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    Home » Recipes » Salads

    Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com · Leave a Comment

    Caesar Salad

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    Pin image with text of Caesar Salad in a white bowl.

    This Caesar salad is filled with crisp Romaine lettuce, creamy homemade Caesar dressing, crunchy croutons, and grated Parmesan cheese! It's a classic salad that makes a perfect starter for just about any meal. Plus, it only takes minutes to make, even with the made-from-scratch dressing!

    Easy Caesar Salad Recipe

    A Caesar salad makes a fabulous appetizer, but it can also be topped with baked chicken breast and become dinner itself! The crunchy, fresh croutons are tossed in a flavorful garlic and cheese mixture before baking, giving your salad a flavorful crunch!

    One of my favorite things about a simple Caesar salad is that it only takes 15 minutes to prepare entirely from scratch. It's quick, delicious, and perfect for lunch or dinner!

    Square image of Caesar Salad in a white bowl.
    A quick Caesar salad with homemade dressing is always a great choice for lunch or dinner!
    Jump to:
    • Easy Caesar Salad Recipe
    • 🌎 Origin
    • 🥘 Caesar Salad Ingredients
    • 🔪 How To Make Caesar Salad
    • 💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes
    • 🥡 Storing
    • ❓ FAQ
    • 😋 More Easy Salad Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    🌎 Origin

    Caesar Cardini, the creator behind Caesar Salad, ran his restaurant in Tijuana, Mexico. His daughter recounts that he prepared the legendary salad after a holiday rush that almost completely depleted the kitchen.

    Caesar Cardini made this salad and started tossing it at the table. The salad gained popularity, along with the restaurant, in 1937 after Manny Wolf of Paramount Pictures gave the recipe to Hollywood restaurants!

    🥘 Caesar Salad Ingredients

    Caesar salad is an easy and classic salad to make that pairs perfectly with anything! It has simple ingredients that you probably already have on hand, but anything you may not have, you can find at your local grocery store!

    Croutons

    • Olive Oil - 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO).
    • Garlic - 1 teaspoon of garlic (minced).
    • French Bread - 3 cups of French bread (cut into cubes).
    • Parmesan Cheese - 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese (grated).

    Caesar Dressing

    • Mayonnaise - 1 cup of mayonnaise (good quality mayo like Duke's, Hellman's, or Best Foods).
    • Lemon - 1 large lemon (zested and juiced).
    • Parmesan Cheese - 3 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese (grated).
    • Dijon Mustard - 2 tablespoons of coarse ground Dijon mustard (or try my Dijon mustard substitute).
    • Worcestershire Sauce - 2 teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce (or try my Worcestershire sauce substitute).
    • Anchovy Paste - 1 teaspoon of anchovy paste.
    • Salt and Pepper - ⅛ teaspoon each, salt & pepper (freshly ground, to taste).

    Caesar Salad

    • Romaine Lettuce - 3 heads of Romaine lettuce (washed, dried, and chopped into bite-sized pieces).
    • Parmesan Cheese - ½ cup of Parmesan cheese (shredded or shaved).

    *Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*

    🔪 How To Make Caesar Salad

    This simple Caesar salad is super easy to make and will quickly become a favorite. You will need a cutting board, knife, mixing bowls, and a large bowl for serving!

    This recipe will make around 6 side salads or 2-3 large salads! You can always scale it up as needed based on your family.

    Croutons

    1. Preheat. Preheat the oven to 350˚F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
    2. Toss. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the 3 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 teaspoon of garlic. Add the 3 cups of French bread and toss to coat. Then, add the 2 tablespoons of Parmesan Cheese and toss to coat again.
    3. Bake. Spread the cubed bread out in an even layer on your prepared baking sheet. Bake at 350˚F (175°C) for 10-12 minutes or until your desired level of crispiness. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.

    Caesar Dressing

    1. Mix. Add 1 cup of mayonnaise, 1 large lemon zested and juiced, 3 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese, 2 tablespoons of coarse ground Dijon mustard, 2 teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon of anchovy paste, and ⅛ teaspoon each, salt & pepper to your food processor and blend until creamy.

    Caesar Salad

    1. Toss together. Place the washed, dried, and chopped 3 heads of Romaine lettuce into a large serving bowl. Add ¾ of the cooled croutons and half of the ½ cup of Parmesan cheese. Drizzle the dressing over the top and toss gently to combine.
    2. Add toppings. Top with remaining croutons and Parmesan cheese, and serve.

    My family and I really love pairing a Caesar salad with a juicy baked ribeye steak and some twice-baked potatoes! You could also try making my air fryer frozen shrimp and adding it on top for a quick shrimp Caesar! Enjoy!

    Wide image of Caesar Salad in a white bowl.

    💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes

    • The dressing and/or croutons can be made in advance. Refrigerate the dressing in an airtight container for up to 1 week, and the croutons can stay in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days until needed.
    • If you're in a hurry, using store-bought croutons will cut this recipe down to about 5 minutes! 
    • This recipe will make 2-3 large salads or 5-6 small side salads.

    🥡 Storing

    The components of this salad are best stored individually. The dressing will keep for 1 week in an airtight container in the fridge.

    If storing the prepared salad, I suggest removing any croutons because they will get soggy. Enjoy it within 2 days.

    >>>>See all of my recipes HERE<<<<

    ❓ FAQ

    Can I Make Caesar Dressing Without Anchovy Paste?

    You can, but it is one of the signature flavors, in my opinion! If you really want to make it without, you can try my Caesar salad dressing without anchovies recipe. But we highly recommend trying it with anchovies first!

    Can I Eat Caesar Salad On A Keto Diet?

    Caesar salad is so versatile and easy to tweak for everyone's needs. Remove the Worcestershire sauce due to its added sugar, and take out the croutons! This salad is still full of flavor, and you can find lots of crouton substitutes online for that extra crunch!

    Can I Use Other Bread For My Croutons?

    Yes! You can use any bread. French bread is my favorite, but you could also try a fresh sourdough loaf or any other crusty bread you have on hand!

    Tall image of Caesar Salad in a white bowl.

    😋 More Easy Salad Recipes

    • Tex-Mex Salad - This salad is loaded with flavor and ready in only 15 minutes!
    • Wedge Salad - A crisp salad made with a whole wedge of iceberg lettuce, blue cheese, and crispy bacon!
    • Cucumber Vinegar Salad - This salad is so refreshing and has the perfect combination of sweet and tangy!
    • Greek Salad - A salad full of crisp Mediterranean vegetables and homemade Greek dressing!
    • Potato Salad - A classic side dish that is full of flavor and perfect for any occasion!
    • Fresh Fruit Salad - This easy salad is full of bright, refreshing fruit and a homemade honey citrus dressing!

    Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
    Stay in touch with me through social media @ Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Subscribe to the newsletter today (no spam, I promise)! Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

    📖 Recipe

    Wide image of Caesar Salad in a white bowl.
    Print Recipe Leave A Comment
    Love This Recipe?Click On A Star To Rate It!
    5 from 2 reviews

    Caesar Salad

    This Caesar salad is filled with crisp Romaine lettuce, creamy homemade Caesar dressing, crunchy croutons, and grated Parmesan cheese! It's a classic salad that makes a perfect starter for just about any meal. Plus, it only takes minutes to make, even with the made-from-scratch dressing!
    Author | Angela
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 645kcal
    Prep 5 minutes minutes
    Cooking 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time 20 minutes minutes
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    Ingredients
     

    Croutons

    • 3 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 teaspoon garlic (minced)
    • 3 cups French bread (cut into cubes)
    • 2 tablespoon Parmesan Cheese (grated)

    Caesar Dressing

    • 1 cup mayonnaise (good quality mayo like Duke's, Hellman's, or Best Foods)
    • 1 large lemon (zested and juiced)
    • 3 tablespoon Parmesan cheese (grated)
    • 2 tablespoon coarse ground Dijon mustard
    • 2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
    • 1 teaspoon anchovy paste
    • ⅛ teaspoon each, salt & pepper (freshly ground, to taste)

    Caesar Salad

    • 3 heads Romain lettuce (washed, dried, and chopped into bite-sized pieces)
    • ½ cup Parmesan cheese (shredded or shaved)
    Help Us Out!If you love a recipe, be sure to come back and share your ratings. This helps future users, and allows me to continue sharing free recipes! Angela

    Instructions

    Croutons

    • Preheat the oven to 350˚F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
    • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the 3 tablespoon olive oil and 1 teaspoon garlic. Add the 3 cups French bread and toss to coat. Then, add the 2 tablespoon Parmesan Cheese and toss to coat again.
      3 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon garlic, 3 cups French bread, 2 tablespoon Parmesan Cheese
    • Spread the cubed bread out in an even layer on your prepared baking sheet. Bake at 350˚F (175°C) for 10-12 minutes or until your desired level of crispiness. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.

    Caesar Dressing

    • Add 1 cup mayonnaise, 1 large lemon, 3 tablespoon Parmesan cheese, 2 tablespoon coarse ground Dijon mustard, 2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon anchovy paste, and ⅛ teaspoon each, salt & pepper to your food processor and blend until creamy.
      1 cup mayonnaise, 1 large lemon, 3 tablespoon Parmesan cheese, 2 tablespoon coarse ground Dijon mustard, 2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon anchovy paste, ⅛ teaspoon each, salt & pepper

    Caesar Salad

    • Place the washed, dried, and chopped 3 heads Romain lettuce into a large serving bowl. Add ¾ of the cooled croutons and half of the ½ cup Parmesan cheese. Drizzle the dressing over the top and toss gently to combine.
      3 heads Romain lettuce, ½ cup Parmesan cheese
    • Top with remaining croutons and Parmesan cheese and serve.

    Equipment You May Need

    Chef's Knife
    Cutting Board
    Mixing Bowl
    Measuring Spoons
    food processor
    Grater Set
    Baking Sheet

    Notes

    • The dressing and/or croutons can be made in advance. Refrigerate the dressing in an airtight container for up to 1 week and the croutons can stay in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days until needed.
    • If you're in a hurry, using storebought croutons will cut this recipe down to about 5 minutes! 
    • This recipe will make 2-3 large salads or 5-6 small side salads.
    • To store: The components of this salad are best stored individually. The dressing will keep for 1 week in an airtight container in the fridge. If storing the prepared salad, I suggest removing any croutons because they will get soggy. Enjoy it within 2 days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 645kcal (32%) | Carbohydrates: 54g (18%) | Protein: 18g (36%) | Fat: 41g (63%) | Saturated Fat: 8g (50%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 19g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 25mg (8%) | Sodium: 1104mg (48%) | Potassium: 940mg (27%) | Fiber: 9g (38%) | Sugar: 8g (9%) | Vitamin A: 27394IU (548%) | Vitamin C: 22mg (27%) | Calcium: 309mg (31%) | Iron: 7mg (39%)
    Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!
    best caesar salad recipe, caesar salad, caesar salad dressing, caesar salad ingredients, homemade caesar salad dressing, how to make a fresh caesar salad, salad recipes, salads, with homemade croutons
    Course Appetizer, Salad, Salad Recipes
    Cuisine American, Italian, Mexican
    author profile photo
    Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com

    Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!

    bakeitwithlove.com/about/

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    Hi there, I'm Angela! I'm an avid vintage cookbook collector, recipe creator, animal lover, and total foodie. I love sharing new, fun, and creative recipes as well as great classic recipes, just like my Grandma used to make! Every recipe on BIWL is tested to make sure that cooks of any experience level can be successful. Enjoy!

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