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Home / Main Dishes / Salad

Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing

4.65
/5
20 minutes minutes
236 Comments
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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
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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!
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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

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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’!

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4.65 from 152 votes (36 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




  1. Kara Bork says

    Posted on 6/2 at 6:13 pm

    I have made this a couple of times. Sooo delicious 🤤 and saves well in the fridge. I normally never write reviews but this is exceptional. Thank you!!

    Reply
  2. Llamamomma says

    Posted on 5/14 at 7:55 pm

    Oh MY!!!!! This is a great, great recipe!!!! Thank you!!! I do use a blender to mix it. The best is what ever ingredient you love the most just add it to taste!

    Reply
  3. nancy says

    Posted on 5/7 at 5:48 pm

    This recipe is my go to, since day one of making it the 1st.time!
    No bottled dressing allowed anymore!
    Good to dip your pizza crust into!

    Reply
  4. Annette says

    Posted on 4/28 at 1:18 pm

    Wicked good dressing, I’ve made it several times. My friends love it too!!! Instead of croutons I added walnuts for crunch.

    Reply
  5. Teri says

    Posted on 4/22 at 10:10 am

    I made this but bought garlic croutons. I loved it! I’ve never used anchovy paste but really enjoyed the flavor it gave the dressing – that and the fresh lemon juice.

    Reply
  6. Gabi says

    Posted on 4/18 at 5:15 pm

    Excellent

    Reply
  7. Nancy says

    Posted on 4/2 at 12:41 pm

    Best ever. Eat the croutons like chips

    Reply
  8. Deb says

    Posted on 4/1 at 11:52 am

    Delicious! And easy!

    Reply
  9. Bethany VerMerris says

    Posted on 3/22 at 8:52 am

    Best recipe that I have found to date. I make this probably once every other week. My favorite caesar salad has always been Carrabba’s and this tastes similar to me!

    Reply
  10. Lynne says

    Posted on 3/19 at 5:09 pm

    Is the dressing gluten free. This is amazing. I will never buy store bought Cesar dressing again.

    Reply
    • Amanda says

      Posted on 3/22 at 9:06 pm

      We’re not gluten-free here, so I can’t honestly say for certain, as there is a potential for error and I wouldn’t want to potentially and/or unknowingly pass along incorrect information. So glad you love it!

      Reply
  11. Carla says

    Posted on 3/17 at 5:31 pm

    This is our absolute favorite Caesar dressing recipe. Love that it is made with anchovy paste! I do add just a little bit of honey to mellow out the tart lemon. I triple this recipe because it goes so quickly around here!

    Reply
  12. Amber says

    Posted on 3/14 at 9:36 pm

    Seriously the best salad I have EVER found on Pinterest❤️ And I made it gluten free……Thank you!! My family ate every bit!!

    Reply
  13. Dianne Vanessa Shivraj says

    Posted on 3/1 at 9:38 pm

    Amazing recipe thanks ever so much .

    Reply
  14. Chantal Anderson says

    Posted on 2/24 at 2:29 pm

    How long will this last in the fridge?

    Reply
    • Amanda says

      Posted on 2/24 at 10:26 pm

      I would estimate about a week 🙂

      Reply
  15. Nihal says

    Posted on 2/21 at 4:57 pm

    Love this dressing , I just made this recipe and it is delicious!
    I added a little more pepper and that was it ! My new favorite recipe ❤️ My husband loved it as well !

    Reply
  16. Mary wilon says

    Posted on 1/28 at 12:50 pm

    Can I get a calorie content? I see 454 calories but for what? The serving ? And what is a serving size?

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 1/28 at 3:09 pm

      It’s per serving, and I don’t measure serving sizes exactly, it’s just 1/4 of the recipe. I believe this recipe makes about 1 cup, so in this case, the serving size listed would be 1/4 cup. How you choose to serve it is up to you. As this isn’t a health-focused website, and I’m not a nutritionist, I don’t provide full nutritional information for recipes as there is a potential for error, and I wouldn’t want to potentially and/or unknowingly pass along incorrect information. Any nutritional values shared are a courtesy and an estimate, since the calorie count will vary depending on brands used. If full nutrition information is important to you, I recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer, or that you seek a nutritionist/dietitian for exact nutritional information.

      Reply
  17. Amanda Huish says

    Posted on 11/30 at 3:59 pm

    This made the best salad I have EVER put in my mouth!!! She was right when she said you might want to make this into the main meal after one bite. Sadly I didn’t have anchovy paste but I subbed 2 tsp soy sauce and it was still the best dressing I’ve EVER made! I served the dressing over romaine, tomato slices, mild banana pepper rings, and croutons with an extra grind of fresh black pepper. SO amazing!

    Reply
    • Monica says

      Posted on 3/25 at 5:10 pm

      I also didn’t have anchovy paste so I tried this soy sauce suggestion, and WOW! What a great sub! Thanks!

      Reply
    • Rosalie says

      Posted on 6/4 at 9:32 pm

      Amazing. Try cutting a Romain lettuce in half, sprinkle with olive oil. Grill for a few minutes and serve with dressing and croutons

      Reply
  18. Rose says

    Posted on 11/29 at 2:06 pm

    Do you think I could use plain Greek yogurt instead Of the sour cream? TY

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 11/29 at 8:45 pm

      Without testing and retesting it myself, I can’t say for certain if that would work the same, however, I think it would be just fine 🙂 If you try it, I’d love to know how it turns out!

      Reply
    • Bethany VerMerris says

      Posted on 3/22 at 8:53 am

      I have subbed plain Greek yogurt and have found it to taste just fine!

      Reply
  19. DCS15 says

    Posted on 10/11 at 8:09 pm

    This is delicious dressing and exactly what I’ve been looking for! Super tasty and garlicky – love it!

    Reply
  20. Tanya LaMothe says

    Posted on 8/23 at 2:12 pm

    Best croutons ever!!!  The dressing is awesome as well. Love it😍

    Reply
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