Caesar Salad Recipe with Homemade Dressing & Gluten Free Croutons
Chicken Caesar salad is one of my favorite classic dishes. It’s one of those meals that tastes incredible when you combine fresh, homemade ingredients. Making your dressing from scratch takes your salad to the next level, and it isn’t that complex (but you will feel extremely fancy). Combine this recipe with my classic Marinated Chicken linked here.
MAKING YOUR OWN DRESSING
Sure, you could buy a store-bought version of Caesar dressing and call it a day. BUT I am telling you- this creamy homemade version is SO much better, you will never go back to store-bought again. For this step, you will be using a blender or food processor; if you don’t own either, you can finely chop up your anchovies, mince your garlic, and whisk all of your ingredients together. I like to store my dressing in a mason jar and keep it in the fridge. It is usually good for up to 4 days.
GLUTEN FREE CROUTONS 101
Again, sure, you can pick up some store-bought croutons. But I promise you, this homemade version will change your life. Gluten-free croutons are challenging to find at the store (& nowhere near as good). You can use your bread of choice here. My favorites for this recipe are Cook’s Gluten-Free French Bread, Canyon Bakehouse white or multigrain bread, or Schar Gluten-Free sliced bread.
ADDING THE CHICKEN
For this salad, I use my Go-to Juicy Chicken Marinade. After you prepare your chicken, slice it up and allow it til cool, so it doesn’t wilt your lettuce. I don’t think anyone wants hot salad; at least I know I don’t.
Click for chicken recipe pictured
Caesar Salad Recipe with Homemade Dressing & Gluten Free Croutons
Ingredients
Caesar Dressing
- 1/2 cup olive oil extra virgin
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 3-4 anchovy fillets amount up to preference
- 1 tbsp dijon mustard
- 1 tsp worcestershire sauce I use a gluten free version
- 3-4 cloves garlic
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- juice of 1 lemon
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan
- 1 tsp garlic salt
- pepper to taste
Gluten Free Croutons
- 4 slices gluten free bread of choice, cut into small squares I used Canyon Bakehouse. Cook's french bread is also great for this
- 2 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried parsley can sub for dried italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Salad
- 2 large romaine hearts chopped, washed, & dried
- 1/2 cup freshly shredded parmesan more if you love cheese 🙂
Chicken *optional*
- Recipe linked above
Instructions
Caesar Dressing
-
Combine all ingredients in blender or food processer. Blend until smooth.
-
Pour into mason jar or storage container. Keep in fridge until you are ready to serve.
You can make this ahead, the flavors marinate and it becomes even tastier! Dressing is good for about 3-4 days.
Gluten Free Croutons
-
Preheat oven to 400°F.
-
Cut bread into small squares. Add to baking sheet and toss in olive oil. Add seasoning.
-
Bake for 10-15 mins or until golden brown. Toss half way through.
Salad
-
Chop, wash, and dry lettuce. Grate parmesan.
-
Add all ingredients to a bowl, pour enough dressing to coat all of your salad.
-
*OPTIONAL* Add chicken, my recipe pictured in these photos is linked above. (let chicken cool after cooking so that it does not wilt the lettuce.)
-
Serve salad immediately. Enjoy!
I hope you love this recipe, I am so excited to start sharing more with you guys on here! I originally started cooking in high school after losing my mom to cancer to help out around the house and remove some of my dad’s stress. My mom had taught me the basics, but she was sick most of my teenage life, so I never had the opportunity to learn how to make any of her recipes. My real love for cooking began watching my oldest sister, who I had always idolized, cook for her husband and kids. She lit up while preparing a meal and feeding her family, and it inspired me in more ways than I was ever able to tell her. Fast forward a few years, going gluten-free sparked creativity to come up with different dishes and meals because really, I missed eating things like- fried chicken; I had to create my own to enjoy it safely. It has been a journey over the last decade, but through it all, food has represented love and comfort to me. And I can’t wait to share more of the recipes I so enjoy preparing for my family and friends with you all.
XO
