Best Chicken Caesar Salad (Printable Version)
Tender grilled chicken over crisp romaine with homemade Caesar dressing, croutons, and Parmesan.
# What You Need:
→ 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
→ Salad Components
06 - 2 large heads romaine lettuce washed and chopped
07 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
08 - 1 cup croutons
09 - 1/4 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
→ 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
# How-To:
01 - Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
02 - Pat chicken breasts dry and rub with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
03 - Grill chicken for 6-7 minutes per side until cooked through and juices run clear. Remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing thinly.
04 - In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, anchovies, salt, and pepper until smooth. Adjust seasoning to taste.
05 - In a large salad bowl, combine chopped romaine, cherry tomatoes, and croutons. Toss lightly with half the dressing.
06 - Top salad with sliced grilled chicken and shaved Parmesan. Drizzle with remaining dressing and serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The homemade dressing comes together in minutes but tastes like it came from a restaurant kitchen
- Grilled chicken adds smoky depth that makes this salad feel substantial enough for dinner
- You control everything from the garlic intensity to how much anchovy actually goes in
02 -
- Letting the grilled chicken rest for those full 5 minutes keeps all the juices inside instead of running out onto your cutting board
- The dressing actually tastes better if you make it an hour ahead, giving the flavors time to meld together
- Romaine needs to be completely dry before dressing or you'll end up with watery, diluted salad
03 -
- For extra smoky flavor, add a soaked wood chip to your grill when cooking the chicken
- Whisk the dressing vigorously for at least 30 seconds to ensure it's completely emulsified and creamy