• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Domestic Dreamboat
  • Recipes
  • Special Diets
  • Kitchen Basics
  • Meet Carissa
    • Contact Me
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • Resources
  • Subscribe and Follow

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • Resources
  • Subscribe and Follow

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    You are here: Home / Dish Type / Salads / Best Ever Caesar Salad

    Best Ever Caesar Salad

    Published: Jan 11, 2022 · Modified: Feb 4, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links, which means I make a small commission if you buy an item in my links, at no charge to you.

    Jump to Recipe

    This Homemade Caesar Salad is loaded with flavor but quick and easy enough to make on even the busiest weekdays! Kids and adults will love it!

    A glass filled to the brim with homemade caesar salad dressing.

    Caesar Salad, and specifically Caesar Salad Dressing, was one of those things that I just didn't have a reliable recipe for until recently. For years I kept trying recipe after recipe, never finding one I wanted to make more than once or twice.

    I just couldn't find a recipe that my family and I loved. That could be largely due to the fact that Mr. Dreamboat and I don't really see eye-to-eye on what makes a great salad dressing.

    He hates mustard with a passion (in his defense, mustard is just about the ONLY thing he doesn't like), and I love to put at least a little mustard in most salad dressings I make.

    Caesar salad with bacon in a pale blue bowl.

    But a few months ago, I found a caesar salad secret weapon. Something I could add to my caesar salad dressing to add a punch of umami flavor, without having to add a bunch of extra work. Something I already always have on hand in my pantry.

    Fish sauce. The same fish sauce you use in your favorite Vietnamese or Thai recipes. Red Boat is my favorite.

    It's not uncommon for caesar salad dressing to have anchovies, but you usually need to mince them, or turn them into a paste. Plus you might not always have them on hand. But fish sauce is quick and easy to use, and it's easy to always keep in your pantry.

    Once I had this secret ingredient as my starting point, I was able to tweak the recipe to make it comply with my high expectations, and get Mr. Dreamboat to say "actually, this is pretty good even with a little mustard".

    Hands shredding Parmesan cheese on top of a caesar salad.

    How to make the Best Ever Caesar Salad:

    Making a really great caesar salad starts with a really great caesar salad dressing. The two most important features of caesar salad dressing to me are flavor and texture.

    I want the flavors of my caesar dressing to be balanced. I want there to be lots of flavor, but not too garlicky, and not too sour.

    For texture, I want the dressing to be thick and creamy enough to coat the leaves without leaving a puddle in the bottom of the bowl. I don't want it so thick that it feels like I'm eating my lettuce just coated with mayonnaise.

    Caesar Salad Dressing Ingredients:

    • garlic
    • lemon juice
    • apple cider vinegar
    • fish sauce
    • dijon mustard
    • freshly ground black pepper
    • mayonnaise
    • olive oil
    • grated Parmesan cheese

    Simply use a blender (I use an immersion blender) or whisk to mix up the dressing, and keep it in an airtight container in the fridge until you're ready to use it.

    Keep in mind that the recipe below makes enough dressing for about 3 salads, or enough to dress approximately 6 romaine hearts, depending on how much dressing you use on your salad.

    Overhead photo of caesar salad with shredded Parmesan

    Caesar Salad Variations:

    There are lots of ingredient swaps and additions to make to your salad to help it fit with your preferences. Here are some ideas to help get you started.

    • To make your dressing extra thick and creamy, try increasing the amount of mayonnaise in the recipe to ⅔ or ¾ of a cup.
    • If you want to add a spicy kick to your caesar salad, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a few shakes of hot sauce to your dressing.
    • If you like your dressing to be very garlicky, add an extra clove of garlic.
    • To make your salad gluten-free, low-carb, or keto, try swapping the croutons for Cheese Crisps (the Parmesan flavor will pair especially well with Caesar salad)
    • If you want to add a little bit of smoky flavor, add a few slices of crumbled cooked bacon to your salad.
    • If you want your salad to be a complete meal, add some cooked meat or tofu to your salad.
    Caesar salad with shredded Parmesan cheese in a pale blue bowl.

    Want more salad recipes?

    Buffalo Chicken Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing
    Buffalo Chicken Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing
    Warm Spinach Salad with Bacon, Eggs, and Mushrooms
    Warm Spinach Salad with Bacon, Eggs, and Mushrooms
    Overhead photo of kale and date salad in a wood bowl.
    Kale and Date Salad with Shallot Vinaigrette

    Caesar Salad Nutrition Notes:

    Note that the recipe for the salad dressing below will make approximately 3 portions of salad, with each portion serving 4 people as a side, depending on how heavily you like to dress your lettuce. Store the leftover dressing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

    If you need your salad to be gluten-free, skip the croutons or be sure to use gluten-free croutons in your salad (or use gluten-free bread to make homemade croutons).

    Caesar salad with shredded Parmesan cheese in a pale blue bowl.
    5 from 1 vote
    Pin for later
    Print Recipe

    Best Ever Caesar Salad

    Carissa Serink
    This Homemade Caesar Salad is loaded with flavor but quick and easy enough to make on even the busiest weekdays! Kids and adults will love it!
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 170kcal
    Keep your screen on

    Ingredients

    Caesar Salad Dressing

    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
    • 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
    • 1 Tablespoon fish sauce
    • ½ teaspoon dijon mustard
    • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
    • ½ cup mayonnaise
    • ¼ cup olive oil
    • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

    Caesar Salad

    • 2 romaine hearts
    • ½ cup croutons Use Gluten-Free croutons, or skip croutons to make this salad Gluten-Free
    • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

    Instructions

    Caesar Salad Dressing

    • Add the garlic, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, fish sauce, mustard, and pepper to a small bowl, large measuring cup, blender, or mini food processor. Whisk vigorously, blend, or process until uniform. Add the mayonnaise and blend again. Very slowly drizzle in the olive oil while continuing to blend, until all the oil is incorporated. Stir in the Parmesan. Refrigerate in a tightly sealed jar or bottle until ready to use, up to one week. Shake or stir before using.

    Caesar Salad

    • Tear the romaine into bite-sized pieces. Rinse and dry it well using a salad spinner. Transfer the dried lettuce into a large salad bowl.
    • Add the croutons and Parmesan to the bowl with the lettuce, as well as about ⅓ of the above Caesar salad dressing (about ½ cup). Toss the salad so that all the leaves are coated with dressing. Serve immediately.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 170kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 338mg | Potassium: 168mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 5000IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 117mg | Iron: 1mg

    Nutrition Disclaimer: I try my best to make sure the nutrition information I provide is accurate to provide you with the best information possible. However, due to ingredient discrepancies and other factors, the above nutrition information should be considered an estimation only.

    Tried this recipe?Mention @DomesticDreamboat or tag #DomesticDreamboat!
    Overhead photo of caesar salad with shredded Parmesan

    More Salads

    • Corn and Leek Salad closeup cropped
      Smoky Sauteed Corn and Leek Salad
    • Kale and Date Salad Overhead
      Kale and Date Salad with Shallot Vinaigrette
    • Roasted Veggies with Black Lentils with sauce
      Roasted Vegetables with Black Lentils and Tahini Dressing
    • Blueberry Salad with Hazelnuts and Feta
      Blueberry Salad with Hazelnuts and Feta

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Carissa! I'm the face behind Domestic Dreamboat. I love to cook, I love to eat, and I love to stay healthy. Thanks for joining me in my homemade journey!

    More about me →

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    What's Trending:

    Let's get Grilling!

    • Grilled Potato Salad on spoon cropped
      Smoky Chipotle Grilled Potato Salad
    • Barbecue Chicken Skewers
      Barbecue Chicken Skewers with Homemade Barbecue Sauce
    • Caprese salad cropped
      Caprese Salad with Grilled Peaches and Halloumi
    • Grilled Portabella Sandwich
      Grilled Portabella Sandwich with Caramelized Onions and Goat Cheese

    Hi, I'm Carissa! I'm the face behind Domestic Dreamboat. I love to cook, I love to eat, and I love to stay healthy. Thanks for joining me in my homemade journey!

    More about me →

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    What's Trending:

    Let's get Grilling!

    • Grilled Potato Salad on spoon cropped
      Smoky Chipotle Grilled Potato Salad
    • Barbecue Chicken Skewers
      Barbecue Chicken Skewers with Homemade Barbecue Sauce
    • Caprese salad cropped
      Caprese Salad with Grilled Peaches and Halloumi
    • Grilled Portabella Sandwich
      Grilled Portabella Sandwich with Caramelized Onions and Goat Cheese

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Policies

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    About Me

    • Contact
    • About Carissa

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022

    46 shares
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok