Caesar Salad Recipe
Classic Caesar Salad with crisp homemade croutons and a light caesar dressing – for when you want to impress your dinner guests.
If you love caesar recipes as much as we do, check out our creamy caesar dressing and caesar pasta salad.
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My son, David, is to thank for this recipe. He is 9 years old and took kids cooking classes at Sur La Table where he learned and fell in love with this caesar salad recipe, so we re-created it at home together.
Caesar Salad Recipe Ingredients:
Caesar salad is easy, classic and the ingredients are simple. You’ll need:
- 1 large or 2 small heads of romaine lettuce
- Parmesan cheese, shredded or shaved
- Crisp croutons – homemade can be made several days ahead. The recipe below makes enough for 2 salads.
- Caesar salad dressing – homemade is best and here is our favorite store-bought dressing in a pinch
How to Make Croutons:
The crunchy homemade garlic croutons really elevate this salad, making it look and taste quite fancy. The cheese crusted onto each little toast will have you snacking on these croutons!
- Cut baguette in half lengthwise and slice into 1/4″ thick pieces and place on baking sheet.
- Combine 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil with minced garlic. toss breads with garlic infused oil and 2 Tbsp parmesan.
- Spread Evenly and Bake to desired crispness.
How to Make Caesar Salad Dressing:
The caesar salad dressing comes together so fast and all you need is a bowl and whisk. This Caesar dressing is light, healthy and packs so much fresh flavor without needing much salt at all.
- Whisk together minced garlic, dijon, Worcestershire, lemon juice and red wine vinegar.
- Whisking while adding oil emulsifies the dressing for a smooth and creamy (not oily) consistency.
- Season with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste.
Click here if you prefer a creamy Caesar dressing.
How to Make Caesar Salad:
In a large mixing bowl, combine all of your ingredients and toss gently to coat the lettuce in caesar dressing. This recipe makes enough croutons for two full salads so you’ll have them ready to go for round 2!
Cook’s tip: to get those lovely parmesan shavings, all you need is a block of parmesan and a potato peeler (Amazon affiliate link). It’s easy peasy!
More Romaine Salad Recipes to Discover:
- Chopped Chicken Salad – protein packed with a balsamic dressing
- Avocado Salmon Salad – with a zesty lemon dressing
- Chicken Mango Avocado Salad – Cheesecake Factory Copycat
- Avocado Shrimp Salad – crowd pleasing salad loaded with avocado
Caesar Salad Recipe
Ingredients
For the Croutons:
- 1/2 French Baguette, cut in half and thinly sliced (1/4" thick)
- 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp minced garlic, 2 small cloves
- 2 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese
Caesar Salad dressing:
- 2 small garlic cloves, minced (1 tsp)
- 2 tsp dijon mustard
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 1/2 tsp red wine vinegar
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 tsp sea salt, or to taste
- 1/8 tsp black pepper, plus more to serve
For the Caesar Salad:
- 1 large romaine lettuce, (or 2 small heads romaine)
- 1/3 cup parmesan cheese, shredded or shaved
Instructions
How to Make Croutons:
- Preheat oven to 350˚F. Cut the baguette in half lengthwise through the top of the baguette then slice diagonally into 1/4" thick pieces. Place the breads onto a baking sheet.
- In a small bowl, combine 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil and 1 tsp of finely minced garlic. Drizzle the garlic oil over the croutons and sprinkle the top with 2 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese.
- Toss until evenly coated. Spread in a single layer over the baking sheet and bake at 350˚F until light golden and crisp (10-12 minutes), or to desired crispness.
How to Make Caesar Salad Dressing:
- In a small bowl, whisk together garlic, dijon, Worcestershire, lemon juice and red wine vinegar.
- Slowly drizzle in extra virgin olive oil while whisking constantly.
- Whisk in 1/2 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp black pepper, or season to taste.
How to Make Caesar Salad:
- Rinse, dry and chop or tear the romaine into bite-sized pieces. Place in a large serving bowl and sprinkle generously with shredded parmesan cheese and cooled croutons. Drizzle with caesar dressing and toss gently until lettuce is evenly coated.
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
Natasha Kravchuk
Hi! I'm Natasha Kravchuk. Here you'll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. 
Excellent! Will definitely make this again. I made this salad for a special family dinner, made the homemade dressing and fresh croutons and there were no leftovers! I even noticed teenagers eating it that normally don’t eat any greens, saying it was looking too good not to try! 🙂 thank you once again for an amazing recipe!
Made it for a special family dinner to serve with your other delicious dish – Tuscan shrimp, and mashed potatoes. Excellent! I had no leftovers and everyone made compliments on this salad! Thank you!
That’s wonderful, Natalie! So glad it was a hit.
Hi Natasha,
I would like to make this to take to a Thanksgiving gathering. How far in advance can I make this? Or should I bring the salad dressing and toppings along to mix it together before serving?
Hi Julie, the homemade crisp croutons an be made several days ahead. The salad can be made ahead, it should last at least a few days to a week in the fridge, I wouldn’t mix the dressing until you’re ready to serve though. We gobbled this recipe up and didn’t have enough to store to truly test the freshness in the fridge.
I have dry mustard, but I do not have any Dijon mustard. Can I use dry mustard in its’ place?
Hi Karen, we found other forms of mustards will over power this dish and gound dijon mustard given the perfect balance. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.
You’ve left out ansjovis for the dressing, which is literally the only ingredient that makes a real authentic ceasar dressing.
The Worcestershire sauce contains it.
This is my go to cesar salad every time. Family of 12 love it.
Sorry but it’s not truly a Caesar salad without anchovies!!
Some of my relatives are allergic to fish so this recipe is great for my family. I even have to make my own Worcestershire sauce as it contains anchovies. — Personally, I do like the anchovies in Caesar salad, but this recipe is a winner.
Excellent! I added grilled chicken breast and doubled the dressing. (Wish I could add a picture 📸)
We’re so glad that you loved it!
Not your original caesar salad, but it does come shining through with all the beautiful flavors. It is also quick and doesn’t take a lot of ingredients to be a winner.
Thank you for your good comments and feedback, Catherine!
This recipe is a keeper! I am glad it does not have anchovies in this recipe. I cut the recipe in half as it was just my husband and myself and it came out perfect. My husband raved about it. I am excited to make the homemade crotons!
That’s great, Joan! I’m glad you both enjoyed it!
Yes. I totally agree with Joan. The recipe is a keeper. Thank you for not including the anchovies 🙂
I also want to say, i have tried a lot of your wonderful recipes and my favorite Tiramisu. Your recipe was such a crowd pleaser. Thank you !!!
Glad that you’re enjoying them!
This salad is soo good I’ve made it like 3 times in just a few weeks!
So glad to hear that, Parker!
I made the Cesar salad dressing. OMG is it delicious!! Then again, I have made quite a few of her recipes. All are so good and so easy!! Thank you
I’m so glad you love the recipes! Thank you.
I add some mayo to the dressing (maybe a tablespoon or more depending on taste) because I love the creaminess it adds. Otherwise I add everything as listed and it’s one of my favorite salad dressings! I use it for most of my salads!
Sounds great, Anita! Thank you for sharing.
This is a lighter version of the traditional Caesar salad dressing but faithful to its essential flavors. My husband and I really enjoyed it and will be the go to Caesar salad dressing going forward!
I’m so glad to hear that. Thank you for the feedback.
Worst Caesar Dressing I have ever had. I had to search for another recipe which was much better.
What was it exactly that you didn’t like about the recipe? We’d like for you to be specific when you give your feedback so we know what went wrong. Thanks.
Just made this with blackened chicken. The salad dressing is super delicious!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Jennifer!
I love it and my husband thought it was a little tart. I’m going to try your other Caesar dressing next time or add a little Mayo and less vinegar to this recipe. Love following you and your recipes are always fantastic!
Thank you, Laurie! I’m glad it was still enjoyed. 🙂
The dressing was ok, not my favorite. I added 2 tbsp mayonnaise and 1/3 cup finely grated Parmesan to this dressing recipe and it was a lot closer to what I’m used to.
Oh this is NOT Ceaser Dressing, first Ceaser Dressing HAS anchovies, without them it’s just something you mixed together.
Hi Joey, we don’t add anchovies to our recipe. I hope you love our version!
I’m actually glad your recipe doesn’t contain anchovies because a lot of people like me, don’t like them.
Worcestershire sauce is made with anchovies so I figure close enough
You’re not even spelling
Caesar correctly. If YOU want anchovies, just add them to your own concoction. No need to be mean.
To get an authentic caesar salad flavor, you have to use anchovy paste or it’s called a garlic salad. BTW, I really enjoy many of your recipes Natasha, but I have to agree it’s not the same.
What about using Grapeseed Oil?
It’s all I have ? All the others are Extra virgin olive oils
Hi Robyn, Grapeseed oil is a neutral flavor oil that good for cooking and for dressing so I imagine it may work here. The flavor is so delicate that it should not overpower the other flavors in your dressing.
Where is the fish ????
The dressing has to have anchovies in it…thats the kick of it.
We do not use that in this recipe. It is already delicious on its own.
Worcestershire sauce is made with anchovies, so technically they make their way into the recipe. It’s enough to have the umami kick without an overpowering anchovy flavour.
This recipe is delicious. The croutons are amazing. I loved the dressing and just want to keep eating more and more. Thank you for this recipe.
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Emily!
Tried making dressing twice. Thought I had measured wrong. Had to throw out. It just wasn’t good. Red wine vinegar? Not sure but had to use store bought to serve.
Hi Sue! I’m sorry to hear that. I would be happy to help troubleshoot. Also, I linked a recipe for a creamier Caesar salad dressing if you prefer.
When I clicked your link for the “creamier Caesar salad dressing,” the page I landed on said “Sorry, the page you were looking for could not be found.” 🙁
Hi Debbie, it works fine on our end. Here’s the link to the dressing you can try this.
I too received an error message when clicking on the “creamier caeser salad dressing” link but, the next link you post worked. I cant wait to try this tonight! 🙂
Hi Jacki! That is odd, it’s still working for me. I’m glad you were able to load the recipe after-all. I hope you love it!
FYI, that link for the creamier caesar salad dressing does not work for me either.
Hi Tim! Sorry about that. Thank you for letting me know so we can investigate. I still am not seeing any issues at the moment but we’ll keep an eye out. Hope you love the recipe.
…i have been following/using your recipes of recent, cooking in my kitchen in portugal, aaaand, i love’em…
…for xmas i made porco preto lombo (tenderloin of black pig); top of the grade is wild boar, then black pig, followed by your ‘run of the mill’ pork… it was awesome – a ‘side’ of asparagus wrapped in presunto and grilled, plus tatters and such… yummers…
…i love the simplicity and presentation of your recipes…
That sounds so good! Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Darr! Merry Christmas!
I would like to make this salad but prepare the dressing and croutons ahead of time. Can you make the dressing and croutons the day before?
Hi Carrie! Yes, making those ahead is fine! I hope you love this recipe!
I love your recipes. I absolutely love this Caesar salad recipe because it does not call for anchovies. I just made this tonight and my husband and I really loved it. You don’t need anchovies with this dressing.
We’re happy to know that you love this salad! Totally agree, it i already delicious on its own.
Hi Natasha,
I love all of your recipes! I made this salad & the only thing I did different was a just a little Italian seasoning to the crouton mixture. This is a keeper & will be in my recipe rotation. Thanks for sharing:))
I’m so glad to hear that, Cindy! Thank you for sharing.
I like to add little bit of anchovies mashed in with the garlic. Or better yet, Dulong (baby anchovies from the Philippines).
I make a very similar Caesarz
The dressing I make is even simpler: fresh lemon juice, olive oil, on large garlic clove cut thinly on the bias (leave in the dressing), sea salt to taste.
Best if you make and let sit 2-3 hours before serving.
Natasha I tried this salad tonight…. delicious , along with every other recipe I make of yours! Whenever I want a great recipe I rely on only you! Thank-you!
Thank you for your trust, Judy. I hope you’ll love all the recipes that you will try!
This was the best Caesar salad I ever had. Served it to my guests and bowl was practically licked clean. I did add about 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese to the dressing and it was great.
That’s great, Diane! Thank you for the wonderful review.
I love this. But mine is a little different. The croutons I made from cheap soft wheat bread. Diced and coated in olive oil, dried thyme, grated dried parmesan, salt and pepper, garlic powder. Oven for 15 minutes. I used red leaf lettuce cause I forgot to buy Romaine! Dressing; olive oil, one lemon, half can of drained anchovies diced, vinegar to taste, half teaspon of sugar, one coddled egg yolk, parmesan, garlic and onion powder, dried mustard a good a pinch, woosteshire sauce and almost a teaspoon of mayonaise, good pinch of paprika. Lot of stuff in there. So good! An art not a science.
Sound yummy Charlie, but I’m sure Natasha would appreciate a comment on her actual recipe instead of just posting your own. The stars don’t mean anything unless you actually make the one posted??
Perhaps she should’ve posted an actual caesar recipe instead of leaving out anchovies then!
Actually, although Caesar salad is commonly made with anchovies now, the original Caesar salad did not contain them.
Natasha’s Caesar salad is the best Caesar salad. Very good recipe, 5 stars.
Thank you for the review, Andreas! So glad you enjoy this salad.
I have made this twice and both times it was a hit. Nothing left in the salad bowl. So easy to make and and delicious. Now I have a go to recipe of Caesar’s Salad. Thanks Natasha.
You’re most welcome! I’m glad the recipe was a hit, I hope you’ll enjoy all the recipes that you will try.
I’ve never really liked Ceasar Salad and have never made one. But, I made this for a party and it was fantastic! The dressing (the part I don’t usually like), was light and not over-done. And the croutons were worth the extra effort (as opposed to the ones in the box). Will be saving this recipe!
So glad to hear that! Thank you for a wonderful review.
Love your recipes. Have a special file drawer for them.
On caesar salad do we not an an anchovy or two or three mixed with the garlic?
Hi Joe, we don’t add anchovies in our recipe. I hope you love it and let me know if you test it with anchovies.
just a tiny bit of anchovy for flavour… a whole one is too much. This is yummy
Thanks, good to know that you liked it!
Hello Natasha! I want to tell you how much l enjoy your recipes. We maybe be mikes apart but we cook so similar! Continue to post great food!! Love it!
Hi Susan, thank you so much for your good comments and feedback. We appreciate it!
I have a question please. I would like to know what brand of light olive oil and Extra virgin olive oil you prefer.
Hi Susan, I buy the Costco brand – Kirkland for Extra light olive oil and extra virgin.
I think you forgot the magic ingredient! The anchiovies!! Jar or in a tube, both work equally well
Look at the magic ingredient in worcestershire sauce. It has anchovies.
This Caesar salad tastes amazing. I really recommend it.
I just did one change instead of using olive oil I used mayonnaise.
Definitely gonna add this to my recipe collect, Was just so yummy 🤤
Thank you so much for sharing that with me. I’m so happy you enjoyed that, Cezanne!
This dressing is EVERYTHING! I’m used to the egg yolk and anchovies dressing, this one tasted the same, just very light. Thank you!!!
You’re welcome, Adrianna. Great to know that you liked it!
I have minced the garlic with 3 or 4 Anchovies. I like the comment indicating no eggs.
I really like your recipies
and the fun way they are presented! There is always a but….where are the anchovies in the Caesar salad? At the very least, the bowl should be prepared by rubbing the anchovies for flavor.
Thank you for your good comments and feedback, Davina. We used Worcestershire instead of anchovies in this recipe. There are recipes out there that call for anchovies I’m sure. Others shared that they added anchovies and liked it too, feel free to add that to the recipe.
This salad looks so good. Can i make this dressing couple days ahead?
Hi Lana, that will work! This should last at least a few days to a week in the fridge. We gobbled this recipe up and didn’t have enough to store to truly test the freshness in the fridge.
Please, I Need recipe for Avocado Shrimp Salad with Lime Juice Dressing Dressing.
Hi Claudean, you can find all my Salad Recipes HERE. I also filtered avocado & shrimp salads HERE. I hope you find what you’re looking for 🙂
I’m making the croutons for Thursday night dinner. How should I store them after they bake so they won’t be too hard or even soggy?
Hi Victoria, we store ours in zip-lock bags or in an airtight food storage container at room temperature for a few days or you can put it in the freezer for several weeks.
That last review from me should have had 5 stars. Realized asi clicked Submit I hadn’t done that.
I use this all the time.
I’ve made this several times now for events with friends. I’ve never not been asked for the recipe. Nobody can believe there’s no egg yolk in the dressing.
Oh, and I add homemade thick-cut bacon bits to this. That’s a must in my Caesar, whether it’s traditional or not.
That’s so great, Dan! Amazing isn’t it?!
Thankyou for sharing. This is my all time fave dressing!! My family loves it! I make it weekly and can’t get enough of it!!😊
That’s great. I’m happy your family loves this recipe. Thank you for the review.
This is the absolute most perfect salad dressing. Not tart at all. I use this over and over and everyone raves and asks for the recipe. I have learned to dress the salad lightly since it packs a punch. Really just fabulous! Light, clean, flavourful, mouth watering. Thank you!
Delicious salad, a hit with my family. I love how light it is, but still packed with flavour.
Thanks for your good comments and feedback, Sandra!
This is the absolute most perfect salad dressing. Not tart at all. I use this over and over and everyone raves and asks for the recipe. I have learned to dress the salad lightly since it packs a punch. Really just fabulous! Light, clean, flavourful, mouth watering. Thank you!
Wonderful! I am happy to hear that. Thank you for the review.
I love your original Caesar dressing and I go old school with anchovies and raw egg! Love being part of this group and I really enjoy your recipies. Thanks 😊
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Davina!
Nobody else found this recipe to be overwhelmingly tart? If I ever try this recipe again I will most likely cut the dijon and lemon juice to 1/3 of what it calls for. I even added an egg yolk to mine and upped the salt but it was still too sour. It literally tastes like a garlicky dijon mustard salad.
Hi KJ, this is definitely not a watered-down salad dressing and a little bit goes a long way. If making a smaller salad quantity, you would definitely want to add it to taste.
This recipe as always is super delicious and easy to make. Just one thing any chance you could have amounts in ml/mg for us European fans as well as cups. Or a link to a conversion site. Love all your recipes Natasha, you are an inspiration. Hugs xox
Hi Jane, If you scroll down to our printable recipe card, most of our recipes have a metric conversion option on the printable recipe card. We are currently working on adding metric measurements to all of our recipes, but it is taking some time to add them one at a time. Thank you so much for being patient! In the meantime, check out our post on measuring which should help.
This is not the classic cesar salad dressing that I usually make from your blog. What happened to the the other recipe?
Hi Timmi, we still have our original caesar dressing recipe posted. You can also find it by searching “caesar” on our blog.
This is such a pleasant salad that I could eat it everyday. In fact Hubby is making it right now (but I may need to hold him back from adding his anchovies.) Thanks for the recipe. BTW, I have your Tomato Soup recipe on the stove right now. Am so looking forward to dinner tonight!
Thanks for your good comments and feedback, Gretha. I hope that you and your family will love all the recipes that you will try!
I use this recipe every time I make Caesar salad…. and that’s a-lot! I do add 1 tsp of dried Italian seasoning and 1 tsp of Mayo. To the salad I add 1/4 cup of sun dried Julian sliced tomatoes! California Caesar…. avacado sometimes too
Oh that all sounds so lovely! thank you for sharing. I really want to try that now! Are you using sundried tomatoes?
Woah i love it so much. Although i dont use all of the ingredient because i dont have it in my kitchen, it’s still delicious. Greetings from Indonesia ❤❤
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Nabila!
Great recipe! I used the creamy Caesar dressing recipe instead of the oil-based dressing. I added a good-sized squeeze of anchovy paste to the dressing. I prepared the croutons using a multi-grain Italian loaf that from the bakery – quite tasty. Thank you for another 5-star recipe!
Good to know that your substitutions worked great! Thanks for sharing that with us.
I have been searching for a Caesar dressing to make at home and I have found it. As someone who despises anchovies I was super excited to come across this recipe. It still tastes like a Caesar to me. The croutons are amazing and really bring the salad together. Thank you!!!!!
You are very welcome, Alycia. Thank you too for your great comments and feedback!
I found that the EVOO I used was way too heavy tasting and overpowered the salad. I will try again with a “light” oil. Can you achieve the same blending of ingredients by shaking in a cruét as opposed to whisking?
Hi Robin, you might try a different brand of Evoo – some can taste a little harsh, but generally, 1/3 cup should be balanced by the rest of the dressing ingredients Make sure not to skip any of those ingredients as each helps to balance the flavor of the dressing. I think whisking is a little more effective unless you have a closed jar such as a mason jar to shake vigorously.
Too much mustard in the dressing. It gives bitter, almost unbearable flavor to the salad
Hi Olga, did you possibly use the wrong sized measuring spoon or a different kind of mustard? The flavor is normally very balanced not overpowering with mustard.
Oh come now Olga. Don’t you think the word unbearable is a bit strong?
I totally agree Olga. All I can taste and smell in the salad is dijon mustard. And if anything I used less than what it calls for because I didnt bother getting all the mustard off the spoon. I dont think the lemon juice helped matters either. Overall just way too sour.
I just love this recipe for your Caesar Salad dressing!!! ❤️ Would it keep if I made it a day ahead of making the salad? Just trying to get things done ahead of my company coming. Already have my homemade croutons made LOL!
Hi Carrion, you sure can. This should last at least a few days to a week in the fridge.
I made this from scratch today. Served with potato/onion in a foil pouch and BBQ striploin.
The salad was outstanding. It’ll go into the recipe book for later.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Mike!
This is probably the best Caesar Salad I’ve ever had! Seasoning is perfect.
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
Thank you soooooo much for NOT adding anchovies or boiled eggs! Why oh why do some restaurants do that! Ergh. This is the best way to make Caesar Salad, no fuss, just a lovely few fresh ingredients. I do add chicken from time to time to bulk though.
Thanks for your good feedback, I’m glad you liked this recipe!
WOW! This is one of the most amazing recipes, not using anchovies or mayonnaise.
Thank you!
You’re welcome, Lesley! I’m glad you loved this recipe.
This is my go to for Great Ceasar Salad Recipe. Thank you so Much Natasha!!
Great to hear that, Cheryl! Thanks for your good review and feedback.
To make this a meal, add sliced season chicken or turkey breast strips. So delicious.
Definitely a good idea!
I’m sorry, but it’s not a cesar salad dressing without anchovies. It’s just a normal salad…
Which is exactly why she said “if you don’t like Caesar dressing” “like me” THEN you can try this. It’s a supplement to those who want a Caesar salad but don’t like the original. So this recipe wouldn’t be for you since you love anchovies.
most WORCHESTERSHIRE sauce does have anchovies in it.
HI, NO RAW EGG, AND ANCHOVIES PUREED.
I have seen the dressing made with a beaten egg in the dressing, have you tried that method
Hi Beverly, Yes, caesar can be made with raw egg, but this dressing is definitely not lacking in flavor without needing any raw egg added to it. I hope you give our recipe a try.
Cesar salad is one of my favourite salads that I have ever eaten. I prepare it very often; however, my recipe is a bit different. My cousin also adds sometimes bacon, but it’s not my favourite ingredient. Every year I grow romaine lettuce and later regrow if by cutting its upper part. It’s always working and I don’t have to buy seeds so often. The best for me is ‘Little gem’ variety as it’s crunchy and also a bit sweet in taste. I’ll definitely try your dressing!
Hello Marianne, thank you for sharing that with us. I’m glad this is one of your favorite recipes!
Do you add the parmigiana cheese while mixing dressing? That’s how I’ve done before
This recipe seems to put it on the salad after dressing incorporated
Making tonight!
Hi Jo, you can do it either way. The presentation is a little prettier when you put it on top, but you can also do both, mix some in and sprinkle some over the finished salad.
Do you add the parmigiana cheese while mixing dressing? That’s how I’ve done before
This recipe seems to put it on the salad after dressing incorporated
Making tonight!
Thank you so much for sharing that with me. We just top if like you said.
Thanks for the recipe! I was looking for something different than the “normal” salad with have with balsamic vinaigrette. My husband said he liked Ceasar salad, but not to make it “too fishy” I didn’t have anchovies on hand anyway, so I was happy to find this one without. I have not put the salad together yet, but sampled the dressing and it is really good! I did add a teaspoon of mayo to add a bit more body to it.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I hope you both love this recipe!
The grilled veggies look delicious. I don’t have a BBQ. How do you suggest I cook this veggies so they still flavorful.
Hi Joan, roasting the veggies in a rimmed baking sheet would also work well.
It has been my understanding that anchovy fillets were essential to a Ceasar salad sauce. Why were they excluded?
Hi Bill, we used Worcestershire instead of anchovies in this recipe. There are recipes out there that call for anchovies I’m sure. Others shared that they added anchovies and liked it too, feel free to add that to the recipe.
I must be the odd one out but this did not taste like caesar dressing. We followed recipe to the T. This tastes too tangy.
Hi Kim, you might enjoy our Creamy Ceasar Dressing better.
Love your site. I use it so much thank you Natasha
That’s so great! I’m glad you’re enjoying my site!
My husband just said that this salad was really good! I usually find myself asking him how he liked _____ but this time his comment was totally unsolicited! Thanks for the recipe…it was quick and easy to make and we didn’t even miss the anchovies or egg. (BTW, I used Trader Joe’s croutons because they were handy)
Wow, that is so awesome! Thanks to you both for giving this recipe a try. I’m glad you both liked it.
I love Caesar salad and I always chop 4 or 5 anchovies into my dressing and blend it. Gives a lovely flavour.
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
Everyone always asked me to bring Caesar Salad when invited to dinner with friends. They always say mine is their most favourite. And of course what is a Caesar Salad without lots of Anchovy paste and I most often add a whole can of Anchovies chopped into small pieces. NOW you have a Caesar Salad.
Thank you so much for sharing that with us, Paul!
Alas Paul and others of the ilk…Viva Anchovy! Alas, as many might know, anchovy adds to its edginess beyond being named after its inventor who, altho nee Italian, had apparently no relation to the Roman, Caesar. In addition, that so named salad, so loved in the US, was not, oddly enough, invented here but in TJ (Tijuana, Mexico!). Lastly, gourmands often note in describing the pre(?)-prandial ritual, that the anchovy brings a savoriness that some refer to as the fifth gustatory ‘sense’ of umami, i.e. a taste imparted by glutamate, a type of amino acid, and ribonucleotides, including inosinate and guanylate, which occur naturally in many foods including meat, fish, vegetables and dairy products.
Blessed New Year to All!
I love Caesar Salad and have been making homemade croutons for years. I make all my own bread and whatever doesn’t get used after 3 days I freeze to make croutons. I dice the frozen bread up and put it into a cast iron frying pan with some olive oil and garlic powder and place in low (175°) oven to dehydrate. These are great on my salads. BTW I like these as they are low in sodium vs store bought varieties. Great to see your son picking up on your love of cooking. My Mom had me in the kitchen with her when I was 3 years old (70 years ago).
Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
I felt it needed the anchovy factor so I added about a teaspoon and a half, the end result was fabulous. The croutons took quite a bit longer to bake. I like that the dressing turned out fine with no egg. I would make this recipe again.
Really good. The croutons were fabulous. I used the ends of a sour dough loaf I had on hand. Yum! Thanks for the recipe!
You’re most welcome, Dorothy. So great to hear your good comments and feedback. Thank you!
Thank you so much for sharing your many recipes. God richly bless you…
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you’re enjoying our recipes!
Like the croutons using garlic & Parmesan cheese. Other than that, nope. For a true and amazing Caesar Salad dressing you must use anchovies and egg yolks (trust me, people who tell me they hate anchovies love my salad with them. Chopped so you don’t know they’re there but give the salad the flavor it absolutely needs)..my kids & I love anchovies & actually add extra filets on top:) Shaved fresh Parmesan, garlic & lemons are also key..& OMG NO to bottled dressing..don’t even bother..it’s the dressing that makes this salad. If you’re looking for a good Caesar Salad recipe online, the best one I’ve found is from Bon Apetit.
I love this dressing and so does everyone that I have made it for. Just made it tonight for my nephews. I always make them a jar for home. They love it.
Thanks Natasha!!
That is the best when kids love what we make. That’s so great!
I love everything about this! Absolutely perfect! 😋Thanks Natasha for all your fabulous recipes!
Thank you so much for your great comments, Yasmin! Love it.
Where are the anchovies?
Hi Judy, we used Worcestershire instead of anchovies in this recipe. There are recipes out there that call for anchovies I’m sure.
A big hit at dinner party with my friends. Everyone loved it. Fresh and not the boxed variety. Most noted how tasty is was.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Tim! Thank you for the wonderful review!
Do you miss the creamy of the missed egg yolk? Is this still a health concern?
Hi Mary Ann, this dressing is definitely not lacking in flavor without needing any raw egg added to it.
I thought all your recipes used to be gluten free?
Hi Diane, we have a few gluten-free recipes but we were never strictly a gluten-free site. Most of our recipe comments include how our readers made recipes gluten-free friendly.
This is very similar to William’s Sonoma recipe the only difference is you add dijon, they add anchovies. I add both (and at least 2 more garlic), meld it well and get tons of compliments!
Thank you so much for your compliment!
This salad was amazing! thanks for sharing a delicious recipe
You’re welcome, Jessie! I’m so happy you enjoyed it!
Your recipe is great. I add some crispy bacon pieces crumbled.
Delicious!
I’m so glad you enjoyed that Marilyn!
Love your recipes! Always tasty good! Question? Generally anchovies added to caesar dressing! Why did you omit?
Hi Rita, we used Worcestershire instead of anchovies in this recipe. There are recipes out there that call for anchovies I’m sure.
Excellent recipe. I’ve made this twice now. The second time I substituted mayonnaise for the EVOO. I actually thought it better with the mayo. It was creamier.
Thanks for sharing that with us, Phil!
Bingo ! I have been making Caesar salad dressing for many years and always use the same recipe, which is very good .For a change I thought I would try this one and it is spot on. ( I did however add some anchovy paste because we do like it )your recipes never disappoint me !
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
Bingo ! I have been making Caesar salad dressing for many years and always use the same recipe, which is very good .For a change I thought I would try this one and it is spot on. ( I did however add some anchovy paste because we do like it )our recipes never disappoint me !
That’s just awesome!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review Jackie!
I added cooked chicken and a boiled egg to mine and it was such a great recipe. The dressing was spot on
Thank you. I really needed a favourite restaurant meal.
That’s so awesome Emmie! I’m so glad you enjoyed that!
Absolute Fabulous!! I was so upset I couldn’t make my usual dressing with anchovies.. found this… it was so good I could’ve drank it straight!
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
thank you for this simple, but amazing salad recipe!! My fiance who is very picky absolutely loved it! I will be making this again… many many times…
Sounds like you guys found your favorite salad recipe. Thanks for sharing this feedback, stay safe and healthy!
Best Caesar salad recipe I’ve ever tried! This is my favorite salad so I’m super picky. I made it for a party and everyone, including the small children raved about how delicious it was! I think the homemade dressing is what did it. I didn’t have time to make homemade croutons so just bought them from the store, so I’m guessing it’s going to be even better with homemade ones.
That’s just awesome Galya! Sounds like you found a new favorite!
My husband and I thought the dressing did not have much flavor and I even added 1/4 inch of anchovy paste. I made the dressing a day ahead of serving so I thought maybe this hurt the flavor. What do you think?
Just read the question just below mine. I guess the day ahead didn’t hurt.
Jo Suzanne, lemon can have less of a punch after melding in the refrigerator overnight. If that is the case, you could squeeze in a tad more the next day to taste.
Can you make the dressing a head of time? And if so how long will it last in the fridge?
Hi Cella, you sure can. This should last at least a few days to a week in the fridge. We gobbled this recipe up and didn’t have enough to store to truly test the freshness in the fridge.
This dressing was amazing and so true to taste without the anchovies or egg that ithers recipes ask for.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Not the real thing without anchovy paste. Needs more lemon juice and seasoning.
Hi Linda! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
I’m quite excited this recipe has neither paste nor raw egg…..exactly what I was hoping to find and can’t wait to make! I don’t have French bread but I can either use Hamburg buns or whole wheat sandwich bread…..which would be better?
I would probably go with the sandwich bread for croutons – it will be easy to cut and not as airy as buns tend to be.
What a great and easy recipe. I made it together with chicken, marinated with lemon and thyme. And everything fits great together.
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!
Just made this last night for dinner…it was amazing!!!! The only issue is that I wasn’t exactly sure how to cut the baguette correctly. I think they were a bit large, as I had to leave them in the oven for longer. Thanks Natasha!
I’m so glad you enjoyed that, Shelley!
What brand of parmesan cheese you use?
Hi Linda, I honestly can’t remember what brand it was, but I’ve had good luck with Belgioiosio brand. Sometimes I buy what is on sale at the grocery store.
A real “Caesar Salad” has
Anchovies
Thank you for sharing that with us, Susan!
I have done a lot of your recipes. You never disappoint. It’s so fun to try new things. Most of them have taken a permanent spot in my recipe box. You need your own show.
Thank you for that wonderful compliment! You’re so nice! Thank you!
I love Caesar salad and this is now my favorite recipe. Didn’t change a thing and even super picky husband gobbled it up! Thanks for sharing!!!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Kelly! Thank you for that awesome review!
This dressing is the closest to any Good Restaurant’s Caesar Salad I’ve enjoyed.
It hardly seemed worth it but I did add 1/2 tsp. of Mayo and 1 ” Anchovie paste.
So Good. Thank-you!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it
Very similar to William Sonoma’ recipe. They add anchovy paste and a couple more garlic cloves, we like more of a flavour punch and that does it. I can make it in my sleep. So better than any store bought.
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
This salad is amazing and the best dressing that I’ve ever had. Could you make up a big batch of the dressing and refrigerate it? I had some of the bread left over and put it in some french onion soup…yummy!
That’s sounds like a great idea, I don’t see why not!
Hi Natasha, I am making your ceasar salad today and wanted to know if you put dressing on just before you serve it, I am bringing it to party and not sure what to do. Thankyou, and I love your recipes and your videos💜
Hi Mary Lou, yes, we like to add the dressing right before serving.
This recipe is delicious! I love it!!
Thank you so much for a great Caesar salad 🙂
You’re very welcome! Thank you for that awesome review!
Love it, _eady, health, and tasty!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that!
Hi Natasha! I wanted to just drop a line and thank you for sharing such a great Caesar Salad recipe. I recently shared an EASY Baked Chicken Parmesan recipe on my blog and linked back to this salad as a side dish option. You’re on fire and I admire your work. I attended EFC this year (as it’s close to home – Provo, UT) and saw you across the room. Hopefully, another opportunity will come where I can meet and thank you in person. Keep rockin’ it girl! Thanks again for sharing such delicious goodness!
You’re so nice! Thank you for sharing your thoughtful feedback with me, Rachel! & definitely say hi next time!
Hi Natasha ,
Want to try this recipe… whats a good substitute for red wine vinegar.
Thanks.
Kiran
Hi Kiran, we prefer the flavor of red wine vinegar for this salad but the next best thing would probably be apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar.
Wonderful, simple and a hit! I am definitely a fan, and turn to you more and more. Thanks and continue the great work.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the wonderful review!
Preparing Caesar salad for our gourmet group tomorrow. Which of your dressings would you recommend?
Hi Carol! We have this awesome Caesar dressing here. Also most of our dressings can be found following this link here.
Thanks! Just made the creamy Caesar dressing which is creamy but not that thick. Should I add something to thicken?
Hi Carol, be sure to use the correct oil for that dressing and I have found the best way to thicken it is in the food processor (some people have also reported good results in a high powered blender), adding the oil in a slow steady stream so that it can emulsify and thicken the dressing. It would be difficult to emulsify if all of the oil is added at once. You might blend a little longer or add a little more parmesan, but it will still taste good even in a thinner state.
Hi there. So wishing that we could try this but are very limited here due to my husband’s renal failure. So….too much sodium for him. He is carb and potassium-restricted as well which makes cooking anything very difficult now. I still do enjoy following you and your recipes though.
Oh I’m so sorry to hear that, Stephanie! That does sound difficult! Several of our readers have altered the recipes to meet their dietary needs and post the changes they have made in the comments. You may find some ways to alter that there. Blessings to you both!
Hi Natasha! This dressing sounds amazing but I’d like to make it ahead of time. Do you know how long I can keep it in the fridge?
Hi Karen, this should last at least a few days to a week in the fridge. We gobbled this recipe up and didn’t have enough to store to truly test the freshness in the fridge.
Hi Natasha, I don’t see the oven temperature for the croutons!!
Hi Cristina, oh goodness so sorry I missed that. I baked the Caesar salad croutons at 350˚F.
Hi Natasha
How do I store the croutons? How long can I store them?
Thank you
Hi Dina, we store ours in a zip-top bags or in an airtight food storage container at room temperature for a few days or you can put it in the freezer for several weeks.
I have two Caesar Salads that I like to make… My Mom taught me this one back in the early 1950’s:
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 tsp. salt and pepper
1 can oil-packed anchovey fillets, rinsed and chopped
1 Tbs. lemon juice
1 egg raw or coddled if you must
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil.-
1 head romaine torn or cut up
1.2 cup parmesan cheese
Croutons…
2nd version,
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 tsp. salt & pepper
1 can smoked oysters
1 Tbs. lemon juice
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
I whip up both of the dressings in a blender and then pour over the lettuce… BUT this second recipe really needs no cheese or even crouton since it is already so rich!!
This second one is the favourite of everyone that tries it!!
Thank you so much for sharing! Both sound wonderful!
Our youngest son absolutely loves caesar salad!! We eat this all the time!!
That’s so great!! Thank you for that great review!
Just curious. I thought that Caesar Salad dressing had anchovies in it. I bought a tube just for that purpose but haven’t used it. Its still in the fridge.
Hi Linda, we used Worcestershire instead of anchovies in this recipe. There are recipes out there that call for anchovies I’m sure.
Thank you! I guess I didn’t need to buy this anchovie paste after all. There is nothing else I will use it for because I am definitely not an anchovie person.
I ALWAYS use anchovies in my dressing along with garlic, dijon, red wine vinegar, egg yolk, worchestershire sauce, olive oil and s&p. (Quite fabulous, let it meld in the fridge for a couple hours.)
Hi Lesly, Thanks for sharing! Your caesar dressing with anchovies sounds great also!
Thank you and thanks to all who responded to my question.
Lesly do you have quantities for those items in your recipe?
Use the anchovie paste, Linda! A classic Caesar has anchovies, and if you mix the paste (just before serving) with the dressing, it will be fabulous, and really does not reek of anchovies. Just mix a bit in and taste to your liking, then add more if needed.
Never tried Worcestershire sauce before. Where do you buy it?
Do you use it for anything else besides salads?
Thanks!
Hi Gloria! We buy it at our local grocery store. Worcestershire is actually quite popular, this link here will take you to a few recipes that use that also.
I love everything about this! Especially the homemade croutons!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
Hi Natasha, what brand of parmesan cheese are you using?
Hi Linda, I honestly can’t remember what brand it was, but I’ve had good luck with Belgioiosio brand. Sometimes I buy what is on sale at the grocery store.
I adore Caesar salad. This is one of my favorite recipes.
Thank you Alli! Its definitly a favroite aroun here!
We eat caesar salad several times a month. LOVE this dressing recipe!
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
this is my husband’s favorite salad! thanks for a delicious recipe!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it