in

Creamy Caesar Pasta | Cookies and Cups


Straightforward and comforting Caesar Pasta with all of the flavors of the a basic Caesar! Made with al dente pasta tossed in a wealthy and creamy parmesan and lemon sauce with garlic and anchovies, topped with garlicky toasted breadcrumbs. 

If you happen to love this flavorful pasta recipe, wait till you do this Garlic Bread Pasta, too!

Overhead view of Caesar pasta on a white plate topped with garlic breadcrumbs and parsley, next to pasta swirled on a fork.

Garlicky Caesar Pasta Recipe

As if I wanted any excuse to justify pasta instead of salad, alongside comes this recipe for the creamiest, tastiest, most satisfying Caesar pasta. All of the flavors of a basic Caesar salad, rolled up in a brilliant simple and scrumptious pasta dinner?

This can be a wealthy and creamy, ultra-flavorful pasta recipe. Caesar pasta is so simple as boiling your favourite noodles, then tossing them in a silky sauce constructed from lemon, parmesan, anchovies, and garlic. I throw in a pinch of chili flakes, too.

Prime every thing with crispy toasted breadcrumbs (my makeshift croutons), and you’ve got a hearty meal that all the time will get rave opinions at dinner events. The breadcrumbs are my absolute favourite a part of this dish. Past including taste, the crispy crunch is perfection.

The place Does the Title Caesar Come From?

Enjoyable reality: Opposite to well-liked perception, the Caesar salad wasn’t named after Julius Caesar. It was named after Caesar Cardini, the Italian man who invented the well-known salad!

The ingredients for Caesar pasta.

What You’ll Want

Beneath I’ve rounded up the elements you’ll must make this flavorful Caesar pasta. If you happen to’ve ever made your personal Caesar salad dressing, you’ll possible acknowledge a number of of them. You’ll want to scroll to the recipe card for the complete ingredient quantities.

  • Butter: I take advantage of salted butter, however unsalted may even work.
  • Breadcrumbs: Instead of crunchy croutons, high your Caesar pasta with a beneficiant sprinkle of toasted garlic Panko breadcrumbs.
  • Garlic Powder: For seasoning the breadcrumbs.
  • Pasta: Bucatini or spaghetti are good choices, or you need to use any sort of pasta you like.
  • Parmesan Cheese: It wouldn’t be Caesar something with out freshly grated parmesan!
  • Recent Lemon: Freshly squeezed lemon juice brightens the sauce. Keep away from bottled lemon juice as the flavour simply isn’t the identical.
  • Mustard: Dijon mustard provides a deliciously tangy taste and delicate warmth to the pasta sauce.
  • Egg: We’re making this Caesar pasta Carbonnara-style with a freshly cracked egg to emulsify the sauce and make it additional wealthy and creamy.
  • Olive Oil and Garlic: You’ll want good-quality olive oil for sautéeing with garlic for aromatics.
  • Anchovies: The key ingredient in a basic Caesar salad. Anchovies have a salty, briny taste that blends into this sauce, the identical because it does in Caesar dressing. Be happy to cut back the variety of anchovies in the event that they aren’t your factor (see beneath).
  • Crimson Pepper Flakes: For a delicate, spicy kick. Add extra or fewer chili flakes to style, together with black pepper for seasoning.
  • Garnish: Sprinkle over freshly chopped parsley and extra parmesan.

Can I Substitute Anchovies?

Not everyone seems to be loopy about anchovies, and that’s truthful sufficient! If you happen to’re not a fan, you possibly can scale back the quantity, or depart them out altogether. Capers make an excellent substitute (additionally when you’d wish to make this recipe vegetarian).

Tips on how to Make Caesar Pasta

Who’s prepared to show a well-known salad right into a restaurant-worthy pasta dinner? Right here’s how simple it’s to make Caesar pasta in simply half-hour:

  • Toast the Breadcrumbs: First, you’ll add breadcrumbs to melted butter in a saucepan. Season with garlic powder, after which let the breadcrumbs brown over medium warmth, till golden.
  • Cook dinner the Pasta: Subsequent, set your breadcrumbs apart when you carry a big pot of salted water to a boil. Cook dinner your selection of pasta in response to the package deal instructions. Earlier than you drain your noodles, reserve about 1 and a half cups of pasta water (you’ll use it to make the sauce subsequent).
  • Put together the Sauce: Now, whisk collectively parmesan with lemon juice, Dijon, and an egg for the bottom of your Caesar sauce. In a skillet, gently sauté your garlic and anchovies, together with the chili flakes and some cracks of black pepper. Mix every thing within the skillet, adopted by 1 cup of pasta water, then permit the sauce to cook dinner till thickened (this occurs shortly, about 1-2 minutes).
  • Mix: Lastly, switch the cooked pasta to the sauce and toss to coat. If wanted, pour in a bit extra pasta water to get the sauce good and creamy. Sprinkle over the breadcrumbs, contemporary parsley, and parmesan simply earlier than serving, and luxuriate in!
Close up of Caesar pasta in a skillet topped with garlic breadcrumbs and parsley.

Suggestions for Success

This recipe is large on taste, however very low effort to make. In a phrase: Superior. I’ll impart some closing knowledge relating to making one of the best pasta:

  • Salt the pasta water. Add a beneficiant spoonful (or two) of salt to the water when boiling the pasta. Salted water provides taste to your pasta noodles and likewise to the sauce afterward.
  • Use pasta water to make this recipe creamy. Pasta water is full of starch from the boiled pasta, don’t let it go to waste! All that additional starch helps emulsify the sauce and make it creamy.
  • Don’t overcook the eggs. Watch out to not boil the sauce as soon as the egg combination is added to the pan, in any other case, the eggs might scramble.
A serving of Caesar pasta on a white plate topped with garlic breadcrumbs and parsley.

Variation Concepts

Who doesn’t love a flexible pasta recipe? Similar to a salad, you possibly can adapt this recipe with totally different add-ins or change up the elements to style. Listed below are some concepts:

  • Completely different Pasta: This recipe will work with nearly any pasta selection. Attempt it with linguini, tagliatelle, penne, fusilli, bow-tie pasta, and many others.
  • Rooster Caesar Pasta: For added protein, stir in cooked Shredded Rooster, or cube up leftover Rooster Tenders to serve over high.
  • Shrimp: Make this Caesar pasta Shrimp Scampi-style, and add cooked shrimp.
  • Add Greens: Stir in wilted spinach or sauteed kale.
  • Add Veggies: Add in cooked mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, or chopped asparagus.
Overhead view of two platefuls of Caesar pasta topped with garlic breadcrumbs, next to a skillet and a bowl of grated parmesan cheese.

Serving Solutions

Serve this Caesar pasta with a aspect of sliced French Bread or fluffy Garlic Knots for mopping up the leftover sauce. It’s additionally simple to serve with a contemporary inexperienced salad or spinach salad, drizzled with selfmade Greek Dressing.

For a satisfying meal, pair your creamy pasta with juicy Prompt Pot Rooster Thighs or these Caprese Rooster Breasts, and your favourite vegetable aspect dish. We love Air Fryer Asparagus within the cooler months, and Air Fryer Corn on the Cob with herb butter when contemporary corn is in season.

Close up of Caesar pasta in a skillet topped with garlic breadcrumbs and parsley.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

Leftover Caesar pasta could be stored hermetic within the fridge for as much as 2-3 days. The breadcrumbs will lose their crunch over time. Because of this, when you’re planning to make this pasta forward or anticipate numerous leftovers, I like to recommend leaving off the breadcrumbs and garnishes till you’re able to reheat and serve.

Reheat your pasta within the microwave or in a saucepan on the stovetop till heat. If wanted, add a bit extra water to assist loosen up the cream sauce.

Can I Freeze Caesar Pasta?

Sure, although I additionally advocate freezing the pasta earlier than including the breadcrumbs. Retailer the cooked Caesar pasta in a freezer-safe container and preserve it frozen for as much as 3 months. Defrost the leftovers within the fridge in a single day earlier than reheating.

Print

clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfb fb iconprint print iconsquares squares iconcoronary heart coronary heart iconcoronary heart strong coronary heart strong icon


Description

A creamy and comforting Caesar Pasta recipe with all of the flavors of the basic salad! Constructed from tender pasta tossed in a flavorful parmesan and lemon sauce with garlic and anchovies, topped with crispy garlic breadcrumbs.


  • 4 tablespoons salted butter
  • 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 pound bucatini or spaghetti
  • 4 ounces parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1/4 cup contemporary lemon juice (12 lemons)
  • 3 tablespoons dijon mustard
  • 1 massive egg
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 ounces anchovies, drained and minced (*see observe)
  • 1 teaspoon crimson pepper flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon contemporary black pepper
  • Non-compulsory garnish – contemporary chopped parsley and extra Parmesan cheese

  1. Prep breadcrumbs: In a small skillet warmth the butter on medium warmth. Add within the breadcrumbs and garlic powder and cook dinner till frivolously golden, stirring sometimes. Put aside.
  2. Pasta: Convey a big pot of salted water to a boil and cook dinner the pasta in response to the package deal instructions. Reserve 1 1/2 cups of pasta water.
  3. Make the Caesar sauce: Whisk collectively parmesan cheese, lemon juice, dijon mustard, and egg. Put aside.
  4. Add oil to a big skillet on medium warmth. Add within the garlic, anchovies, crimson pepper flakes, and black pepper. Cook dinner for 1 minute till the garlic is aromatic. Add within the reserved dijon combination and cook dinner for 1 extra minute. Whisk in 1 cup of the reserved pasta water and cook dinner till thickened, 1 – 2 minutes.
  5. Assemble: Add pasta to the skillet and coat with sauce, including extra pasta water to realize a creamy sauce, if mandatory. Prime with breadcrumbs and contemporary parsley, and extra parmesan cheese. Serve instantly.

Notes

*you possibly can scale back the quantity of anchovy to 1 ounce when you favor a milder taste.

Key phrases: caesar pasta, creamy pasta recipe, simple pasta recipes

Need To Save This Recipe?

Discover extra recipes like this:

Extra Creamy Pasta Recipes

PIN for later:

Caesar Pasta Pinterest Image

Do-it-yourself Chimichangas – thestayathomechef.com

Air Fryer Bare Rooster Tenders