, cheesy taste.

*We use our homemade Italian seasoning but you can use a store-bought blend or your favorite italian herb like parsley, basil, thyme, oregano, or rosemary.

Shrimp Caesar Pasta Salad in a salad bowl

How to make shrimp caesar pasta salad

This shrimp ceasar pasta salad is easy to make by following a few simple steps:

Start by cooking the pasta according to the package directions. Once it's al dente, drain it and then run cold water over the pasta until it's cold. (It may be sacreligeous to rinse pasta, but in this case, it removes some of the starches and makes for a better caesar pasta salad.)
Next, cook the shrimp. Add the shrimp, paprika, Italian seasoning, and salt to a hot pan with a bit of oil. Stir it well to coat and then cook the shrimp for 2 minutes. As soon as the shrimp begin to curl and loose their transluecent look, remove the pan from heat and squeeze a little lemon juice over the top.
Now it's time to assemble. Add the pasta, cooked shrimp, and all other ingredients together in a large bowl with dressing and mix well to combine. That's it!

Full recipe instructions are in the recipe card below.

How to make homemade croutons

Making your own croutons is surprisingly easy to do and a great way to use up bread that would otherwise go in the compost. Homemade croutons are also healthier and way tastier than store-bought.

To make them, simply dice some bread, toss it in olive oil and seasonings (like Italian seasoning and a bit of parmesan cheese) and bake until crispy. Use them right away or allow them to cool and store them in an air-tight container for up to 2 weeks.

Try this salad with our garlic parmesan croutons or bacon croutons.

FAQS

Can I make this salad ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare all the ingredients ahead of time but to avoid the lettuce getting soggy, wait until you're ready to serve it to add the dressing.

I'm not a big fan of shrimp, can I use chicken instead?

Sure! You'll want to dice it and cook it for about 5-6 minutes.

Can you recommend a good caesar dressing?

We love LOVE our easy caesar dressing. It only takes 5 minutes to make and has all the flavor of the classic recipe. If you have a bottle of store-bought caesar dressing in your fridge, go ahead and use that. But if not, give our recipe a try!

Ideas for serving caesar pasta salad

This caesar pasta salad with shrimp has all the components of a complete meal. For a heartier meal, we love serving it alongside our spaghetti squash lasagna boats, or juicy grilled pork chops.

It also makes a great on-the-go satisfying lunch either on it's own or with a sandwich like our porchetta sandwich or bacon sandwich with caramelized onions.

Since pasta salad is the ultimate picnic, party, and potluck food, make a big batch for a delicious spin on classic pasta salad that everyone will love!