This Easy Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad recipe only takes 30 minutes! A Classic Chicken Caesar Salad full of char-grilled chicken, homemade croutons, shaved parmesan and a light homemade caesar dressing.
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Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad with Homemade Dressing
You know what’s funny about this post. Is it is a staple or classic recipe. I realized recently that I post a lot of fun jazzed up recipes but not as many classics or staples. I think because I just assume people know how to make them or they don’t want the classics. But the truth is, everyone needs a classic.
What is Caesar Salad?
A Caesar salad is simple salad to make with minimal ingredients. It is essentially a green salad made with romaine lettuce and croutons then tossed with a dressing made from lemon juice, olive oil, egg, Worcestershire sauce, anchovies, garlic, Dijon mustard, Parmesan cheese, and black pepper.
Is Chicken Caesar Salad Good For You?
Honestly, it depends on how you pack it. While cheese is good source of calcium and protein, it can also be high in calories, saturated fat and sodium. Caesar dressing can be a problem because most varieties of Caesar dressing are heavy, creamy and high in calories. Lucky for you I balance the cheese in this recipe and also make my own dressing that contains NO heavy cream. Both of these factors cut down on the calories.
What’s in this Salad?
Dressing Ingredients
This caesar dressing it anchovy free, you can also make it egg free caesar dressing by omitting the mayonnaise. The ingredients you’ll need to make this simple Caesar Dressing are as follows:
- garlic clove
- white vinegar
- olive oil
- dijon mustard
- tabasco
- lemon
- grated parmesan cheese
- honey
- mayo
Salad Ingredients
- Romaine Lettuce
- Caesar Dressing
- Parmesan Cheese
- Cubed Sourdough Bread (For Croutons)
How to Make a Chicken Caesar Salad
- Prepare Homemade Croutons: Preheat oven to 375°F. Add cubed sourdough bread, 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 3 minced garlic cloves to a large bowl and toss to coat. Spread the bread in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, tossing half way through. Remove croutons and season with salt, pepper and fresh parsley.
- Make Caesar Dressing: To a food process (or blender) add garlic, white vinegar, mustard, tabasco, juice of half a lemon, honey and mayo. Blend. Next, add olive oil and grated Parmesan cheese. Blend until everything is combined.
- Toss Salad Together: To a large bowl add chopped romaine lettuce, croutons and caesar dressing. I also like to add more shaved parmesan for extra parmesan punch.
How to Make Chicken Caesar Salad
Making a Chicken Caesar Salad is easy, just make a Caesar Salad and add chicken!
- Make Caesar Salad: follow instructions above.
- Season Chicken: season chicken with salt and pepper.
- Grill Chicken: Place chicken breast on medium high grill (375°-400°F) and cook for 4-7 minutes per side until the chicken is no longer pink. Remove from grill, let rest for 5 minutes to let juices redistribute before slicing.
- Assemble Chicken Caesar Salad: To a large bowl add, chopped romaine lettuce, grilled chicken, shaved parmesan, grated parmesan, homemade croutons and drizzle with dressing or serve on the side.
How to Store Chicken Caesar Salad
Honestly, the best way to store Chicken Caesar Salad is to prep everything ahead of time and then store it separately. If you store the salad already dressed with dressing it will end up soggy. So I recommend putting your chopped romaine lettuce into a nice big bowl or storage bag, and drape a paper towel over the top so moisture doesn’t settle on the leaves while your salad sits in the fridge. Then store your chicken separate as well as dressing. When you’re ready to serve, just assemble all the already prepped ingredients. However, if you really want to store everything together. I’d recommend putting the chicken on the bottom of a large storage container, then the cheese, the lettuce and the croutons. Top with dressing when ready to serve.
This Chicken Caesar Salad is great in and of itself. But there’s nothing wrong with adding a little some some to your salad. After all, if I’m being honest I do! The more veggies the better, in my humble opinion. But in either case, you definitely need to make this recipe! It’s seriously amazing and such a classic to have around!
Bon Appetit!
Mix in Ideas
- Garlic Herb Roasted Shrimp
- Grilled Chicken Breast with Spice Rub
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Pan Seared Ribeye
- Avocado
- 15 Minute Filet Mignon
What Goes With Caesar Salad?
- Homemade Baked Pita Chips
- Roasted Garlic White Bean Hummus
- Baked Garlic Parmesan Potato Wedges
- Grilled Prosciutto Peach Flatbread
- How to Make an Epic Cheeseboard
Easy Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad with Homemade Croutons
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Grill
- Cuisine: American
Description
The ultimate Easy Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad, on your dinner table in 30 minutes! This Classic Caesar Salad is full of chargrilled chicken, homemade croutons, shaved parmesan and a light homemade caesar dressing.
Ingredients
Grilled Chicken Caesar:
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- salt & pepper to season
- 8 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 1/3 cup shaved parmesan
- 2 tablespoons grated parmesan
Homemade Garlic Croutons:
- 3 cups cubed sourdough bread
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- salt & pepper to season
- 2 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Caesar Dressing:
- 1 garlic clove
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon of dijon mustard
- a few dashes of tabasco, to taste
- juice of half a lemon
- 1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon of honey
- 1/2 tablespoon mayo
Instructions
Homemade Garlic Croutons:
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- To a large bowl add cubed sourdough bread, 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 3 minced garlic cloves. Toss to coat.
- Spread bread cubed out in a single layer on a baking sheet.
- Bake for 10 minutes, tossing half way through.
- Remove croutons from oven. Season with salt, pepper and fresh parsley.
- Set aside.
Caesar Dressing:
- To a food process (or blender) add garlic, white vinegar, mustard, tabasco, juice of half a lemon, honey and mayo. Blend until garlic is minced.
- Next, add olive oil and grated Parmesan cheese. Blend until everything is combined. Set aside.
Grilled Chicken Caesar:
- Preheat grill to medium high heat, about 375°-400°F.
- Season both sides of chicken breast with salt and pepper.
- Place chicken breast on grill and cook for 4-7 minutes per side until the chicken is no longer pink.
- Remove from grill, let rest for 5 minutes to let juices redistribute before slicing.
- To a large bowl add, chopped romaine lettuce, grilled chicken, shaved parmesan, grated parmesan, homemade croutons and drizzle with dressing or serve on the side.
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