Kale Caesar Pasta Salad

Step 1

Cook pasta according to package instructions.

Step 2

While the pasta is cooking, prep the chickpeas and croutons by spreading the chickpeas and bread on a baking tray. Drizzle with ½ tbsp olive oil and sprinkle with salt, black pepper, paprika and garlic powder. Bake at 375F for about 20-25 minutes. Shaking the pan halfway.

Step 3

While the chickpeas and croutons are baking, de-stem and finely chop the kale. Add kale to a large salad bowl and drizzle with remaining 1 tbsp of olive oil and lemon juice. Gently massage the kale in the oil and lemon juice for about 5 minutes. This helps soften the kale and reduce bitterness.

Step 4

Top the kale with pasta, cooked chickpeas, croutons, cucumber, avocado, and shaved parmesan cheese. Drizzle with 1 cup of caesar dressing. Toss to combine. If using, you can also add the cooked chicken breast. Add additional dressing to suit your desired taste preference!