Caesar Salad with Garlic Croutons

This Caesar salad with garlic croutons and a creamy homemade Caesar dressing with or without anchovies) makes an easy main meal or favorite side salad for a crowd.

Here on the blog, I’m not shy about my love of the Caesar salad. I made sure to share my classic Caesar salad dressing that can be made with or without anchovies. I’ve also turned this classic steakhouse primer into a kale Caesar salad and my daughter’s favorite chicken Caesar salad. The creamy, umami-rich salad dressing is so full of flavor. Coupled with crunchy romaine, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and the easiest homemade garlicky croutons, this Caesar salad is simplicity at its finest. So brace your tastebuds and let me show you how to make a killer Caesar salad.

Why You’ll Love It

• The Caesar salad dressing recipe is easy to make and versatile (it can be made with or without egg)
• This salad is great for meal prep (just make the dressing and croutons ahead of time)

What Ingredients Are in a Caesar Salad

Did you know the original Caesar salad originated in Mexico? It was created by an Italian immigrant, chef, and restauranteur. The ingredients for this salad should be familiar to most Caesar salad lovers. There are a few ingredients and methods to take note of that make this the one I make over and over again.

Here’s what is in a Caesar salad:

• Mayonnaise—helps thicken the Caesar dressing and lend creaminess without the need for egg yolks
• Sour cream—gives our dressing a nice tang
• Red wine vinegar—for some bright acidity
• Worcestershire sauce—for savory, umami flavor
• Anchovies—a staple ingredient in our dressing and what gives Caesar dressing its signature flavor
• Garlic—brings big flavor to the dressing
• Parmesan cheese—I use a combination of two cuts of the salty bite of Parmesan cheese, and always use fresh, not canned. I love finely grated Parmesan because it seemingly melts into all of the nooks and crannies. However, I also love chunks of Parmesan for their salty burst of flavor.
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper—always, for flavor
• Tabasco sauce—for a bit of zip
• Bread cubes—I like using sourdough bread or a baguette for the croutons but any nice sturdy bread will do
• Olive oil—gets infused with garlic and tossed with the bread cubes to moisten them and get them golden brown and toasty in the oven
• Garlic—mingles with hot olive oil to season the croutons
• Italian parsley—adds color and freshness to the croutons
• Romaine Lettuce—I use tender romaine hearts rather than the whole head. I find these center leaves to be more tender and sweet

see more: 12 Vinaigrette and Salad Dressing Recipes

How to Make Caesar Salad

• Prep your lettuce. Chop the leaves in big chunks or go ahead and dig in and tear the leaves with your fingers. Whole leaves make a killer presentation too.

Tip: If you don’t have a salad spinner, now is the time to get one.

see more: 31 Quick and Healthy Veggie Side Dishes in 30 Minutes or Less

How to Make Croutons

Nobody’s going to side-eye you if you grab a bag of grocery store croutons, but the homemade variety is so easy to make, they’re totally worth the extra few minutes to do so.

• Make the garlic-infused oil. Heat the olive oil and garlic in a small saucepan over medium heat until the garlic turns golden and becomes fragrant about 4-5 minutes (be careful not to burn). Strain out the garlic.
• Season the bread cubes and bake. Place the bread cubes in a large bowl.  Drizzle the oil over the bread cubes, toss to coat, and bake in the oven for 10 minutes or until the bread cubes are golden. Toss with the parsley and salt and pepper and set aside to cool.

Tip: Store the homemade croutons in a zip-top bag or in an airtight container. Or freeze for up to one month.

see more: 10 Healthy and Hearty Salad Recipes That Make a Meal

Make the Creamy Caesar Dressing Recipe

Creamy, garlicky, and cheesy with fresh Parmesan, my homemade Caesar dressing skips the raw egg yolks and calls for mayonnaise and sour cream instead. If you’re looking for a Caesar dressing with egg, check out my chicken Caesar salad recipe here.

• Make the creamy Caesar dressing. Add all of the ingredients to a small glass canning jar with a fitted lid and shake well to combine. Or, add to a medium-sized bowl and whisk to combine.

Tip: The creamy Caesar dressing can be refrigerated for up to 1 week before serving.

see more: 30 Healthy Summer Potluck Salads

Assemble the Caesar Salad

• Shave your Parmesan. Make the Parmesan shavings (that will go in the salad) by skimming a block of cheese with a vegetable peeler.
• Assemble and serve. Toss in half of the croutons and half of the cheese with the lettuce. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Use tongs or get right in there and toss with your hands. Add the rest of the croutons and cheese to the top of the salad so they don’t fall to the bottom when serving. 

FAQ and Recipe Tips

• Does Caesar salad have fish in it? Yes! Classic Caesar salad dressings have anchovies (or at least anchovy paste) and I use anchovies in mine (as well as Worcestershire sauce, which is also made with anchovies). However, if you’re concretely opposed, leave them out and sub in 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice instead. Finally, if you’re vegan and want to make this, omit the Worcestershire and try adding some minced capers (they’ll lend a nice umami flavor).
• Use a blender and add oil for a thicker dressing. If you prefer a super thick Caesar salad dressing that won’t drip from a spoon, make it in a blender or food processor instead of shaking it in a jar or whisking. Blend all of the ingredients then slowly drizzle in ¼ cup of olive oil while the blades are going strong. This method will emulsify and thicken the dressing.

• Dress JUST before serving. Romaine lettuce leaves are one of the sturdiest lettuces out there, but they will still wilt if left dressed for too long. Avoid a wilted salad situation and dress the lettuce just before serving.
• Top with protein. I kept this homemade Caesar salad ultra simple and topped it just with garlic croutons. But you’re welcome to add your protein of choice, like chicken, shrimp, or salmon.

What to Serve With Caesar Salad

• Tomato Basil Soup
• Baked Chicken Parmesan
• Lighter Penne Alla Vodka
• Top with The Best Grilled Salmon
• Top with The Best Greek Chicken Marinade
• Baked Sausage and Cheese Rigatoni
• My Mom’s Homemade Spaghetti and Meat Sauce

If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #foodiecrusheats.

4.39 from 42 votes

Caesar Salad with Garlic Croutons

This Caesar salad recipe with homemade garlic croutons and a creamy Caesar dressing (with or without anchovies) makes an easy main or favorite side salad for a crowd. 

Print SaveSaved!

Course Salad

Cuisine American

Keyword caesar salad

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 35 minutes minutes

Servings 10

Calories 385kcal

Ingredients 

½x1x2x3x

For the Caesar Dressing

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 cup sour cream
• ¼ cup red wine vinegar
• 1 ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon mashed anchovies , (or anchovy paste)
• 1 clove garlic , pressed
• ¼ tablespoons Parmesan cheese , grated
• ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
• 2-3 dashes Tabasco sauce

For the Garlic Croutons

• 4 cups bread cubes , cut into ¾ inch squares (from a sturdy bread like sourdough)
• ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic , thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons Italian flat leaf parsley , minced
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

For the Caesar Salad

• 8 cups romaine lettuce hearts , rinsed and patted dry
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• ¼ cup Parmesan cheese , cut into ribbons
• kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper , to taste

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

For the Caesar Dressing

• Add all of the ingredients to a small glass canning jar with a fitted lid and shake well to combine. Or, add to a medium-sized bowl and whisk to combine.

For the Garlic Croutons

• Preheat the oven to 375° F.
• Place the bread cubes in a large bowl and set aside. Heat the olive oil and garlic in a small saucepan over medium heat until the garlic begins to turn golden and becomes fragrant, about 4-5 minutes. Be careful the garlic doesn’t burn or it will taste bitter. Strain or pick the garlic cloves out of the oil and discard or save for another use.
• Drizzle the oil over the bread cubes and toss to coat. Scatter onto a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes or until the bread cubes are golden, flipping the cubes occasionally.
• Remove from the oven and add back to the bowl. Toss with the parsley and salt and pepper and set aside to cool. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

For the Caesar Salad

• Chop or tear the romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces and place in a large serving bowl. Drizzle with ⅓ cup of the Caesar dressing and toss to coat.
• Sprinkle with half of the grated Parmesan cheese and 1 cup of the croutons and toss again.
• Top with the rest of the grated Parmesan, Parmesan ribbons, and more croutons as desired. Season with kosher salt and pepper to taste, and serve.

Notes

• If you prefer to omit the anchovies from the salad dressing, substitute the anchovies for an additional 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice instead.
• Store the remaining dressing in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
• Store the leftover croutons in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks or freeze for up to 2 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 385kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 508mg | Potassium: 181mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 3474IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 132mg | Iron: 1mg

More Classic Salad Recipe Ideas

• How to Make the Best Potato Salad
• How to Make Classic Macaroni Salad
• Chinese Chicken Salad with Sesame Dressing
• Classic Shrimp Macaroni Salad Recipe
• Classic Blue Cheese Wedge Salad Recipe
• Fresh and Easy Vietnamese Noodle Salad
• How to Make the Best Broccoli Salad
• My Favorite Ambrosia Salad
• German Potato Salad

We send good emails. Subscribe to FoodieCrush and have each post plus exclusive content only for our subscribers delivered straight to your e-mail box.

Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter for more FoodieCrush inspiration.

As always, thank you for reading and supporting companies I partner with, which allows me to create more unique content and recipes for you. There may be affiliate links in this post of which I receive a small commission. All opinions are always my own.