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Home Chicken

Caesar Salad

By:Nagi
Published:20 May '20Updated:5 Feb '23
234 Comments
Recipe v Video v Dozer v

Long live the Caesar Salad! This homemade Caesar Salad Dressing will rival that of any great restaurant. Add chicken to make a meal, top with a poached or fried egg, or serve it straight up the classic way.

For a lighter dressing option, try this mayo-free Caesar salad dressing – it’s incredible!

Caesar Salad in a white bowl, ready to be served

Caesar Salad

I’m going to call it – Caesar salad is a pain to make, calling for an inordinate amount of pots and pans to be dirtied in the name of just one salad.

  • Food processor for the dressing – and the mayo makes it all greasy which is a pain to clean (or hogs an enormous amount of dishwasher space)

  • Baking tray for the croutons

  • Skillet for the bacon

  • Cutting board

  • Giant bowl to toss the salad – you’ve really gotta toss with abundance when using creamy dressing, can’t do it in the serving bowl

  • Serving bowl

All that for ONE salad.

And yet, we do it. Because it’s worth it!! Especially the creamy dressing!

Caesar Salad Dressing in a bowl, ready to be served

Eating Caesar Salad

What goes in Caesar Salad

There’s all sorts of variations around, but the classic is made with:

  • cos lettuce (aka romaine) – or iceberg will do in a pinch!

  • crispy bacon

  • croutons – garlic croutons, at that!

  • Caesar Salad Dressing

  • parmesan cheese, for finishing

With the rich dressing, I find that even a “plain” Caesar salad is filling enough as it is to have as a meal. But a common addition, which you often find on the menu of bistros, is chicken and egg. Adds protein and makes it even more satisfying – so I’ve included these are optional in the recipe below!

Chicken Caesar Salad - Restaurant quality salad, it's all about the homemade dressing!

Homemade Caesar salad dressing recipe

If you’ve never tried homemade Caesar Salad Dressing before, you’re in for a real treat. It is absolutely sensational, and not even the poshest gourmet store can compare to a fresh homemade one.

The secret ingredient is anchovy. I know some people might scrunch up their faces at the thought of anchovy in a dressing, but seriously!  It is the secret ingredient that will turn a “pretty good” dressing into a restaurant quality one!

Oh and PS. If you’ve had and loved Caesar Salad when eating out, you ate anchovies. So stop the nose scrunching!!😂


What goes in Caesar Salad

Here’s what you need:

What goes in Caesar Salad Dressing

How to make Caesar Salad

And here’s how to make it. (I already forewarned you – LOTS of washing up. TOTALLY worth it!)

How to make Caesar Salad

Wondering if Caesar salad is healthy? Yes…and no!

Before we go any further – this might be a salad, but let me banish any misconception in your mind that Caesar salad is healthy. Fat in the dressing and the bacon.

But you know what? Calorie content aside, at least I’m getting lots of greens into my system, right??

Or put it this way – a giant bowl of Caesar Salad might have the same calories as a creamy pasta, but it’s got a whole lot more nutrition in it!

Caesar Salad in a bowl, ready to be eaten

LOW CAL version!!

Just in case you’re reading all this but dreading the calorie count you’ll see when you scroll down to the recipe – DON’T WORRY! Here’s a (much) lower calorie Yogurt Caesar Salad Dressing.

All the flavour, but made with a yogurt base instead of mayonnaise so it won’t have that same rich mouthfeel. But still creamy, same depth of flavour – and a whole lot healthier!

Close up of jar with Healthy Caesar salad Dressing (no mayo yoghurt dressing)

Can you even tell that this is the low fat version?? NOPE!

Spoon drizzling Healthy Caesar salad Yogurt Dressing on salad

And after all of that, all those pots and pans you’ve dirtied – you get to munch your way through one of the greatest salads ever invented.

That fresh crisp lettuce. The crunchy garlic croutons. The salty pops of bacon. And that creamy homemade Caesar Salad Dressing.

Caesar Salad might take time to make, but it is worth every single second. Really, truly, cross my heart. – Nagi x


Watch how to make it

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Caesar Salad in a white bowl, ready to be served

Caesar Salad - with homemade Caesar Salad Dressing

Author: Nagi | RecipeTin Eats
Prep: 20 minutes mins
Cook: 20 minutes mins
Total: 40 minutes mins
Dinner, Salad
South Western
4.98 from 79 votes
Servings5 - 6 as a side (2 - 3 as meal with chicken)
Tap or hover to scale
Print
  • 202
Recipe video above. This homemade Caesar Salad Dressing recipe will rival that of any great restaurant! Anchovy is key to proper flavour in the dressing - every self respecting restaurant uses it, so if you've had Caesar Salad out and loved it, you've eaten anchovies!
Add chicken to make a meal, or serve it straight up the classic way.

Ingredients

Dressing

  • 1 cup mayonnaise (Hellman's or S&W Whole Egg) (Note 1)
  • 1/2 tsp garlic , finely minced (use garlic press, if you can)
  • 2 anchovy fillets or 3/4 tsp Anchovy paste (Note 2)
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese , or 1/3 cup store bought grated parmesan cheese (Note 3)
  • 3 - 4 tbsp milk (to adjust consistency)
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp Black pepper

Garlic Croutons

  • 2 - 3 slices white bread , 2/3" / 1.5cm thick (Note 4)
  • 1 garlic , cut in half
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp salt

Salad

  • 150g / 5oz streaky bacon , cooked and chopped
  • 10 cups cos / romaine lettuce , chopped, wash & dried (1 large, 2 medium, 3 small) (Note 5)
  • Freshly grated parmesan , for garnish

Optional Extras - Chicken & Egg

  • 2 - 4 eggs , cooked to your taste, peeled and halved
  • 500g / 1lb chicken breast fillets (2 pieces)
  • 1/2 tsp EACH salt and pepper
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

Dressing

  • Whizz all ingredients in food processor until smooth, starting with 3 tbsp milk.
  • Taste and adjust salt and pepper as desired, and use milk to get the dressing to the desired consistency. (Note 6)
  • Set aside for 20 minutes+ to allow flavours to develop.

Bacon

  • Place bacon into a cold skillet (no oil), then turn onto medium high. Cook until golden, turn, cook other side until golden. Remove onto paper towels, cool, then chop.

Garlic Croutons

  • Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F.
  • Toast bread in the toaster for 1 minute (or oven for 2 minutes each side) until surface is dried but not browned.,
  • Rub both sides of each piece of bread with the cut side of the garlic (Note 7).
  • Remove crust from bread (optional) and cut into cubes - around 1.5 cups. Drizzle with 1 - 2 tbsp olive oil, sprinkle with salt, then bake until golden, shaking the tray once. Sandwich bread will take around 7 minutes, sourdough and similar breads take 12 - 15 min.

Assemble

  • Place lettuce in bowl with 1/2 the Dressing. Toss well, taste, then decide if you want more Dressing.
  • Transfer to serving bowl. (Top with chicken and egg if using) Scatter over with bacon and croutons. Sprinkle with parmesan and serve!

OPTIONAL EXTRAS - Chicken & Egg

  • Eggs: Place the eggs in a saucepan and cover with water. Place over medium high heat and bring to simmer. Once the water is simmering, turn down to medium (gentle simmer) and cook for 3 min (for soft centres), 4 min for firm yolks and 6 min for hard boiled. Remove eggs, run under cold water for 15 sec then leave submerged in a bowl of cold tap water for 5 min. Peel then set aside. (Note 6)
  • Chicken: Either pound the chicken to about 1.2cm/ 1/2" even thickness, or slice each breast in half horizontally. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper. Use bacon fat remaining in skillet. Cook first side for 5 min, turn then cook the other side for 2 min. Remove, cover loosely with foil and rest for 5 min. Cut into slices.

Recipe Notes:

1. Mayonnaise - the better the mayo, the better than dressing. I like Hellman's Real Mayonnaise and S&W Whole Egg Mayonnaise - these are creamier and have a smoother, richer flavour than others that can be too vinegary or too sweet.
No Mayo version - sub with Greek Yogurt, add a bit of extra virgin olive oil. Really! Full recipe here.
2. Anchovy fillets are key to achieve a true restaurant quality flavour. You can't taste it, but it's the seasoning for the sauce so if you skip it, you'll need to add more salt. Use the dark brown anchovy fillets in oil that come in a jar or can in the canned fish aisle of supermarkets, not the white anchovy fillets that are brined in vinegar, not oil, that are typically sold at delis, not prepackaged (served on antipasto platters).
Substitutes:
  • Best / just as good - 3/4 tsp anchovy paste
  • Next best - 1 tsp of fish sauce (yes really
  • OK - extra 1/4 cup parmesan plus pinch of salt
3. Parmesan - Store bought pre-grated parmesan is denser than freshly grated which is why you don't need as much. It won't whizz up as smoothly either, but personally it doesn't bother me.
4. Croutons - you want enough bread to make 1.5 cups croutons (on the generous side, but no one wants to run out!). Use plain, normal sandwich bread or make your own - use this dead easy Artisan Bread or if you're out of yeast, this No Yeast Sandwich Bread.
5. Lettuce - iceberg is also great.  Make sure you wash lettuce well in advance to let it dry properly. Dressing won't coat wet lettuce so make sure it's dried! I usually chop, wash then dry using a spinner.
Chop into whatever size suits you for eating. I use small cos lettuce and just chop 2 cm / 2/3" strips. For large ones, peel leaves off, stack and chop.
6. Dressing - Don't thin the dressing too much, otherwise it won't cling to the lettuce. You can whizz it up in a blender or use a stick blender too!
7. Croutons - The purpose of this step is to add garlic flavour to the croutons. I prefer not to toss the croutons in minced garlic because the garlic burns before the croutons turn golden.
8. Storage - After tossing in Dressing, salad is good for around 20 minutes (longer than   the usual leafy salads), then after that the lettuce starts getting soft. Best to dress just before serving - if taking somewhere, take all components separately.
Dressing will keep 3 to 4 days - seems to get better with time!
8. Nutrition per serving assuming 5 servings as a side dish (no egg or chicken) with 2/3 of the Dressing used (which I think is enough, but because Caesar Salad Dressing is so good, I always like to make a bit more just in case). 

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 440gCalories: 396cal (20%)Carbohydrates: 10g (3%)Protein: 12g (24%)Fat: 35g (54%)Saturated Fat: 8g (50%)Cholesterol: 39mg (13%)Sodium: 970mg (42%)Potassium: 363mg (10%)Fiber: 2g (8%)Sugar: 3g (3%)Vitamin A: 8268IU (165%)Vitamin C: 4mg (5%)Calcium: 143mg (14%)Iron: 2mg (11%)
Keywords: Caesar Salad, Caesar salad dressing, chicken caesar salad
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @recipe_tin.

Originally published May 2016. Brand new video added, process steps and new photos – as well as an update on Life of Dozer!


Life of Dozer

Dozer munching on his greens… 🥬🧸

Dozer green toy

And from the original time I published this recipe:

No photobombing by Dozer today because a) he didn’t realise there was chicken and bacon in the salad; and b) he was having a good snooze after a rather active session at Bayview…. 😉

Dozer-Bayview2

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Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative!

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234 Comments

  1. Sally says

    August 22, 2023 at 3:32 am

    5 stars
    Delicious! I made the yogurt based dressing, and it was wonderful. The egg was a nice addition. I never thought about putting egg in ceasar salad. It added a nice flavor and texture. I did cheat and use store bought croutons, but I followed everything else to the dot.

    Reply
  2. James Archer says

    August 16, 2023 at 2:25 pm

    Just made the dressing. Wow! It’s amazing. Couldn’t wait to tell you. Can’t wait till tonight to make the salad.

    Reply
  3. Susie says

    August 15, 2023 at 2:19 pm

    Making this for visitors at the weekend, just wondering how far ahead I can make croutons and what is the best way to store them?

    Reply
  4. Lea says

    August 6, 2023 at 11:10 am

    Seriously the best caesar salad I have ever eaten and caesar is my fav salad and had many 🙂 Thank you for the recipe x

    Reply
  5. Diane Gordon says

    August 4, 2023 at 9:33 pm

    5 stars
    For some reason, I always thought Ceasar dressing was complicated!
    This was so easy. And delicious. I literally scraped the blender bowl out to lick the sauce!!

    Reply
  6. Daisy says

    July 11, 2023 at 8:38 pm

    5 stars
    So good! I made the dressing in a mortar and pestle – just pound up anchovies, garlic, mustard and lemon then add mayo and Parmesan. Delicious!

    Reply
  7. Deborah March says

    June 17, 2023 at 1:09 am

    Simply perfect! I served it with your fabulous baked salmon patties THANKS Nagi! ❤

    Reply
  8. Daria says

    May 7, 2023 at 8:18 am

    5 stars
    It was so delicious! Dressing was easy to make and very tasty.

    Reply
  9. Mel B says

    April 23, 2023 at 8:52 pm

    5 stars
    That Caesar dressing is absolutely magnificent 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼

    Reply
  10. Togue says

    April 23, 2023 at 5:09 am

    5 stars
    This dressing is so delicious! I like to add a little extra lemon juice and a splash of maple syrup. I use gluten free bread for the croutons and absolutely adore the idea of bacon in a caesar salad. Love love love this dressing – my new go-to for caesar salads…

    Reply
  11. Katherine Lehmann says

    December 5, 2022 at 5:59 pm

    5 stars
    I make this salad a all the time! It’s one of the easiest recipes and honestly the best caesar sauce I’ve ever had, better than any restaurant.

    Reply
  12. Belinda says

    November 21, 2022 at 9:59 pm

    5 stars
    Loved this recipe! Substituted the anchovies for shrimp paste and floured the bacon so crispy.

    Reply
  13. Ruth Paans says

    October 28, 2022 at 5:50 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious! Just like all your recipes that I’ve tried! This will now be my go to recipe for the cesser dressing!

    Reply
  14. SM says

    June 6, 2022 at 6:14 pm

    5 stars
    I made the low fat version of this recipe using Greek Yogurt. Absolutely delicious! Thank you for yet another hit recipe

    Reply
  15. Elle Queue says

    June 1, 2022 at 5:05 pm

    I have been making this on repeat. It’s the best caesar I’ve ever eaten. Only thing I change – I add maple syrup to my bacon when the frying is nearly done. So when Nagi described “salty pops of bacon” above, mine is “salty sweet pops of bacon”. I just love it.

    Reply
  16. Marbleless says

    May 25, 2022 at 7:46 am

    5 stars
    I have a giant bottle of Vietnamese fish sauce that I use instead of anchovies.

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      May 25, 2022 at 9:42 am

      That’s a great sub Marbleless!! N x

      Reply
  17. Anne Staudenmyer says

    May 1, 2022 at 11:40 am

    5 stars
    A dream come true! I adore Caesar salad but egg allergy is a concern. Finally an awesome egg free recipe. My guys loved it too.

    Sure is my first go to…Salisbury steak, Swedish meatballs….all great and family favorites. Thx

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      May 1, 2022 at 12:15 pm

      Awwww thank you Anne! I am happy you’ve enjoyed cooking my recipes! N x

      Reply
  18. anna doyle says

    April 21, 2022 at 1:27 pm

    The fat in the dressing and bacon are very good for you!
    Keto!
    Go free-range organic. I used MCT oil for the dressing.

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      April 21, 2022 at 2:07 pm

      Thanks Anna!! I am so glad that you liked it!! N x

      Reply
  19. Lydia Softley says

    April 17, 2022 at 9:24 pm

    i dont have a whiz like yours is it ok to use thermomix to blend mayo dressing

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      April 17, 2022 at 10:29 pm

      Yes that will work Lydia! N x

      Reply
  20. Holly says

    April 17, 2022 at 6:59 am

    5 stars
    A tasty Caesar. I used the suggested swap of fish sauce instead of anchovy for the dressing and it worked well.

    Thanks Nagi!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      April 19, 2022 at 4:02 pm

      That’s one of my favourite hacks!! N x

      Reply
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