Kale Caesar Pasta Salad
This easy Kale Caesar Pasta Salad with roasted chickpeas and Parmesan is loaded with flavor and crunch! It's a great potluck choice and works very well for meal prep.
Servings: 6
Calories: 281kcal
Ingredients
- 8 ounces gemelli pasta or other short pasta (see notes below)
- 10 ounces green curly kale chopped
- 15 ounces chickpeas rinsed and drained well
Seasoning for Chickpeas
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
For the Rest
- ¼ cup Caesar salad dressing or as needed to coat the salad (your favorite brand - loving Panera's)
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese plus additional for garnish
- 1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- Freshly ground black pepper taste
Instructions
- Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package directions for al dente. Drain the pasta well, transfer it to a bowl, and place it in the refrigerator to chill.
- Meanwhile, place the drained chickpeas in a medium mixing bowl. Add the olive oil, seasoning, and grated Parmesan cheese and mix until evenly coated.
- Set your air fryer to 400 degrees F and cook the chickpeas for ten minutes. Set aside and allow them to cool.
- Place the kale in a large serving bowl. Once the pasta and chickpeas have cooled, add them to the bowl of kale, reserving a small amount of the roasted chickpeas for garnish.
- Add the Caesar dressing, grated Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, and pepper. Toss until the dressing is well incorporated throughout the salad. Garnish with the reserved roasted chickpeas and a little additional Parmesan cheese and serve.
Notes
Recipe courtesy of Emma Southorn
Pasta: You can substitute a whole grain pasta or any other short pasta you love. Fusilli, rotini, penne, orecchiette would all be great subs.
Nutrition
Calories: 281kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 595mg | Potassium: 403mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 4854IU | Vitamin C: 46mg | Calcium: 192mg | Iron: 3mg