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Whip up a restaurant-style Chicken Caesar Salad recipe at home in minutes! A bed of crispy romaine lettuce is topped with a creamy homemade Caesar dressing, toasted garlic bread croutons, shaved Parmesan cheese and tender, juicy chicken. It’s a light-yet-satisfying easy dinner or lunch that’s perfect for warm days!
Table of Contents
- Easy Chicken Caesar Salad at Home
- Ingredients for Chicken Caesar Salad
- How to Make Homemade Caesar Salad with Chicken
- What to Serve Alongside Chicken Caesar Salad
- Homemade Chicken Caesar Salad Prep & Storage Tips
- Chicken Caesar Salad Recipe Variations and Cook’s Tips
- More Hearty Chicken Salad Recipes to Try:
- Chicken Caesar Salad Recipe
You don’t need to go to a restaurant and pay $15 for a Chicken Caesar Salad that you can quickly and easily make at home! This is the simple recipe that my mom made when I was growing up, and now I serve it to my own family as well. This classic salad is always a crowd-pleaser!
Easy Chicken Caesar Salad at Home
This easy Caesar Salad with Chicken comes together with just a few simple steps. You can pan-sear or grill the chicken (or just use rotisserie chicken or leftovers from another meal), quickly toast some croutons, and toss with a practically effortless homemade Caesar dressing. It tastes decadent and delicious, but it won’t weigh you down!
Ingredients for Chicken Caesar Salad
You only need a few simple ingredients to toss this easy chicken Caesar salad together, especially if you go the semi-homemade route. Here’s an overview of the ingredients needed. As always, you can find the complete ingredient list in the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Chicken: lightly seasoned, tender, juicy, and cooked to perfection.
- Frozen Texas Toast garlic bread: a quick and easy shortcut for delicious “homemade” croutons.
- Romaine lettuce: or your favorite lettuce mix. You can use fresh or bagged for convenience.
- Parmesan cheese: shaved Parmesan is best for Caesar salad, but shredded or grated will work in a pinch.
- Caesar salad dressing: whip up a homemade version or use your favorite store-bought brand for ease.
How to Make Homemade Caesar Salad with Chicken
Making your own chicken Caesar salad at home could not be easier. Whether you make it completely from scratch or take some semi-homemade shortcuts, it’s a simple recipe that’s perfect for lunch or a side dish for dinner.
- Prepare the creamy Caesar salad dressing.
- Cook the chicken on the stovetop. Let it rest before slicing.
- Toast the croutons in the oven until crispy and golden brown.
- Assemble the salad in a large bowl. Dress with the cream Caesar dressing and top with shaved Parmesan
How to Make a Homemade Creamy Caesar Salad Dressing
If you’ve never made a homemade Caesar dressing before, don’t be intimidated! It couldn’t be easier than tossing a few ingredients into a blender. Here are the main ingredients needed for a homemade Caesar salad dressing:
- Mayonnaise and sour cream: the creamy base of the dressing.
- Lemon juice: adds acidity and balances out the creaminess with tart freshness.
- Anchovies: adds the classic rich, salty, umami flavor that’s characteristic of Caesar dressing.
- Garlic: another classic flavor that’s not too strong but perfectly balanced.
- Pepper: simple seasoning so the other ingredients can pack a flavorful punch.
Weary of anchovies? This classic Caesar dressing ingredient won’t make your dressing taste “fishy.” Instead, they melt into the dressing and give it a rich, salty, savory umami flavor that everyone knows and loves in a Caesar dressing.
What’s the best store-bought Caeser dressing? With so many different options, it’s hard to choose! If you want a creamy dressing, try Bolthouse Farm’s creamy Caesar. For a zesty dressing, go with Olive Garden’s classic Caesar. For a perfect balance of creamy and tangy, try Marzetti’s Supreme Caesar Dressing.
Best Chicken for Caesar Salad
Chicken sets this Caesar salad recipe apart from a classic Caesar salad. How you prepare the chicken is entirely up to you. In this recipe, we season the chicken with salt and pepper and sear it in a hot skillet until cooked through (about 6-8 minutes per side). Here are some additional tips for adding chicken to Caesar salad:
- If you have a larger, thicker chicken breast, cut it in half so it cooks more evenly (and quicker).
- Add your favorite seasonings to up the flavor—garlic powder, onion powder, seasoning salt, or Italian seasoning will all add extra flavor to the finished salad.
- Make sure to use about a tablespoon of oil in the skillet when frying—vegetable oil, olive oil, or canola oil will all work.
- Let the chicken rest before slicing—this is the key to perfectly juicy chicken!
Semi-Homemade Crouton Shortcut
While the chicken cooks, you can also toast your croutons. I use a shortcut and just dice up some frozen Texas Toast garlic bread. Toast the garlic bread cubes in a 425-degree F oven for about 4-5 minutes or until they’re nice and crispy and golden brown.
If you want an alternative homemade croutons recipe, try my cornbread croutons. Or cube up your favorite day-old bread (this easy beginner baguette would be perfect) and toss them in the oven with some salt, pepper, and olive oil.
Assembling the Perfect Homemade Chicken Caesar Salad
To pull together the salad, toss the chopped lettuce in a large bowl with enough dressing to moisten everything. I usually use about half of the dressing here and then serve the rest of the dressing on the table for folks to add to their individual salads. Add the shaved Parmesan and toss again. I prefer shaved Parmesan—you get the perfect salty, cheesy bite every time. If you want to use shredded or shaved Parmesan, I highly recommend buying a fresh block of Parmesan cheese and shredding or shaving it yourself for the best flavor.
Divide the lettuce among individual serving plates and top with sliced chicken and croutons. Drizzle with extra dressing if you like.
What to Serve Alongside Chicken Caesar Salad
This salad is a nice entrée for either lunch or dinner. Pair it with any of the following extra dishes to complete your meal:
- A loaf of No-Knead Bread
- Skillet Cornbread
- Cheddar Bay Biscuits or Aunt Bee’s 3-Ingredient Buttermilk Biscuits
- Creamy Asparagus Soup
- Crock Pot Vegetable Soup
- Tuscan White Bean Soup with Sausage and Kale
- 30-Minute Tomato and Basil Soup or Southern Tomato Bisque
- Baked Potato Wedges
- Easy Potato Salad
- Creamy Pasta Salad
- Pizza Quesadillas
Homemade Chicken Caesar Salad Prep & Storage Tips
- Serve the chicken Caesar salad hot or cold. You can prep the ingredients in advance and serve the chicken cold on top of your salad. Alternatively, pair warm chicken and warm croutons with the crisp, cool lettuce for a nice contrast.
- Prepare the chicken Caesar salad dressing up to 3-4 days in advance. Store the dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- The croutons are best when toasted just before serving so that they don’t get soft and chewy.
- Leftover chicken Caesar salad will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 day; however, it’s not ideal. The lettuce and the croutons will get soggy as they sit in the dressing.
Chicken Caesar Salad Recipe Variations and Cook’s Tips
- I’ve shown pan-seared chicken here, but you can also top your Caesar Salad with grilled chicken. Here’s an easy marinated grilled chicken recipe that we love on this dish. For a shortcut, use a store-bought rotisserie chicken or leftover cooked chicken from a previous meal.
- You can adjust the amount of anchovies in your dressing depending on your taste preferences. My mom’s recipe calls for an entire 2-ounce tin; however, I typically use just half of that (about 1 ounce total) for a more subtle taste. If you can find a tin of minced anchovies, that’s a nice shortcut. Otherwise, use regular anchovy fillets and mince them yourself.
- To easily shave Parmesan from a wedge, use a vegetable peeler!
- For a side dish, omit the chicken and serve the simple meat-free Caesar Salad with almost any meal.
- Instead of using frozen garlic bread for the croutons, you can use store-bought croutons. Alternatively, use a different loaf of bread that you dice into cubes and toss with melted butter or olive oil. Season the bread cubes with salt, pepper, and garlic powder (if desired), and then toast until golden brown.
- For a healthier Caesar dressing, use light mayonnaise and substitute plain Greek-style yogurt for the sour cream.
- Substitute boneless, skinless chicken thighs for the chicken breast, if desired.
More Hearty Chicken Salad Recipes to Try:
Chicken Caesar Salad
Ingredients
FOR THE DRESSING:
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- ⅓ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
- ½ of a (2-ounce) tin of anchovies, minced (or use the whole tin for a stronger, richer taste)
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
FOR THE SALAD:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast
- 4 pieces store-bought frozen garlic bread, cut into large cubes (about 1 inch)
- 2 large heads romaine lettuce
- 1 cup shaved Parmesan
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional: cooked, crumbled bacon; halved cherry tomatoes
Instructions
PREPARE THE DRESSING:
- In a large bowl or measuring cup, whisk together all of the dressing ingredients. Set aside.
PREPARE THE CHICKEN:
- Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper on all sides, to taste. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Place chicken in the skillet and allow the chicken to cook on one side, undisturbed, for at least 6-7 minutes. Flip, and cook the chicken for about 6-8 more minutes, or until it is nicely browned on both sides and cooked through.
- The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, or when juices run clear.
- Remove chicken from the skillet and place on a cutting board to rest. Once cool enough to handle, slice the chicken.
TOAST THE CROUTONS:
- While the chicken cooks, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Place the cubed garlic bread on a baking sheet. Bake until golden and crisp; about 4-5 minutes.
ASSEMBLE THE SALADS:
- Wash the lettuce leaves, pat them dry, and cut them crosswise into 1 ½ inch slices. Place in a large mixing bowl.
- Toss the lettuce with enough dressing to moisten well (I typically use about half of the dressing here, and then serve the rest of the dressing on the table). Add shaved Parmesan and toss. Divide the lettuce among plates, top with sliced chicken and croutons. Serve extra dressing on the side.
Notes
- Serve the Chicken Caesar Salad Hot or Cold: You can prep the ingredients in advance and serve the chicken cold on top of your salad. Alternatively, pair warm chicken and warm croutons with the crisp, cool lettuce for a nice contrast.
- Prepare the Chicken Caesar Salad dressing up to 3-4 days in advance. Store the dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- The croutons are best when toasted just before serving so that they don’t get soft and chewy.
- Leftover Chicken Caesar Salad will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 day; however, it’s not ideal. The lettuce and the croutons will get soggy as they sit in the dressing.
- I’ve shown pan-seared chicken here, but you can also top your Caesar Salad with grilled chicken. Here’s an easy marinated grilled chicken recipe that we love on this dish. For a shortcut, use a store-bought rotisserie chicken or leftover cooked chicken from a previous meal.
- You can adjust the amount of anchovies in your dressing, depending on your taste preferences. My mom’s recipe calls for an entire 2-ounce tin; however, I typically use just half of that (about 1 ounce total) for a more subtle taste. If you can find a tin of minced anchovies, that’s a nice shortcut. Otherwise, use regular anchovy fillets and mince them yourself.
- To easily shave Parmesan from a wedge, use a vegetable peeler!
- For a side dish, omit the chicken and serve the simple meat-free Caesar Salad as a side dish with almost any meal.
- Instead of using frozen garlic bread for the croutons, you can use store-bought croutons. Alternatively, use a different loaf of bread that you dice into cubes and toss with melted butter or olive oil. Season the bread cubes with salt, pepper and garlic powder (if desired), and then toast until golden brown.
- For a healthier Caesar dressing, use light mayonnaise and substitute plain Greek-style yogurt for the sour cream.
- Substitute boneless, skinless chicken thighs for the chicken breast, if desired.
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