Flavorful Steak Caesar Pasta Salad (Printable)
A vibrant pasta salad with grilled steak, romaine, cherry tomatoes, and creamy Caesar dressing for a hearty meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meat
01 - 12 oz sirloin steak
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
04 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Pasta
05 - 8 oz short pasta (penne or rotini)
→ Vegetables
06 - 1 large head romaine lettuce, chopped
07 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
08 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
→ Dressing
09 - 1/3 cup Caesar dressing
10 - 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
11 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice
→ Toppings
12 - 1/2 cup croutons
13 - 1/4 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
14 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# How to Make It:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool. Set aside.
02 - While the pasta cooks, preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Pat the steak dry and rub with olive oil, salt, and black pepper.
03 - Grill the steak for 3–4 minutes per side for medium-rare, or until desired doneness. Remove from the grill and let it rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly against the grain.
04 - In a large salad bowl, combine the cooled pasta, chopped romaine, cherry tomatoes, and red onion.
05 - Drizzle with Caesar dressing, add grated Parmesan and lemon juice, and toss gently to combine.
06 - Top the salad with sliced steak, croutons, and shaved Parmesan. Finish with freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve immediately, or chill for 15 minutes for a colder salad.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It hits that perfect spot between a light salad and a genuinely satisfying meal
- The combination of warm steak and cool pasta creates this incredible temperature contrast that keeps every bite interesting
02 -
- I once skipped letting the steak rest and all the juices ended up on the cutting board instead of in the salad
- Rinsing the pasta under cold water is not optional unless you want warm, wilted lettuce
03 -
- Marinating the steak in some of that Caesar dressing for even 30 minutes takes it to another level
- Letting the finished salad sit for 15 minutes before serving lets the flavors really meld together