Grandma Carol’s Caesar Salad
Made with a scratch dressing and garlic croutons, this Homemade Caesar Salad is a crowd favorite that everyone loves. This recipe comes straight from the kids’ Grandma Carol and pairs well with chicken, shrimp, steak, and more!
Making Homemade Caesar Salad
Caesar salad is so simple to make and calls for just a few toppings. It’s made with crisp lettuce, shaved Parmesan, creamy Caesar dressing, and croutons — but it’s because of this simplicity that it’s important to use the highest quality ingredients.
And what’s higher quality than homemade Caesar dressing and garlic croutons? Nothing!
Making Caesar salad from scratch requires more work than cracking open a store-bought bottle of dressing, but the resulting combination of crispy, creamy, and crunchy textures in the salad is worth it.
Both the homemade dressing and the croutons can be made in advance, which comes in handy for busy weeknights or dinner parties. If desired, you can add a protein — like chicken or steak — to the salad to transform it into a main dish.
After trying Carol’s Caesar salad, I guarantee you’ll never buy Caesar dressing or croutons again!
Tools You’ll Need
There are a few pieces of kitchen equipment you’ll need on hand to prepare the homemade Caesar salad and toppings.
- Cutting Board and Chef’s Knife — For preparing the garlic croutons.
- Large Salad Bowl — For serving the salad.
- Salad Tongs — For tossing the salad.
- Vegetable Peeler — For shaving the Parmesan.
- Measuring Cups and Spoons — For preparing the croutons and dressing.
- Rimmed Baking Sheet — For toasting the croutons.
- Blender or Food Processor — For making the homemade Caesar dressing.
What’s in Caesar Salad?
The best Caesar salads use minimal ingredients. A full list of ingredients and measurements can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post, but here’s an overview of what you’ll need:
- Romaine Lettuce
- Shaved Parmesan
- Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
- Anchovy Paste
- Fresh Garlic
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Mayonnaise
- Lemon Juice
- Salt and Pepper
- Sourdough Croutons
For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions to make a classic Caesar salad, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.
How to Make Homemade Caesar Salad
Making a Caesar salad from scratch isn’t as complicated as you might think! Let’s go over the basic recipe steps:
- Make the Caesar dressing. Simply add the dressing ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.
- Make the garlic croutons. Arrange the cubed sourdough brad on a baking sheet ina single layer. Drizzle with a mixture of minced garlic and olive oil.
- Bake the croutons at 375ºF until golden brown all over.
- Assemble the Caesar salad. Wash and tear the lettuce into small pieces. Transfer to a bowl of cold water and let sit for 30 minutes (I do this while the croutons bake).
- Drain lettuce from the water and transfer to a salad spinner to spin dry.
- Toss the lettuce with half of the shaved Parmesan and a few spoonfuls of the Caesar dressing.
- Before serving, top the Caesar salad with croutons and additional shaved Parmesan.
The above is simply a quick summary of this Caesar salad recipe. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.
Make-Ahead Instructions
Once assembled, the Caesar salad is best enjoyed right away. Leftovers don’t keep well because the dressing makes the croutons and lettuce soggy.
However, you can prepare elements of this recipe in advance:
- Lettuce — Can be washed and torn up to a day in advance. Store the dry lettuce in an airtight container or storage bag with paper towels to absorb excess moisture. If using a container, layer the lettuce in portions, placing a paper towel in between each layer. If using a bag, I place 1 paper towel folded in half on the bottom of the bag, then add lettuce, then another paper towel on top.
- Dressing — Can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored in the fridge.
- Croutons — Can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored at room temperature. The croutons must cool completely to room temperature before storing, otherwise condensation will develop in the container and the croutons will become soggy.
Recipe Tips
- Soak the lettuce in cold water. This is a tip straight from Kevin’s mom Carol! She recommends soaking the torn lettuce in cold tap water for at least 30 minutes before drying and serving to make it extra crisp.
- Make the dressing in advance. The Caesar dressing is best when made in the morning and allowed to chill in the fridge all day before serving. This gives the flavors time to come together and deepen.
- Swap croutons. The garlic sourdough croutons in this recipe are incredible, but we also love these homemade croutons made with herbs, garlic, and grated cheese.
- Add a protein to make the salad a main dish. I’ve listed various protein options in the section above. You can experiment by adding steak, chicken, shrimp, etc.
- Don’t omit the anchovy paste! The homemade Caesar salad dressing is made with anchovy paste. It’s a key ingredient in this recipe and is what gives the dressing that classic Caesar flavor.
Recipe Variations to Try
We typically enjoy Grandma Carol’s Caesar salad as a side dish, but you can add a protein to make it a main dish salad. There are also a few ingredient swaps you can try to customize the recipe, if needed.
- Add shrimp — Grilled shrimp or shrimp scampi would work well.
- Add chicken — Pre-cooked, cubed or shredded chicken is perfect. Use grilled balsamic chicken, grilled Greek chicken, store-bought rotisserie chicken, poached chicken, or leftovers from last night’s dinner.
- Add steak — Sous vide steak or grilled steak would both work perfectly.
- Add bacon — Homemade bacon bits would work nicely in this recipe.
- Add tuna — Add either one can of well-drained canned tuna or seared Ahi tuna if you’re feeling fancy.
- Use gluten-free bread — The homemade garlic croutons can easily be made gluten-free by using your favorite gluten-free sourdough.
- Use kale — Romaine is the classic choice for making Caesar salad, but massaged kale can be substituted for a different flavor and texture.
Caesar Salad Recipe FAQs
Got questions about how to make this homemade Caesar Salad recipe? Here are the answers to a few commonly asked questions. Feel free to leave any other questions in the comments on this post and I’ll respond with answers.
Where did the Caesar salad originate?
An Italian restaurateur named Caesar Cardini moved from the USA to Mexico during the Prohibition. During his time in Mexico, he created the eponymous Caesar salad.
What’s the best cheese for a Caesar salad?
Caesar salad is made with Parmesan cheese. I recommend buying a block of Parm and shaving it yourself for best results. This can be done with a vegetable peeler or a box grater.
What’s the best lettuce for a Caesar salad?
Romaine is the classic choice for Caesar salad. It’s super crisp with a clean flavor, which lets the creamy dressing really shine.
Is a Caesar salad made with anchovies?
Yes! This is Grandma Carol’s recipe and it’s what she uses in the dressing. However, the anchovy paste doesn’t make the salad taste whatsoever of fish, it just gives it that classic Caesar flavor.
No one can ever put their finger on what makes Caesar salad so good — it’s the anchovy paste!
What’s the best way to shave Parmesan cheese for salads?
You can easily shave Parmesan cheese by running a vegetable peeler down the side of the block of Parm. Or, use the shaving side of a box grater (the side with the wide, horizontal slots). Hand shaving Parmesan cheese takes all of 10 seconds to do!
What to Serve with Homemade Caesar Salad
A classic Caesar salad pairs well with any number of grilled or baked meats, soups, and almost every Italian recipe. We especially love pairing this salad with one of the following:
- Penne with Vodka Sauce
- Steak Pasta with Gorgonzola Sauce
- Baked Ziti
- Italian Chicken Skillet
- Grilled Bruschetta Chicken
- Chicken Parmesan
- Italian Wedding Soup
- Sous Vide Steak
- Beef Ragu
- Roasted Cauliflower Soup
- Italian Sausage and Orzo Soup
Try Making a Classic Caesar Salad at Home!
Next time you’re looking for a Caesar salad recipe, give this homemade version a try!
Did you love how flavorful this salad was? Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought.
On Instagram? Share your photo and tag me with @goodlifeeats and #goodlifeeatsrecipes. I’d love to see your photo of this classic Caesar salad!
More Easy Side Salad Recipes:
Enjoy the many textures and flavors of fall in this elegant Spinach Pear Salad. Creamy goat cheese, juicy pears, roasted sweet potatoes, and earthy greens are tossed in a maple balsamic vinaigrette. Perfect for dinner parties and holidays alike!
In this Massaged Kale Salad recipe, kale is lightly massaged with olive oil, salt and pepper. Then, it’s tossed with roasted delicata squash, roasted red onions, herbed goat cheese, and pepitas.
In this Italian Mixed Greens Salad, a blend of arugula, radicchio and baby kale is tossed with a simple lemon Dijon vinaigrette and topped with crispy prosciutto and fresh shaved parmesan.
This BLT Salad is a fun take on the classic BLT sandwich. Chopped lettuce, heirloom baby tomatoes, plenty of salty bacon, blue cheese, and cubes of toasted bread make up a delicious summertime salad recipe.
Do you love Olive Garden’s famous house salad? Learn how simple this Copycat Olive Garden Salad Recipe is to make at home so you can enjoy your favorite flavors without the cost of eating out! Includes a homemade version of Olive Garden Dressing, too.
Don’t see what you’re looking for here? You can always head over to check out the recipe index to look for more recipes.
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Do you like Caesar Salad?
Grandma Carol's Homemade Caesar Salad
Made with a scratch dressing and garlic croutons, this Homemade Caesar Salad is a crowd favorite that everyone loves. This recipe comes straight from my Grandma Carol and pairs well with chicken, shrimp, steak, and more!
Ingredients
Caesar Dressing
- ½ cup Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 tablespoon Anchovy Paste
- 2 cloves Garlic
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- ⅓ cup Mayonnaise
- Juice of ½ a Lemon
- Salt and Pepper, to taste
Garlic Croutons
- ½ loaf Sourdough Bread
- 1 - 2 cloves Garlic
- ¼ cup Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
Caesar Salad
- 2 - 3 heads Romaine Lettuce
- ⅔ cup Shaved Parmesan (fresh)
- Caesar Dressing
- Garlic Croutons
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a blender or small food processor. Then, blend until combined.
- For best results, after blending, transfer to a jar and store in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours before serving. This allows the flavors to enhance.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper before serving.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- While the oven preheats, cut the sourdough bread into 1 inch cubes. Place the bread on a baking sheet large enough to fit all of the bread in a single layer.
- Smash the garlic, then very finely mince it (alternatively press it through a garlic press). Add the garlic to a small bowl with the olive oil. Stir until combined.
- Drizzle the garlic and olive oil mixture over the cubed bread, then toss to coat evenly.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10 - 15 minutes, stirring halfway through so they brown evenly.
- After toasting, remove from the oven and let cool completely before adding to salad.
- Wash the lettuce leaves. Then, tear into small pieces. Transfer the washed and torn lettuce to a large bowl with cold water. Let soak for 30 minutes - 1 hour.
- Just before serving, drain lettuce from the water and transfer to a salad spinner to spin dry and remove excess water.
- Transfer the dried lettuce to a mixing bowl, drizzle half of the parmesan and just enough dressing to lightly coat the leaves, toss to coat.
- To serve: place the dressed lettuce salad bowl or salad platter. Top with croutons and remaining parmesan cheese. Serve extra salad dressing alongside.
Make the Dressing
Make the Croutons
Assemble the Salad
Notes
Make-Ahead Instructions
- Lettuce — Can be washed and torn up to a day in advance. Store the dry lettuce in an airtight container or storage bag with paper towels to absorb excess moisture. If using a container, layer the lettuce in portions, placing a paper towel in between each layer. If using a bag, I place 1 paper towel folded in half on the bottom of the bag, then add lettuce, then another paper towel on top.
- Dressing — Can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored in the fridge.
- Croutons — Can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored at room temperature. The croutons must cool completely to room temperature before storing, otherwise condensation will develop in the container and the croutons will become soggy.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 599Total Fat: 45gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 35gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 881mgCarbohydrates: 41gFiber: 8gSugar: 11gProtein: 12g
GoodLifeEats.com offers recipe nutritional information as a courtesy. This provided information is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although GoodLifeEats.com makes every effort to provide accurate information, these figures are only estimates.
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