​
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Free Ebook!Subscribe to updates & get a recipe book!

Subscribe & Receive My Free Recipe Ebook!

The Chunky Chef

Comforting Family Recipes

  • All Recipes
  • Learn to Cook
  • Shop
    • My eBooks
    • Favorite Products
  • About
  • Contact
  • Trending:

    Slow Cooker

    Easy Dinners

    Desserts

    My Saved Recipe Box
  • Browse By:
  • Course
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Main Dishes
    • Sides
    • Drinks
    • Desserts
    • Salads
    • Soups
    • Sandwiches
    • Healthy-ish
  • Ingredient
    • Chicken
    • Beef
    • Pork
    • Turkey
    • Seafood
    • Meatless
    • Pasta
  • Cuisine
    • Asian
    • Italian
    • Mexican
    • Hawaiian
    • Middle Eastern
    • Comfort Food
  • Method
    • One Pot
    • Crockpot
    • Instant Pot
    • Oven
    • Fried
    • Grilling/BBQ
  • Trending:

    Slow Cooker

    Easy Dinners

    Desserts

Home / Main Dishes / Salad

Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing

4.65
/5
20 minutes minutes
236 Comments
Jump to Recipe Print Pin
By: The Chunky Chefpublished: 09/11/2018

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Creamy and bursting with savory flavors, this homemade caesar salad dressing is SO much better than any store-bought variety!

Behold, my favorite salad of all time!  The crisp romaine lettuce, sharp and nutty Parmesan cheese, crunchy croutons, and plenty of that savory pepper-specked dressing… yes please!!  Usually I would just buy a bottle of dressing to have caesar salad at home, but no more… and once you try this recipe, you’ll be ditching that bottle too!

Perfect restaurant-style Caesar salad with homemade dressing and homemade garlic croutons.  Amazing as a side salad, or add some grilled chicken and make it a meal! #salad #dressing #saladdressing #caesar #homemade #croutons #fromscratch

Whenever we go out to a restaurant, I always order a caesar salad with my meal.  No other side salad comes close for me!  Now that I’ve perfected the homemade dressing and croutons, it’s a staple around here as well.

To me, no salad is complete without croutons… and garlic croutons, well, that just makes everything better!

Homemade garlic croutons for caesar salad

Crunchy, buttery, perfection!

MAKING HOMEMADE CROUTONS

Making your own croutons is so easy, and it’s a great way to use up some old bread that you would otherwise forget about and end up throwing away.  I’m all about not wasting food, since that’s essentially wasting money, plus, I think homemade tastes better anyway.

  • Cube up (or tear) some day old bakery bread.  French, Italian, Ciabatta, etc are all great for this.  Make sure the bread cubes are bite-sized.
  • Lay them out on a foil lined baking sheet and bake @ 375 F degrees for 5 minutes.  While they’re baking, mix up your garlic oil mixture.  
  • Whisk together olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper.
  • Drizzle the oil mixture over the bread cubes, toss to combine, then bake another 5 minutes.  Stir the croutons, then bake a final 5-6 minutes.  Viola… croutons!

Homemade caesar salad with croutons

This homemade caesar salad dressing is just as simple, you don’t need a blender or food processor, just a bowl and a whisk.  I usually make mine a few hours ahead of time, but it will still be plenty flavorful if you make it right before serving.

WHAT GOES INTO CAESAR SALAD DRESSING?

Traditionally, caesar salad dressing is made with olive oil, egg yolk, Worcestershire sauce, lemon, mustard, garlic and pepper.  To keep this dressing as easy to make as possible (as well as eliminating any risk that goes with raw eggs), I chose to make mine with mayonnaise and sour cream.  This gives the dressing a beautiful creamy texture, that’s a bit lighter than an all mayo-based dressing, yet still velvety smooth.

ANCHOVIES, OR NO ANCHOVIES?

I know, I know… anchovies can be a bit… off-putting.  Normally I shy away from using them in most of my cooking, but for this dressing, it really adds a great depth of flavor.  Without the anchovies, the dressing can taste really flat and one dimensional… sort of like if you forget to salt your food while cooking it.

Instead of using anchovy filets, I use anchovy paste!  You can usually find it in major grocery stores, and it’s shelf-stable (until opened, then you’ll need to refrigerate it).

Caesar salad dressing in bottle

WHO, OR WHAT, IS CAESAR SALAD NAMED AFTER?

This one may surprise you!  As a kid, I thought caesar salad was named after Julius Caesar, the infamous Roman Emperor.  But in fact, it’s named after a chef, Caesar Cardini.  He’s the man we all owe a big thank you to!

Pouring homemade caesar salad dressing

ADDING PROTEIN TO A CAESAR SALAD

After one bite of this salad, you may want to turn this into your main meal, and I can’t blame you!  There are 3 main sources of protein that we add to this salad:

  • Chicken
    • Slice chicken breasts in half horizontally, to make 2 thin cutlets.  Season well with salt, pepper, dried minced onion, garlic powder, and a pinch of paprika.  Saute over MED-HIGH heat with a drizzle of olive oil for 4 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through.
  • Salmon
    • Rub salmon filets with a drizzle of olive oil, then season with salt, pepper and garlic powder.  Saute over MED – MED-HIGH for several minutes per side until cooked to your liking.
  • Shrimp
    • Season shrimp with salt, pepper, garlic powder and a pinch of paprika.  Saute over MED-HIGH heat with a drizzle of olive oil for 2-3 minutes per side, until golden and cooked through.  Squeeze some lemon juice over the shrimp when finished cooking.

Homemade caesar salad in bowl

WHAT TO SERVE WITH CAESAR SALAD

This salad makes a fabulous side dish to a LOT of recipes, but here are a few of my favorites:

  • Stuffed Italian Flank Steak
  • 20 Minute Tortellini Carbonara
  • Crunchy Baked Chicken Tenders
  • Drunken Slow Cooker Beef Stew
  • Loaded Chicken Noodle Casserole
  • One Pan French Onion Pork Chops

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!

Perfect restaurant-style Caesar salad with homemade dressing and homemade garlic croutons.  Amazing as a side salad, or add some grilled chicken and make it a meal! #salad #dressing #saladdressing #caesar #homemade #croutons #fromscratch

Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing

4.65 from 152 votes
Author: The Chunky Chef
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
Calories: 454
Servings: 4 servings
(hover over # to adjust)
Print Rate Pin
Forget about bottled salad dressing, this simple homemade caesar salad dressing is about 1000x better!

Ingredients

DRESSING:

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1 1/2 tsp anchovy paste
  • 3 cloves garlic , pressed with a garlic press, grated, or finely minced
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 2 - 3 Tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 - 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/4 - 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper , depending on your tastes
  • 1/4 cup finely shredded fresh parmesan cheese
  • Salt to taste

CROUTONS:

  • 1/2 loaf artisan bread , 1-2 days old
  • 3 Tbsp olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic , pressed with a garlic press, grated, or finely minced
  • 1/4 each salt and black pepper

SALAD:

  • 1 large head Romaine lettuce , chopped
  • 1/2 cup shredded or shaved Parmesan cheese

Instructions

DRESSING

  • To a mixing bowl, add mayonnaise, anchovy paste, olive oil, lemon juice, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, pepper, salt, and garlic and stir. Whisk in sour cream and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Place in airtight container in the refrigerator until serving.

CROUTONS

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Slice bread into slices 3/4-inch thick then cut each slice into cubes. Spread out bread cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake 5 minutes. While they are baking, in a mixing bowl, whisk together olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper.
  • Remove baking sheet from the oven and drizzle with garlic oil mixture, toss to combine, then bake 5 minutes.
  • Remove sheet from the oven and toss, then bake 5 - 6 minutes longer, until golden brown and crisp. Remove from oven and set aside.

ASSEMBLE SALAD

  • In a large salad bowl toss together lettuce, croutons and Parmesan cheese. Drizzle with dressing and toss. Sprinkle with additional Parmesan and black pepper if desired.

Want to save this recipe for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own recipe box!

Chef Tips

For best results, use a good-quality mayonnaise and real, fresh Parmesan cheese.  The kind in a bottle in the pasta aisle won't taste nearly as good as fresh Parm!

Nutrition Disclaimer

The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

Did You Make This?Tag @the_chunky_chef on Instagram and hashtag it #thechunkychef so I can see what you made!
Tag on Insta! Leave a Rating Save for Later Saved!

 

Perfect restaurant-style Caesar salad with homemade dressing and homemade garlic croutons.  Amazing as a side salad, or add some grilled chicken and make it a meal! #salad #dressing #saladdressing #caesar #homemade #croutons #fromscratch

You May Also Like...

  • This classic Cobb salad is made with seared chicken breasts, crunchy bacon, sweet tomatoes, creamy hard-boiled eggs, buttery avocado and drizzled with a fantastic and low-carb homemade ranch dressing!  Perfect for Keto and low-carb living! #salad #cobb #lowcarb #keto #healthyrecipe #saladrecipe #ranchdressing #homemade #easyrecipe
    Keto Cobb Salad and Homemade Ranch Dressing
  • Asian Ramen Noodle Chicken Salad
  • Grilled Chicken Strawberry Spinach Salad | This strawberry spinach salad is full of walnuts, fruits, cheeses, topped with juicy grilled chicken and a homemade honey herb vinaigrette! | http://thechunkychef.com
    Grilled Chicken Strawberry Spinach Salad
  • BBQ Chicken Salad | This fresh and crisp bbq chicken salad is packed with veggies, tender grilled chicken, and topped with bbq sauce and a green chile ranch dressing! | http://thechunkychef.com
    Grilled BBQ Chicken Salad
Previous Post
Next Post

Meet The Chunky Chef

Hey there! I'm Amanda. Wife, mother, photography nerd, and bacon lover! I believe that delicious meals should be easy to make. Now that you’re here, stay a bit, browse a few recipes, and let’s get cookin’!

Learn More

Reader Interactions

4.65 from 152 votes (36 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Submit your question, comment, or review below.

Recipe Rating




  1. Beth Schiffman says

    Posted on 7/13 at 8:34 pm

    OK, this was a terrific dressing, though I did make some tweaks… I used Plant based Sour cream, a Vegan mayonnaise and 4 gloves of minced Garlic with Homemade Polenta Croutons. My (non-Vegan / Gluten Free) friends said it was truly a GREAT Caesar… comparable to the Classic (and in my humble opinion BEST EVER) Caesar Salad served at Dan Tana’s in Los Angeles. I suspect this may always be at the ready in my fridge.

    Reply
  2. May says

    Posted on 6/14 at 12:18 pm

    My husband loves Caesar dressing and I have been using the same recipe forever.  We really enjoyed this version of the dressing. I used Meyer lemon juice, and 3-4 anchovy fillets smashed with a mortar & pestle.  Recipe made quite a bit, so I am looking forward to a couple more yummy salads.
    *I did have a problem with this website jumping around while I was trying to read the recipe and write this review….

    Reply
  3. Amanda Wesselink says

    Posted on 6/3 at 11:36 pm

    Just made this!!!!! Added spicey teriyaki chicken breast on top. It was by far the best dressing ever!!! Real parmesan all the way

    Reply
  4. robyn says

    Posted on 5/4 at 3:58 pm

    The dressing is really thick, does it loosen up?

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 5/4 at 8:38 pm

      Mine is usually similar to store-bought dressing in thickness, but if yours is too thick, you can blend in a bit of water as needed.

      Reply
  5. Stephanie Ramirez says

    Posted on 4/19 at 1:14 pm

    Can I use minced garlic instead? If so how much should I add in? 

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 4/19 at 7:44 pm

      You mean from a jar? Yes, you can, I would use about 2-3 tsp.

      Reply
  6. Taryn says

    Posted on 4/18 at 6:55 pm

    This salad has become a staple in our house! We love it! How long do you think the dressing can stay in the fridge if I make it ahead?

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 4/18 at 8:45 pm

      So glad you love it! I would say about a week 🙂

      Reply
  7. Coty says

    Posted on 4/5 at 2:35 pm

    How long is this good for in fridge?

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 4/5 at 8:48 pm

      I would say for about a week.

      Reply
  8. Michele March says

    Posted on 3/25 at 10:24 pm

    Really quick and easy…and perfect! Just the right balance of all ingredients, make for a delicious salad. Thanks!

    Reply
  9. R Beaton says

    Posted on 3/22 at 3:09 pm

    This was delicious! Thank you very much for the recipe.

    Reply
  10. Joy Brewer says

    Posted on 3/16 at 10:53 pm

    How can a dish that is easy to make, economical, and quickly assembled be so unbelievably de!icious? The Chunky Chef has scored a 10+ with this recipe! My international-traveler husband, upon being advised to give critical feedback, said “only two other Caeser Salads were comparable, not better,” and went on to name a famous ( and pricey) restaurant as well as a high-end cruise line. His final comment was, “please don’t change anything because it’s PERFECT.” Thank you for mastering and sharing this recipe. By the way, this is also his favorite salad.

    Reply
  11. Rosanne Bloom Pereira says

    Posted on 3/12 at 2:06 am

    This is the best recipe! The salad dressing is very easy to make, creamy and delicious. This will definitely be my go-to caesar salad dressing recipe. Thank you very much.

    Reply
  12. MoonLightOnWater says

    Posted on 3/4 at 8:52 pm

    Sooooo delicious!

    Reply
  13. Sabina Firoz says

    Posted on 2/26 at 12:19 pm

    I loved the recipe. Tried it at home with a few tweaks and it was so so good! Thanks for making ceasar salad nights amazing!

    Reply
  14. John says

    Posted on 1/29 at 5:23 pm

    Good recipe. Like leaving the egg yolk out and using mayonnaise and sour cream instead 

    Reply
  15. Teresa says

    Posted on 12/30 at 12:10 pm

    Wonderful recipe!  The only change I made because I just could not consider adding anchovies – I doubled the Worcestershire sauce (which has anchovies in it already).  I did not have Dijon mustard so I used what I had – Creole Mustard which made it a little spicy.    I loved the recipe and will never go back to store bought!   Thank you!

    Reply
  16. Nancy Carroll says

    Posted on 11/20 at 8:58 pm

    Excellent. Very lemony, but I added a whole lemon. I also added a bit more anchovy paste.
    I’m always on the lookout for a good Caesar salad dressing that doesn’t use raw eggs.  . 

    Reply
  17. Jenn says

    Posted on 11/11 at 2:15 pm

    I don’t usually comment on blog recipes, but I have made this one SO MANY TIMES AND I LOVE IT! It is my go-to Caesar dressing, and everyone I have made it for loves it. Thanks for a great recipe!

    Reply
  18. Veronica says

    Posted on 11/1 at 5:24 pm

    How long will the dressing keep if refrigerated in an air tight container? Apologiesiif it’s mentioned somewhere and I missed it. Thanks in advance, love your site!

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 11/2 at 9:34 am

      I would say about a week 🙂 So glad you enjoy the site!

      Reply
    • Tammy says

      Posted on 8/19 at 4:21 pm

      Whenever we have pasta for dinner, we treat ourselves to salads from a local restaurant. Most have a garden salad, but my favorite is Caesar salad. With this AMAZING dressing, I can save some money and make my salad at home! 🙂 Thank you so much!

      Reply
  19. Beth Johns says

    Posted on 10/30 at 10:00 pm

     Am I missing something? The dressing ingredients include Parmesan cheese but it seems that it’s not added into the dressing. Was that ingredient missed in adding all the ingredients together? Can you please clarify? Thanks! 

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 10/31 at 9:49 am

      Oh goodness, I did forget that! Thanks for the heads up! Yes, add the 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese with the dressing ingredients 🙂

      Reply
      • Beth Johns says

        Posted on 11/1 at 2:33 am

        Perfect! Thank you!,❤️

        Reply
  20. Jane says

    Posted on 10/23 at 4:40 pm

    This is a wonderful recipe. I wouldn’t have thought to use mayonnaise and sour cream, but the olive oil thins it just enough to make a great creamy dressing. It doesn’t need an egg yolk, like other recipes, but don’t skimp on the garlic and anchovies; they are essential to Caesar salad dressing.

    Reply
Older Comments
Newer Comments

Primary Sidebar

welcome!

Hey there! I'm Amanda. Wife, mother, photography nerd, and bacon lover! I believe that delicious meals should be easy to make. Now that you’re here, stay a bit, browse a few recipes, and let’s get cookin’!

New! Save Recipes To Your Own Account!

Free eBook!

Subscribe & receive my most popular recipes compiled into an easy ebook format!

download now!

Subscribe & Receive My Free Recipe Ebook!

Game Day Recipes!

These crowd-pleasing tender meatballs are smothered in a super flavorful honey garlic bbq sauce.  Perfect for parties, this crockpot meatball recipe couldn't be more simple to make! #meatballs #crockpot #slowcooker #honeygarlic #bbq #appetizer #party #honey #garlic #easyrecipe

Honey Garlic Crockpot Meatballs

2 hours hours 5 minutes minutes

Smooth and silky queso dip, made using NO velveeta!  Packed with flavor, yet so easy to make, and party ready in just 20 minutes! #queso #dip #cheese #mexican #appetizer #party #cincodemayo #easyrecipe

Queso Dip Recipe

20 minutes minutes

Creamy, cheesy, and oh so addicting, this bacon cheeseburger dip is just like your favorite gooey cheeseburger... but in a party-ready dip form! #bacon #gameday #cheesy #cheeseburger #party #appetizer #dip #easyrecipe

Creamy Bacon Cheeseburger Dip

32 minutes minutes

Insanely tasty chicken wing recipe, dry rubbed, then hickory smoked to perfection.  And don't forget the homemade bourbon bbq sauce! #chickenwings #wingrecipe #smoked #smoker #smokedchickenwings #bourbon #bbq #crispy

Bourbon BBQ Smoked Chicken Wings

3 hours hours

This easy game day appetizer combines classic buffalo wing flavors with cool creaminess in an easy dip made in the crockpot. Perfect for any party, serve it up with chips or celery sticks and watch everyone go back for seconds!

Buffalo Chicken Dip (Crockpot Recipe)

2 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Chicken Taco Mexican Pinwheels | These pinwheels are filled with a creamy chicken taco filling, which is easily customizable, and rolled up to make a perfect appetizer or party food! | http://thechunkychef.com

Chicken Taco Mexican Pinwheels

15 minutes minutes

More Holiday Recipes >

Who doesn’t love free stuff?

Who doesn't love free stuff? Get an ad-free ebook of my most popular recipes, plus be the FIRST to know about new things coming to the site!

Looking for something?

As Seen On…

Stay Connected

subscribe to get new posts via email:

Quick & Easy

Dinner Favorites

Hearty and positively soul-warming, this beef barley soup simmers all day in the slow cooker, which makes for an incredibly rich soup recipe! #beefbarley #soup #slowcooker #crockpot #comfortfood #barley #beefsoup #easyrecipe #dinner
M

Crockpot Beef Barley Soup

white bowl of chicken and dumplings
T

Instant Pot Chicken & Dumplings

HONEY GARLIC SALMON - Succulent and tender salmon filets cooked in a mouthwatering simple honey garlic sauce, then broiled until sticky and caramelized.  Made with simple ingredients, in one pan, and in just 20 minutes! #salmon #honeygarlic #onepan #easyrecipe #dinner #seafood #fish
W

Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon

Light and filling, this Italian Wedding Soup is perfectly delicious comfort food, all year round.  Made in one pan, and ready in 30 minutes, this recipe is great for a weeknight meal! #soup #souprecipe #Italianweddingsoup #onepot #30minutemeal #weeknight #dinner #easyrecipe #homemaderecipe
R

Italian Wedding Soup

This Honey Garlic Chicken is one incredible weeknight dinner idea. Juicy chicken coated and cooked with a glorious sauce made with soy, hoisin, garlic, honey and more! Toss it all in the slow cooker and let it do the work for you! #dinner #chicken #asian #honey #garlic #honeygarlic #easyrecipe #weeknight #slowcooker #crockpot
F

Honey Garlic Chicken

S

Swedish Meatballs

Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window
free e-book!

Download MY Free Recipe eBook!

Subscribe & receive my most popular recipes compiled into an easy ebook format!

get my copy!

Subscribe & Receive My Free Recipe Ebook!

As Featured On:

Back to Top

Recipes

Dinners

Appetizers

Desserts

Slow Cooker

Learn to Cook

Start Here

Tips & Tricks

e-Cookbook

Easy Recipes

  • About
  • Work With Me
  • Privacy
  • Contact
© 2025 The Chunky Chef
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled
Back to Top

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.