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You are here: Home / Side Dishes / Kale Caesar Pasta Salad

Kale Caesar Pasta Salad

July 27, 2018 by Midwest Foodie Leave a Comment

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Oh, I am drooling over this Kale Caesar Pasta Salad guys! If you’re a regular around here you know how much I love a good pasta salad for my weekly meal prep. Some of my fan favorites include the Mediterranean Couscous Salad, Mediterranean Pasta Salad with Dill Pesto, and who could forget the Vegan Sesame Ginger Pasta Salad! I make a big batch on Sunday and portion it out for lunches all week. A couple hours in the kitchen on the weekend means I spend a lot less time in the kitchen during the week. Which also means I get to spend a lot more time outside enjoying this sultry summer weather!

White bowl filled with kale caesar salad loaded with croutons Parmesan cheese and tomatoes

I’m always trying to beef up my salads with all kinds of toppings so I don’t end up feeling hungry an hour later. I love to add beans, nuts, cheese, hemp seeds–in my opinion the more toppings the better! And of course everything is better with a fried egg on top, amiright? So it’s only natural that pasta salads are my go-to lunch during the busy work week. They’re a hassle free way to get my greens and veggies in and fuel my body and brain enough to make it until quitting time.

White bowl filled with kale caesar salad loaded with croutons Parmesan cheese and tomatoes

Now I can already hear you health conscious foodies telling me that there is nothing healthy about a Caesar salad. All that cheese, that high calorie dressing. But hear me out!

White bowl filled with kale caesar salad loaded with croutons Parmesan cheese and tomatoes

This salad has kale in it guys. And that’s a super food, right? Even more super is that it’s massaged with olive oil and lemon juice until it’s soft, wilty, bright green and delicious. Then, instead of traditional caloric Caesar dressing, I like to use Bolthouse Farms Caesar Parmigiano Yogurt Dressing. It’s got that peppery, zingy Caesar flavor (and even little bits of shredded Parmesan) but they use yogurt as a base which makes for an astonishing 45 calories per 2 tablespoons!!! You could also use whole wheat noodles to up the fiber content. And even add some chickpeas, white beans or quinoa for added protein. I made my own croutons instead of opting for prepackaged ones, which means you won’t be getting extra preservatives you don’t need.

White bowl filled with kale caesar salad loaded with croutons Parmesan cheese and tomatoes

So if you’re thinking about taking the meal prep plunge this weekend, keep it simple with this easy, healthy Kale Caesar Pasta Salad!

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Kale Caesar Pasta Salad

  • Author: Midwest Foodie
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: No Cook
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

Loaded with kale, cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, tossed in a low calorie (but very flavorful) yogurt based dressing!


Ingredients

  • 4-5 cups chopped kale leaves
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • juice of 1 lemon
  • 12 oz. pasta, cooked according to package directions
  • 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
  • 1 cup mozzarella pearls
  • 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese + more for garnish
  • 1 cup garlic and herb croutons
  • 1/2 cup your favorite Caesar dressing
  • Kosher salt
  • fresh cracked pepper

Instructions

  1. Add kale to a large serving bowl. Drizzle with oil and lemon juice. Massage kale for a few minutes until it wilts and turns bright green. Add tomato, mozzarella, Parmesan, croutons and a large pinch of salt and pepper to the bowl. Mix Caesar dressing with a splash of water to thin it out a bit. Pour dressing over everything and toss salad. Garnish with a sprinkle of Parmesan and serve!

Notes

If you’re making this salad ahead of time, follow directions above, but wait to add the croutons until just before serving so they do not get soggy.

Keywords: easy, quick, simple, healthy, kale, Caesar, meal prep, recipe

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Kale Caesar Pasta Salad | Midwest Foodie | I love a good pasta salad for my weekly meal prep! A couple hours in the kitchen on the weekend means I can spend a lot more time focusing on the important things during the week. #pasta #salad #mealprep #kale #caesar #familydinner #easy #simple #quick

Filed Under: Pasta, Salads, Side Dishes Tagged With: caesar salad, easy recipes, family dinner, healthy meals, meal prep, pasta, pasta salad, salad, side dish, simple recipes, weeknight meals

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As a busy mom and blogger, I understand how hard it can be to get a wholesome dinner on the table at the end of a long day. Here at Midwest Foodie I focus on sharing simple recipes that make it easy to feed your family real food. More about me →

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