The Ultimate Classic Caesar Salad—Salad Snob-Approved and Seriously Good
Over the years, I’ve shared dozens of fresh and flavorful salad recipes here on PWWB, but one has been requested more than any other—a go-to Classic Caesar Salad.
I knew it had to be perfect—a Caesar salad should be bold, balanced, and totally crave-worthy—and I wanted PWWB’s to be the best. So I tested and tweaked until I perfected it—a simple, foolproof, and fuss-free recipe that doesn’t skimp on flavor…
- ✔️ The dressing? Thick, creamy, and packed with savory umami from parmesan, egg yolk, and anchovy. (Yup, egg and anchovy are must-haves—more on this below!)
- ✔️ The greens? Crisp, fresh Romaine that stands up to the rich dressing without wilting.
- ✔️ The croutons? Toasty, garlicky, and golden brown for the ultimate crunch in every bite.
Consider this your ticket to the best-ever Caesar salad!
And I’m the first to admit—it may sound like a lot of work, especially with plenty of convenient store-bought dressings and salad kits out there. But nothing compares to the bold, fresh flavor of homemade—I promise, it’s 100% worth the effort! Once you taste the difference, you’ll never go back!
The best part? It’s ready in just 15 minutes. The perfect side salad for pasta, homemade pizza, or grilled steak—or add protein to turn it into an all-in-one meal. After all, Caesar salad is always a good idea! 🙌🏼
Maximum Flavor, Minimal Effort
3 foolproof secrets to low-fuss, flavor-packed dinners, learned from years working in restaurants.
First, The Best Lettuce for a Classic Caesar Salad
A crisp, sturdy green is essential for a true Caesar salad—save your tender leafy greens, spinach, and arugula for another day! Classic Romaine lettuce is the gold standard for that signature crunch.
🥬 Want to level up your homemade Caesar? Try baby Romaine (Costco has a great variety!) or little gem lettuce (I grab these cuties at Trader Joe’s). Their smaller, compact leaves are just as crisp as full-sized hearts but a bit more delicate, giving your salad the elevated feel of a restaurant-quality Caesar.
Next, Layer On Creamy-Dreamy Homemade Caesar Dressing
It’s tempting to grab a bottle of Caesar dressing, but from-scratch is honestly easier than you think! My Homemade Thick and Creamy Caesar Dressing is 10x better than anything store-bought! 🙌🏼.
A real-deal Caesar dressing needs 2 things: egg yolk and anchovy—no substitutes, no exceptions. Egg yolk gives the dressing its thick, creamy texture, while anchovy is what makes Caesar, Caesar. That deep, savory umami? All anchovy. Skip it, and you’re just making garlicky mayo. 🤷🏻♀️
If anchovies make you nervous, trust me, I get it. I’m not the type to eat them whole on pizza, either. That’s why I love anchovy paste—same signature Caesar flavor, no dealing with fillets.
From there, all you need is a wide-mouth jar, an immersion blender, and 5 minutes of prep. No whisking—just blend and you’re done!
Looking for a shortcut? My 5-Minute Greek Yogurt Caesar Dressing is every bit as rich and savory as the classic, but it comes together with tangy Greek yogurt and a handful of pantry staples instead—no anchovies or egg yolks required!
Must-Haves for Real-Deal Caesar
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Stainless Steel Measuring Cups & Spoons
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Buy Now → And Finally, Every Great Caesar Salad Needs Crunchy Croutons
With crispy greens and creamy dressing, the only thing missing is some serious texture. I’ve tested this recipe with toasted breadcrumbs and croutons, and croutons win every time. That satisfying crunch is what makes a Caesar salad complete.
After making homemade Caesar dressing and prepping your greens, you might be looking for a shortcut. Of all the components, croutons are the best place to take one—store-bought works just fine!
But if you want the best Caesar salad? Make a batch of my Homemade Croutons. I toss them in garlic, fresh herbs, and finely grated parmesan so they turn extra golden and flavorful. They take just 30 minutes, are mostly hands-off, and are so worth it.
Bringing It All Together
Now, all that’s left to do is toss everything together—simple!
Serving Suggestions
Here at the PWWB House, we love a classic Caesar side salad. It’s the perfect pairing for everything from pizza night to pasta night.
Want to turn your salad from a side into a full meal? Just toss in shredded chicken, cubed Crispy Parmesan Crusted Chicken, or serve with Chicken Meatballs.
I can’t wait for you to try this Perfect Classic Caesar Salad! If you do, be sure to let us know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo and tag @playswellwithbutter on Instagram. We LOVE seeing your PWWB creations! ♡ Happy cooking!
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Perfect Classic Caesar Side Salad (15 Minutes)
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: serves 2-4 1x
- Category: Entree Salads & Bowls, Side Dish Recipes
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Description
There’s nothing better than a Classic Caesar Salad!
This from-scratch recipe comes to your kitchen from a longtime Caesar salad snob, complete with a thick and creamy homemade dressing, crispy fresh Romaine lettuce, crunchy garlic croutons, and plenty of shaved parmesan cheese—all ready in just 15 minutes or less!
A Caesar lover’s Caesar, it’s the perfect side salad for soup, pasta, pizza, and more!
Ingredients
- 1 head Romaine lettuce OR 2 heads baby romaine or little gem lettuce (approx. 6 ounces), leaves removed and roughly chopped if desired
- 1 large shallot, thinly sliced
- ½ lemon, juiced
- ⅓ cup freshly grated parmesan
- 2 cups croutons (highly suggest Homemade Parmesan Croutons)
- ⅓ cup homemade Caesar dressing, below
- kosher salt and ground black pepper, to season
for the homemade Caesar dressing:
- 1 large egg yolk
- ½ lemon, juiced (approx. 2 tablespoons)
- 1 clove garlic
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2–3 anchovy fillets OR 1 ½ teaspoons anchovy paste (see Recipe Notes)
- ¼ cup neutral vegetable oil of choice
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup finely grated parmesan cheese
- kosher salt and ground black pepper, to season
- 2–3 tablespoons water, as needed
Instructions
- Blend the homemade Caesar dressing: To a wide-mouthed jar, add the egg yolk, garlic, Dijon mustard,Worcestershire sauce, anchovy, and lemon juice. Season generously with ground black pepper. Insert an immersion blender into the jar, submerging it into the egg mixture. With the immersion blender running, very slowly stream in the oils. The mixture will emulsify as you add the oil and blend, transforming into a beautifully thick and creamy dressing.
- Finish the homemade Caesar dressing: Remove the immersion blender from the jar stir in the parmesan cheese. If needed thin the dressing out with a few tablespoons of water, just until your desired consistency is reached. Taste and season with additional salt or ground black pepper as desired. Learn more! ⇢ Thick and Creamy Homemade Caesar Dressing recipe.
- Caesar salad assembly: Just before serving, place the baby romaine or little gem lettuce leaves and sliced shallot in a large bowl. Season with a good pinch of salt and lemon juice, then toss to coat. Add the croutons, grated parmesan cheese, Caesar dressing, and gently toss to combine well. Season with additional salt and ground black pepper to taste.
- Serve immediately. A classic Caesar salad is the perfect side salad for any of your favorite pasta recipes or soup recipes—you can’t go wrong! Enjoy.
Notes
Jess’ Tips & Tricks:
- Anchovy is an essential ingredient for a classic Caesar salad dressing. For this particular Caesar dressing recipe, feel free to use canned anchovy fillets, though I prefer the convenience of anchovy paste, which is pre-minced anchovy sold in a squeeze tube—a great shortcut ingredient! You can find anchovies and anchovy paste near other tinned fish at most conventional grocery stores – my favorite is DeLallo anchovy paste.
- Anchovy substitutes: If you prefer to make your Caesar dressing without anchovy, feel free to swap it out with a dash of Worcestershire sauce or fish sauce—they taste a little different than anchovies, but they both have similar umami & depth of flavor. You can also give my 5-Minute Greek Yogurt Caesar Dressing a try—no anchovies required!
- Dietary restrictions: To ensure your Caesar salad is vegetarian, be sure to use your favorite rennet-free parmesan and swap anchovy with a few dashes of vegan Worcestershire. To take it a step further and make it vegan, opt for your favorite non-dairy parmesan and swap anchovy with a few dashes of vegan Worcestershire.
Portions & Serving Suggestions:
- Portions: As written, this recipe yields a large salad, suitable for feeding 2 as a main dish (perhaps with another add-in) or 4 as a side dish. To feed a larger crowd at a dinner party, feel free to double or triple the recipe as needed using the “Scale Buttons” next to the Ingredients List, above.
- Serving suggestions: A classic Caesar salad is a go-to side salad here at the PWWB House—we enjoy it alongside everything from homemade pizza to our favorite pasta recipes. You can also easily add a protein to make it a little heartier. To keep things simple, toss in some shredded chicken. For a next-level add-in, cube up some Crispy Parmesan Crusted Chicken or serve with Chicken Meatballs—delicious!
Storage & Make-Ahead:
- Storage instructions: While best enjoyed fresh, Caesar salad leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Enjoy leftovers cold or at room temperature.
- Make-ahead instructions: This Caesar salad is best enjoyed fresh, within a few hours of assembly. If you’d like to make it ahead of time, for meal prep or party prep, I suggest prepping the components in advance. Prepare the Caesar dressing, chop the shallot, and wash the lettuce leaves. Store everything in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator. At dinnertime, simply toss together as directed in Step 3, above.
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I was excited to make this and it was a highlight of my Easter dinner! I used baby butter lettuce as well as romaine for variety and made croutons from my homemade sourdough. It was delicious and I will be sure to make it again!
Sourdough croutons sound absolutely delicious, Adrienne! Glad you loved the salad and thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review! Hope you had a great Easter!
Really tasty and way easier than I would have guessed! I’m going to make some chicken patties next time to have chicken Caesar salads. We had on the side of French bread pizzas
Chicken is definitely a great addition to this salad, Alison! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!
Made the Caesar salad with chicken breast last night for dinner, including the croutons. Delish! The dressing was super easy with my immersion blender and tasted fresh and lemony. Tossing the thinly sliced shallots and romaine with lemon juice was novel for me but really added to the fresh flavor. I didn’t add herbs to the croutons, forgot, but they turned out very well. The chicken rounded out the meal and we happily have leftovers.
A chicken Caesar salad is the PERFECT Monday night dinner! So glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for taking the time to leave a review, Kathie!