A classic Caesar Salad recipe with crisp romaine lettuce, crunchy homemade croutons, fresh parmesan cheese, and a light Caesar dressing – for when you want to impress your dinner guests.
Helpful Reader Review
“This is by far the BEST Caesar salad recipe! And it could be made vegan so easily! It’s the only Caesar salad that my kids like, and me too.” – Darlene ★★★★★
This homemade Caesar Salad was inspired by my son David. When he was 9 years old, he took cooking classes at Sur La Table, where he learned and fell in love with this Caesar salad recipe, so we re-created it at home together.
Since then, both of my kids have adored Caesar salad – it’s the salad they always request. As long as they’re eating their greens, I’ll happily crank out this salad for them. It’s my go-to green salad with hearty dinners like Chicken Tetrazzini, Lasagna, or Manicotti – it pairs well with almost anything!
Caesar Salad Recipe Ingredients
Caesar salad is easy, classic, and the ingredients are simple. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:
- Romaine Lettuce – 1 large or 2 small heads of romaine lettuce. You can also use hearts of romaine. It’s best to buy the whole heads of lettuce and avoid pre-chopped, which has a shorter shelf life and won’t stay as crisp as freshly cut lettuce.
- Parmesan cheese – freshly grated, shredded, or shaved parmesan will have better flavor and texture than pre-shredded (and there are no additives or preservatives).
- Crisp croutons – sliced baguette baked with parmesan; these are irresistible and you’ll have enough for 2 salads, so you can stash some for the next Caesar salad. You can also use Sourdough bread to make Sourdough Croutons.
- Homemade Caesar Dressing – this is a light homemade dressing and just takes a few minutes to whisk together and you don’t need eggs or anchovies. If you prefer a creamy dressing, our Creamy Caesar Salad works wonderfully for this salad (which is a favorite with all of the kids in my family).
How to Keep Lettuce Crisp
Over the years, I’ve learned some great tips to keep romaine crisp, and these tips make all the difference in the texture of the salad.
- Rinse in Cold Water – keeping the lettuce cold will keep it crisp.
- Start with Dry Leaves – my salad spinner is my best friend. Chop, rinse and spin dry the leaves to remove as much water as possible. It’s a major time-saver, and it does a better job of drying.
- Chill Lettuce Before Using – Once the romaine is rinsed and dried, store it in an airtight container or a zip-top bag with a paper towel to absorb moisture.
How to Make Croutons for Caesar Salad
The crunchy homemade garlic croutons really elevate this salad. The cheese crusted onto each little toast will have you snacking on these croutons!
- Cut the baguette in half lengthwise and slice into 1/4″ thick pieces and place on a baking sheet.
- Combine 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil with minced garlic. Toss the croutons with garlic-infused oil and 2 Tbsp finely grated Parmesan.
- Spread them evenly onto the baking sheet and bake until crisp and golden at the edges. If you want to store these for later, bake until they are fully dried out.
How to Make Caesar Salad Dressing
This classic Caesar salad dressing comes together so fast, and all you need is a bowl and a whisk. This Caesar dressing is light, healthy, and packs so much fresh flavor.
- Whisk together minced garlic, Dijon, Worcestershire, lemon juice, and red wine vinegar.
- Whisk constantly while adding oil to emulsify the dressing for a smooth and creamy (not oily) consistency.
- Season with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste.
How to Make Caesar Salad
Once you have your croutons and dressing ready, it’s just a matter of assembling and serving.
- In a large mixing bowl, add your prepared romaine lettuce, top with croutons and parmesan.
- Just before serving, drizzle with your dressing, and toss gently to coat the lettuce and croutons.
Natasha’s Pro Tip for Shaving Parmesan
To get those lovely parmesan shavings, all you need is a block of parmesan and a potato peeler (Amazon affiliate link). It’s easy peasy!
Make-Ahead Tips
You can easily use this Caesar salad recipe for meal prep or make it ahead of time for a dinner party then assemble and add the dressing when ready to serve.
- Lettuce Prep – Chop, rinse, and spin dry the lettuce, transfer to a zip-top bag or airtight container with a paper towel, and refrigerate. It will stay crisp for 3-4 days.
- Storing Croutons – Bake 1-2 days ahead, cool completely before storing in an airtight container at room temperature to keep them crisp.
- Dressing can be made 3-4 days in advance. Store in a jar in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature if it has solidified and whisk to recombine before serving.
Once you try a homemade Caesar salad, the store-bought bagged versions will never satisfy you. It’s better in every way – fresh, crunchy, creamy, and tastes like a Caesar salad you’d order in a nice steakhouse. You can even make it a meal by adding strips of Baked Chicken Breast, Pan-Seared Steak, or Grilled Shrimp. Enjoy this, friends. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a Caesar Salad to make…
Caesar Salad Recipe
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings as a side salad
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How to Make Croutons:
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Preheat oven to 350˚F. Cut the baguette in half lengthwise through the top of the baguette then slice diagonally into 1/4″ thick pieces. Place the breads onto a baking sheet.
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In a small bowl, combine 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil and 1 tsp of finely minced garlic. Drizzle the garlic oil over the croutons and sprinkle the top with 2 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese.
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Toss until evenly coated. Spread in a single layer over the baking sheet and bake at 350˚F until light golden and crisp (10-12 minutes), or to desired crispness.
How to Make Caesar Salad Dressing:
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In a small bowl, whisk together garlic, dijon, Worcestershire, lemon juice and red wine vinegar.
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Slowly drizzle in extra virgin olive oil while whisking constantly.
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Whisk in 1/2 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp black pepper, or season to taste.
How to Make Caesar Salad:
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Rinse, dry* and chop or tear the romaine into bite-sized pieces. Place in a large serving bowl and sprinkle generously with shredded parmesan cheese and cooled croutons. Drizzle with caesar dressing and toss gently until lettuce is evenly coated.
*Note on Nutrition Label – the croutons recipe makes enough for 2 full salads or 8 servings which is reflected in the “per serving” nutrition label.
289kcal Calories9g Carbs4g Protein26g Fat
Nutrition Facts
Caesar Salad Recipe
Amount per Serving
% Daily Value*
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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