Caesar salad is the perfect balance of crispy and crunchy lettuce, salty Parmesan cheese, and creamy Caesar dressing. You’ll be making this classic on repeat!
Hot Tip: This salad is made with our homemade Caesar salad dressing. Skip the store-bought version and whisk up this dressing in only 10 short minutes.
What Are the Caesar Salad Ingredients?
Caesar salad is made with chopped romaine lettuce, croutons, and Parmesan cheese tossed in a tangy salad dressing. Often, grilled chicken is added to the salad for extra protein. Caesar dressing, the key to the perfect Caesar salad, is made primarily with Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and Dijon mustard — and it’s an absolutely necessary addition!
Did You Know? Traditional Caesar salad often includes anchovies/anchovy paste and raw eggs. However, many people don’t like the taste or the thought of these ingredients. So — we like to make it easy and skip these by using Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and mayonnaise instead.
How To Make Caesar Salad
Wash, cut, and toss — that’s all it takes to make a great Caesar salad in only 20 minutes. Make it even quicker by prepping the dressing up to ten days in advance!
- Prep the lettuce: Rinse, fully dry, and cut the lettuce into bite-sized pieces. Drop them into a large bowl.
- Add the dressing: Pour the dressing over the salad. Top with croutons and grated Parmesan cheese.
- Toss everything together: Toss all the ingredients together, then top the salad with more Parmesan cheese. Serve!
Hot tip: Elevate your salad to new heights with air fried bacon bits or air fryer hard boiled eggs!
Tips & Tricks for a Delicious Salad
A delicious Caesar salad starts with the right ingredients prepared properly. Follow these tips to make this the best Caesar salad recipe you’ll ever follow!
- Dry the lettuce: Like any salad, it is imperative to wash the ingredients first. Use a salad spinner to make it super fast and easy to wash and dry the lettuce. If you don’t have a spinner, make sure to fully dry the leaves with a towel before tossing them into the salad (or the whole salad will be soggy and the dressing will be watered down!).
- Opt for good quality ingredients: For the best flavor, choose quality ingredients. Buy high quality Parmesan cheese, which is much tastier than bagged and pre-shredded Parmesan (which tends to be drier and less flavorful).
- Add a protein (optional): If you’re a protein-lover and need protein in every meal, feel free to add delicious grilled chicken to your bowl — a grilled chicken Caesar salad is a full meal! Or, cut up slices of ribeye steak for a steak Caesar salad. These salmon bites would make the perfect addition to this salad, too!
- Make your own croutons: Homemade croutons are the best! Cut up any day-old bread into small cubes, then toss them in a large bowl with extra virgin olive oil, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Taste test the bread cubes to see if you want more seasoning, then bake on a baking sheet in the oven at 375°F for about 10 minutes or until slightly crispy. For an air fryer version, follow this crouton recipe.
Serving the Salad
Two sides come to mind when thinking about serving Caesar salad — bread and pasta. Pair any main dish with this salad for a top-notch meal. Our all-time pasta favorites are classic spaghetti and meatballs and shrimp fettuccine alfredo. If you’re not craving pasta, serve the salad with easy grilled salmon or baked chicken tenders. Then — fully complete the meal with a slice or two of sourdough bread or garlic knots.
How to Best Store Your Salad
Caesar salad is best enjoyed fresh, but if you find yourself with a little too much to eat at once, store it in the fridge for 2-3 days. Here are two tips to help keep your salad tasting the freshest for as long as possible.
- Keep the greens and dressing separate: If you’re anticipating leftover salad, add the dressing only to the portion of the salad you will eat right away. Store the remaining greens and dressing separately.
- Store with a paper towel: Store the greens in an airtight container with a dry paper towel. The towel absorbs excess moisture, keeping the salad from wilting too quickly.
Hot tip: The dressing lasts up to 10 days when stored separately! These jars are perfect for storing it!
More Simple & Delicious Salads
- Garden Salad — A green salad tossed in a balsamic lemon dressing
- Amazing Purple Cabbage Salad — Bright cabbage and olives tossed in a tangy vinegar dressing
- Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe — Cucumbers, dill, and sour cream are the foundation of this salad
- 15-Minute Broccoli Cauliflower Salad — Creamy and crunchy satisfaction guaranteed
- Fresh Avocado Salad — Traditional veggies mixed with zesty radishes and creamy avocados
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Caesar dressing
- 3 romaine lettuce heads about 2 pounds
- 2 cups croutons
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese grated
Instructions
- Prepare the Caesar dressing. Use your favorite store bought dressing or make it at home for the freshest taste.
- Rinse and pat dry the lettuce with a paper towel. Cut the lettuce into bite-size pieces, then place it in a large bowl.
- Add a spoonful of Caesar dressing, croutons, and sprinkles of Parmesan cheese.
- Toss everything together, then top off with a little more Parmesan cheese. Serve right away.
The best Caesar salad. So delicious...
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, thank you for your comment!
Thank you for sharing your recipe, my family REALLY enjoyed this salad and homemade dressing is a winner!
Irina, thank you for your feedback, I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed the salad.