This crisp, fresh caesar salad with homemade crispy croutons and perfectly juicy grilled chicken (hello, Spring!) has been getting me through these past few weeks. For starters, it’s finally starting to warm up to use a grill. But when it snows in the middle of April in Chicago, I’ll throw these chicken breasts on a grill pan.
Store-bought croutons or dressing can of course be used here but we all know the store-bought version just does not compare. Nope, nothing compares to those freshly baked, slightly garlicky seasoned croutons, and the homemade dressing is just right – not too rich, not too creamy. It really is just right.
I will also point out that there are no egg yolks or anchovies in this (although you can certainly add those in to your liking if you wish). As for the chicken, if white meat is not your thing, thighs can easily be substituted. And you can prep everything in advance, making this a very quick weeknight meal on those super busy, hectic nights.
Grilled chicken (ABF), grape tomatoes, garlic croutons, parmesan, basil and lemon over a bed of romaine. Comes with caesar dressing.
Grill or fry 6 rashers bacon until very crisp and leave to cool. Break into bite-size pieces, then toss through the salad along with the chicken. Or halve an avocado, peel, then remove the stone and thickly slice the flesh. Toss with a little lemon juice (this stops it discolouring) and add to the salad just before dressing. Or drain 2 x 185g tins tuna well and flake the fish over the dressed salad.
Best Chicken Caesar Salad with Homemade Croutons
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
- 1 clove garlic, grated
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 4 cups ciabatta bread cubes
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 1 clove garlic, grated
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- 3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan
- 1 clove garlic, grated
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 ½ teaspoons Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 heads romaine, roughly chopped
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, parsley and garlic; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Spread bread cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet. Stir in olive oil mixture and gently toss to combine. Place into oven and bake until crisp and golden, about 13-15 minutes; set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
- In a gallon size Ziploc bag or large bowl, combine chicken and olive oil mixture; marinate for at least 2 hours, turning the bag occasionally. Drain the chicken from the marinade.
- Preheat grill to medium high heat.
- Add chicken to grill, and cook, turning occasionally, until chicken is completely cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, about 4-5 minutes per side. Let cool before dicing into bite-size pieces.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, buttermilk, Parmesan, garlic, lemon juice, Dijon and Worcestershire; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- To assemble the salad, place romaine in a large bowl; top with chicken and croutons. Pour the dressing on top of the salad and gently toss to combine. Top with Parmesan.
Chicken Caesar Salad | A classic recipe for everyone’s favorite salad!
FAQ
What does a real Caesar salad contain?
What is normally comes with Caesar salad?
Is eating a chicken Caesar salad healthy?
What does a chicken salad contain?
What is a chicken caesar salad?
This chicken caesar salad features lean seasoned protein seared until tender and paired with romaine lettuce, creamy dressing, and crunchy croutons. It’s an easy and delicious option for lunch or dinner. I’ve taken my classic caesar salad recipe and loaded it up with juicy chicken breast to make it a heartier entree.
Is chicken salad healthy?
Chicken salad is certainly considered to be healthy and a nutritious choice. The type of chicken, the ingredients added to the salad also impacts nutrition. Choosing a lean portion(such as chicken breast) has less of cholesterol and saturated fats. Chicken is a good source of protein. It thus promotes healthier bones, aids weight loss and is heart friendly. Adding of toppings such as mayonnaise, olive oils can add on to the calories making it not so healthy. Incorporating vegetables helps improve the palatability and increase the vitamin and the mineral and the fiber content making it more delicious and wholesome.
How do you eat chicken caesar salad?
Chicken Caesar Salad is an easy favorite dinner or lunch. Juicy seasoned chicken breasts served over a crisp salad with a quick caesar dressing. This is the perfect meal sized salad and full of flavor. Serve with garlic toast. Make the dressing well ahead of time (up to 4 days) for a quick meal. Pre-washed lettuce is a time saver.
How do you make chicken caesar salad?
Chicken Caesar Salad is creamy, crunchy, and always the perfect option for a light lunch or dinner! Combine all dressing ingredients and set aside. Combine the chicken breasts and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a small bowl. Season with cajun spice, making sure to cover all of the chicken.