Best Chicken Caesar Salad (Printable)
Classic Caesar with grilled chicken, crisp romaine, croutons, and creamy homemade dressing.
# What You'll Need:
→ For the Chicken
01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 tsp garlic powder
04 - 1/2 tsp salt
05 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
→ For the Salad
06 - 2 large heads romaine lettuce, washed and chopped
07 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)
08 - 1 cup croutons
09 - 1/4 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
→ For the Caesar Dressing
10 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
11 - 2 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese
12 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
13 - 2 tsp Dijon mustard
14 - 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
15 - 1 garlic clove, minced
16 - 2 anchovy fillets, finely minced (or 1 tsp anchovy paste)
17 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
# Directions:
01 - Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
02 - Pat chicken breasts dry. Rub with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
03 - Grill chicken for 6-7 minutes per side, or until cooked through and juices run clear. Remove from heat, rest for 5 minutes, and slice thinly.
04 - In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, minced garlic, anchovy fillets, salt, and pepper until smooth. Adjust seasoning to taste.
05 - In a large salad bowl, combine chopped romaine, cherry tomatoes (if using), and croutons. Toss lightly with half the dressing.
06 - Top salad with sliced grilled chicken and shaved Parmesan. Drizzle with remaining dressing. Serve immediately.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The homemade dressing has a depth of flavor you just cant get from a bottle
- Grilled chicken adds that perfect smoky contrast to the crisp cool lettuce
02 -
- Warm lettuce makes a sad salad so keep everything chilled until the moment you toss
- That anchovy paste is fine in a pinch but whole fillets give the dressing better texture
03 -
- Let the dressing sit for 15 minutes before serving to let the flavors really meld together
- Warm your salad bowls slightly to prevent the dressing from congealing too quickly