Ultimate Chicken Caesar Salad with Creamy Homemade Dressing
Make a restaurant-style Caesar salad at home in under 35 minutes. This recipe features crisp romaine, juicy grilled chicken, homemade croutons, and the best creamy caesar dressing from scratch.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Total Time: 35 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course Salad
- Method: Grilling and Tossing
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 heads romaine lettuce, chopped
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup homemade croutons recipe
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- For the Creamy Caesar Dressing From Scratch:
- 2 large egg yolks (use pasteurized for safety)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon anchovy paste (optional, for authentic flavor)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Grill or pan-fry until cooked through (about 6-8 minutes per side). Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice or cube.
- Make the homemade caesar dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together egg yolks, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and anchovy paste (if using).
- Slowly drizzle in the olive oil and vegetable oil while continuously whisking until the dressing emulsifies and thickens into a creamy consistency.
- Stir in the lemon juice. Season the creamy caesar dressing with salt and pepper to your preference.
- Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, combine the chopped crisp romaine lettuce and the sliced grilled chicken.
- Pour about half of the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat the lettuce evenly. Add more dressing as needed, aiming for a light coating.
- Toss in the homemade croutons recipe and half of the Parmesan cheese.
- Divide the ultimate caesar salad among serving plates. Top each serving with the remaining Parmesan cheese. Serve this protein packed lunch or dinner immediately for the best crunch.
Notes
- For a quick salad prep, you can make the dressing and croutons a day ahead. Store dressing in the refrigerator.
- If you skip the anchovy paste, add a pinch of salt to boost the savory flavor in your creamy caesar dressing.
- This recipe makes a great healthy dinner salad or a protein packed lunch.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 30
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Unsaturated Fat: 23
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 30
- Cholesterol: 150