Chicken Caesar Salad

Why you’ll love this chicken Caesar salad recipe:

Chicken Caesar salad is one of my all-time favorite salads! It’s a crowd-pleasing recipe that works as an appetizer, side, or main dish. 

Tender grilled chicken, crunchy croutons, and grated parmesan over a bed of crisp lettuce and tossed with a savory Caesar dressing (with anchovies!).

• Flavorful – Full of savory, cheesy flavor elevated with creamy, crunchy textures.
• Quick – Caesar salad requires minimal prep time and is ready to eat with a total time of just 30 minutes!
• Fresh – You won’t find any store-bought dressing or croutons in this recipe. It’s all homemade with fresh ingredients. 

Make a delicious grilled chicken Caesar salad at home quickly, without shortcuts, instead of going out to a restaurant.

If you’re in a time crunch, it’s ok to take a few shortcuts, like in this easy chicken caesar salad wrap!

Key Ingredient Notes:

For Caesar Dressing:

• Mayonnaise serves as the base for the homemade Caesar dressing. I recommend using full-fat mayo for the ultimate creamy texture. 
• Parmesan cheese – High-quality parmesan cheese will take the flavor of the dressing to the next level! Look for a label “Parmigiano Reggiano” rather than just Parmesan. 
• Fresh garlic – A whole clove blends into the dressing for a bold, fresh, garlicky flavor! Feel free to add more if you’re a garlic lover!  
• Lemon juice adds tangy flavor to the dressing and cuts through the richness of the mayonnaise. 
• Dijon mustard creates an even creamier texture and enhances the tangy taste of the dressing. 
• Anchovies – You can use either anchovy fillets or anchovy paste. Anchovy fillets have better flavor, but paste is fine too! Use Worcestershire sauce in place of anchovies, or skip it altogether for a vegetarian version of the salad dressing. 

For Croutons:

• Ciabatta rolls – Crusty and chewy ciabatta rolls are the best for homemade croutons! If you can’t find ciabatta, use a sourdough loaf instead. 
• Olive oil is used to make the seasonings stick to bread and add flavor and healthy fats.
• Seasonings – Garlic powder, oregano, and kosher salt add a tasty flavor that ties the flavor of the croutons with the other salad ingredients.

For Salad:

• Chicken breasts – Choose whole, boneless chicken breasts, not cutlets or tenderloins. Butterfly the chicken breast for even cooking.
• Avocado oil – Used for its mild flavor and high smoke point. You can substitute extra virgin olive oil or grapeseed oil for avocado oil.  
• Romaine lettuce gives the salad plenty of fresh, crisp texture and hold up well to the thick and creamy dressing. 

2. Mix the Caesar dressing:

• Add the homemade Caesar salad dressing ingredients to a large mason jar.
• Blend the dressing ingredients using an immersion blender until smooth. 
• Thin out the dressing with extra lemon juice if needed. 

3. Cook the Chicken:

• Prepare the chicken breasts. Use a sharp knife to butterfly the boneless skinless chicken breasts. Then, cut them into four pieces. 
• Pound out the thickest part of the chicken using a meat pounder. Flatten the chicken until the thickest part is even with the thinnest part. 
• Drizzle both sides of the chicken breasts with 1 tablespoon of avocado oil. Season both sides liberally with salt, garlic powder, and oregano. 
• Heat a grill pan (or cast iron skillet) over medium-high heat. Add the remaining avocado oil to the hot pan. 
• Grill the chicken. Add the chicken to the pan, and cook for 3-4 minutes. Flip it, and cook for another 3 minutes. When the thickest part of the chicken has reached 165 degrees F, remove it from the skillet and let it rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing.

4. Assemble the Caesar salad:

• Chop the lettuce into bite-sized pieces.
• Combine the lettuce with half of the dressing, grated parmesan cheese, and croutons in a large bowl. Toss until evenly mixed.

• Slice the chicken into strips or bite-sized pieces. Add the remaining dressing, and toss to combine. 
• Serve the salad immediately, topped with extra parmesan! 

Tips for Success:

• Use freshly grated parmesan. I recommend purchasing a block of parmesan cheese and grating it fresh when you’re ready to make your salad. The flavor and texture are superior to store-bought grated parmesan. 
• Thoroughly toss the lettuce with the dressing. Caesar salads have very few toppings. So, it’s important to toss the ingredients well to ensure maximum flavor in every bite!  
• Dry the chopped lettuce. After you’ve washed and chopped your romaine hearts, use a salad spinner to completely dry the lettuce pieces. If the lettuce is wet, the dressing will become too thin and won’t properly coat the salad.

Make-Ahead Tips: 

• You can make Caesar dressing ahead of time and keep it in the fridge for up to a week. Store it in a sealed container, jar, or bottle.
• Make the homemade croutons up to a week in advance and store in an airtight container at room temperature. 
• You can also prepare the rest of the salad ingredients in advance and store in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator. However, I recommend cooking the chicken when you’re ready to assemble your salads so it’s warm and fresh! 

Storing Tips:

Chicken Caesar salad is best eaten fresh! The salad will get soggy once you mix the romaine with the dressing. However, storing your salad for lunch or dinner the next day is possible. 

• Store the salad and dressing separately in airtight containers.
• When you’re ready to serve your salad, toss it with the dressing, add the remaining ingredients, and enjoy. 
• Freeze the homemade croutons for later use! Simply place them in a freezer bag, and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months. When you’re ready to use them again, reheat the croutons in the oven at 250°F just to warm and crisp them up again. They’ll taste as good as new!

Chicken Caesar Salad FAQs:

More Salad Recipes:

• Veggie Pasta Salad
• Chicken Quinoa Salad
• Classic Spring Cobb Salad