Healthy Chicken Caesar Salad

The whole time I was pregnant I did NOT want salad. At all. Whenever I would guilt myself into choking it down it just tasted like dirt. Which was sad because I really, really like salad. So after Layla was born I was perusing the hospital menu and chicken Caesar salad caught my eye…and I’ve basically been eating it nonstop since then!

There is something about the crunch of the salad, thick pieces of chicken, the crunchy croutons, cheese, and that creamy Caesar dressing that makes me swoon. Soo good. Some of you that have been around the block a few times know that a Caesar salad is one of those salad that is easily unhealthy.

So I decide to create this healthy chicken Caesar salad to put those fears to rest. All the healthy goodness of the chicken and salad, but we’ve replaced the croutons with roasted chickpeas, and lightened up the dressing and cheese. The result is a Chicken Caesar Salad that won’t let your taste buds or waistline down.

Chicken Caesar Salad

Ingredients:

3 Chicken breasts
2 heads of romaine lettuce
1 can 15 oz chickpeas
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon garlic
2 Tablespoons parmesan cheese
Caesar dressing

Directions:

Grill chicken breasts and allow to cool. (I use this amazing marinade on my chicken breasts!) Drain and rinse can of chickpeas. Toss chickpeas in olive oil and garlic. Roast at 375 for 25 minutes; stirring once at midpoint. Shred lettuce in large bowl. Slice cooled chicken in strips and add to lettuce. Add chickpeas and Parmesan cheese and toss. Drizzle with Caesar dressing.

I use full-fat, regular Caesar dressing; I figure the low-fat versions just add sugar and a bunch of other chemical crap so I might as well use the real thing. I normally put a very small amount of it on my salad–maybe 1-2 teaspoons. You can also do the “dip your fork in the salad dressing and then take a bite” trick if you’d like. Just please don’t drown your salad in dressing. Ew.

This salad is perfect for the end of the summer! Plus it’s easy to share with a crowd or make a big batch up for yourself and eat it for lunch everyday for a week. I won’t judge you.

[tweetthis twitter_handles=”katemoving”]This healthy Chicken Caesar Salad via @katemoving is perfect for the end of summer! #yum[/tweetthis]

What’s your favorite kind of salad?  Caesar is my favorite, but Taco Salad is a pretty close second choice!

Linking up to Sweet Bella Roos