• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Gitta's Kitchen
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Supper
    • Salads
    • Sides
    • Breakfast
    • Dessert
    • Seasonal
      • Holidays
      • Thanksgiving
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Resources
  • About
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Resources
    • About
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
  • ×
    • Taco Seasoning in a small mason jar with a spoon in it and the jar is on a pumpkin colored napkin
      How to Make Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix
    • Turkey meat sauce in a staub dutch oven with a wooden spoon in the sauce
      Fast and Easy Pasta Sauce with Ground Turkey
    • cooked sugar snap peas in a white bowl
      How to Cook Sugar Snap Peas
    • Cooked shrimp with lemon wedges on a white square plate with cocktail sauce in a round bowl next to the shimp
      Easy Roasted Shrimp Cocktail
    • bacon wrapped dates with toothpicks through them on a blue plate
      Easy Bacon Wrapped Dates Stuffed with Hot Honey Glaze
    • Shredded Kale and chopped red cabbage in a white bowl with wood tongs on the left side
      Easy Kale and Red Cabbage Slaw with Parmesan Cheese Recipe
    • Chicken parikash in a bowl next to spaetzle
      Easy One-Pot Chicken Paprikash Recipe
    • Pictures of top 10 recipes of 2022
      Readers' Top 10 Recipes of 2022
    • Honey glazed sweet potato slices with parsley garnish in a white bowl
      Easy Honey-Glazed Sweet Potato Recipe
    • apple crisp in a white bowl with a scoop of ice cream on top
      How to Make a Healthy, Simple, and Delicious Skillet Apple Crisp
    • A piece of Chocolate Ice box cake with raspberries on a plate
      Easy and Delicious Chocolate-Raspberry Icebox Cake
    • Chicken Several pieces of Schnitzel on a white plate
      How to make Juicy, Crispy Chicken Schnitzel with Panko Crumbs Recipe
    Home » Recipes » Salads

    How to make an Easy Caesar Salad

    Published: Jul 22, 2020 · Modified: Apr 21, 2023 by Gitta Grether-Sweeney · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe·★★★★★5 from 1 review
    Caesar salad in white bowl with wooden salad spoons

    This recipe for Caesar Salad is a family favorite. The crunchy lettuce, crisp croutons, and lemon-based dressing create a pop of flavors in your mouth. It makes a wonderful side dish with so many meals. Try it with grilled meats or pasta!

    finished Caesar salad in a white bowl with wood salad spoons next to it

    Caesar salads are on our weekly menu rotation because they are one of my family’s favorite salads, and it goes with so many different types of meals.   

    The Caesar dressing in this recipe is not typical because it is made without anchovies and raw eggs. I modified the dressing for people who do not like the taste of anchovies and prefer a vinaigrette-style dressing over a creamy one.  However, if you like a creamy Caesar dressing, put the dressing in a blender and blend it for 30 seconds, and it will be smooth and creamy.

    Even though traditional Caesar salads do not have tomatoes, I add a few for color and extra nutrition.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • How to make a Caesar Salad
    • Tips for Success
    • Leftovers
    • Additions
    • How to serve Caesar Salad
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Ingredients

    labeled ingredients on a white stone, Romaine lettuce, grape tomatoes, chunk of Parmesan cheese and croutons

    Romaine lettuce- Romaine lettuce hearts, which is where the outer leaves have been removed from the lettuce, or heads of romaine can be used in this recipe.  This lettuce is crisp and adds a nice crunch to the salad.

    Tomatoes- Normally, I use grape or cherry tomatoes.  However, you can also cut a whole tomato into wedges or chunks.  If you do not like tomatoes, leave them out of the salad.

    Parmesan cheese- This is an important ingredient because the cheese provides flavor and saltiness, making the salad unique. 

    Croutons- Make homemade croutons however, if you do not have bread or want to save time, purchased croutons work well too!  Especially in the summer when you might not want to turn on your oven!

    Caesar Dressing- This homemade Caesar dressing is quick and easy to make however, feel free to use your favorite Caesar dressing. 

    How to make a Caesar Salad

    sliced romaine lettuce on a wood cutting board with a chefs knife next to it
    Cut the lettuce in half
    romaine lettuce on a cutting board, half of it is chopped with a chefs knife next to the lettuce
    Slice the lettuce into smaller pieces
    chopped romaine lettuce on a wood cutting board
    Sliced lettuce
    chopped romaine lettuce in a red basket of a lettuce spinner
    Place lettuce in basket of a salad spinner
    cut romaine lettuce in a red colander with water running over it
    Rinse the lettuce well under running water
    red and white lettuce spinner. white top, clear bowl red basket.
    Spin lettuce to remove water from the lettuce leaves
    • Cut and rinse the lettuce under cold running water, as shown above. Be sure to use a salad spinner to remove all the water from the lettuce so that the dressing will stick to the lettuce.
    sliced grape tomatoes on a wood cutting board with top of a chefs knife
    Cut the tomatoes in half
    slicing Parmesan cheese with a vegetable peeler
    Use a vegetable peeler for large pieces of cheese
    box grater with Parmesan cheese and grated cheese next to it on a wood cutting board
    Use a box grater for shredded cheese
    finely grated Parmesan cheese, with a chunk of the cheese and a microplane sitting on a cutting board.
    Use a microplane for a fine grind cheese
    • Slice tomatoes in half.
    • Grate the Parmesan cheese to your desired texture using the above methods.
    finished Caesar salad in a white bowl with wood salad spoons and jar of Caesar dressing
    • Just before serving, toss the salad with dressing and top with croutons!

    Tips for Success

    1. Be sure the lettuce leaves are dry.  Otherwise, the dressing will not stick to the leaves. A salad spinner (affiliate link) works best to remove water. However, if you do not have a salad spinner, place the lettuce in a colander and rinse the lettuce under cold running water. Shake the colander to remove as much water as possible. Spread the rinsed lettuce on a clean towel or paper towel and pat it dry.
    2. Be careful not to use too much dressing.  Start with 2-3 tablespoons of dressing and add additional dressing 1 tablespoon at a time.  Salads drenched in dressing are soggy and do not taste good.
    3. The ingredients can be prepared early in the day. Store them covered in the refrigerator. Do not cut the lettuce the day before you plan to use it. Otherwise, the cut edges of the lettuce may turn a pinkish color which is not appetizing.   

    Leftovers

    Once the dressing has been added to the salad, leftovers do not hold up well even when refrigerated.

    Additions

    There are a number of foods you can that are not in a typical Caesar salad but are tasty:

    • Hard-boiled egg-Either dice or cut the egg into wedges. Place them on top of the salad after you have added the dressing.
    • Bacon-A couple of tablespoons of cooked crumbled bacon would be delicious.
    • Chickpeas-Add a handful of chickpeas for added protein.
    • Carrots-Sliced or shredded raw carrots would add nutrition and color to the salad.
    • Corn-I love to add about ½ cup of fresh or thawed sweet corn to the salad. Another option is to cook the corn in a skillet with 1 teaspoon of olive oil and saute it until the kernels of corn brown. The caramelization adds another layer of flavor!

    How to serve Caesar Salad

    As a side dish

    A Caesar salad is the perfect side dish for many meals. It pairs well with grilled meats like beef and pork. Try serving a Caesar salad with pasta like lasagna, spaghetti, or ravioli. I love to serve it with Fast Roast Chicken or Turkey Spaghetti Sauce on Roasted Spaghetti Squash. There are so many options!

    As a main dish

    To make a one-bowl meal, added any kind of chicken; sliced chicken breast, or shredded Rotisserie chicken. Baked or grilled salmon is also a delicious and healthy option. How about grilled or sauteed shrimp?

    If you prefer a meatless meal, add a boiled egg or chickpeas. To round out the salad, serve it with a slice of garlic bread or flatbread There are so many options! It will be a hit with your family.

    Print

    📋 Recipe

    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    finished Caesar salad in a white bowl with wood salad spoons next to it

    Easy Caesar Salad Recipe

    ★★★★★ 5 from 1 review
    • Author: Gitta
    • Prep Time: 15 minutes
    • Total Time: 15
    • Yield: 6 servings 1x
    • Category: Salad, Side
    • Cuisine: Italian
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    Caesar salad is packed with flavor and crunch.  It is the perfect side dish with many meals, especially with grilled meats and pasta.   Make it a one-bowl meal by adding chicken or salmon.  


    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 1 head (1.5#) Romaine lettuce, chopped
    • 8-10 cherry tomatoes
    • 1 cup croutons
    • 1 oz Parmesan cheese, grated (this should be about ¼ cup grated cheese)
    • 3 Tbsp Caesar salad dressing


    Instructions

    1. Remove the bottom stem of the lettuce by cutting it about 3" above the stem.   If there are damaged leaves, remove them. 
    2. Cut the lettuce lengthwise, then slice the lettuce into 2-3 inch ribbons.  
    3. Place the cut lettuce into a colander or the basket of a salad spinner.  Rinse the lettuce under running water.  Shake the basket from side to side to be sure all the lettuce is washed. 
    4. If you are using a salad spinner, spin to remove the water from the lettuce.  If you use a colander, place the lettuce on a clean towel or paper towel and blot dry.  Place dried lettuce in a salad bowl. 
    5. Wash the cherry tomatoes under running water.  Cut the tomatoes in half.  I prefer to cut them lengthwise because I think it looks more appetizing.   You could also leave them whole.  Place the tomatoes on the lettuce. 
    6. Grate the Parmesan cheese.  For shredded cheese, use a box grater; for thin strips of cheese, slice the cheese with a vegetable peeler; and for finely grated cheese, use a microplane.  
    7.  Toss the salad with 2-3 tablespoons of dressing.  Add more if desired. 
    8. Top the salad with croutons and grated Parmesan cheese. 

    Equipment

    Image of Microplane

    Microplane

    Buy Now →
    Image of Salad spinner

    Salad spinner

    Buy Now →
    Image of Box Grater

    Box Grater

    Buy Now →
    Image of Chef's knife

    Chef's knife

    Buy Now →
    Image of Cutting Board

    Cutting Board

    Buy Now →

    Notes

    1.   1 (1.5#) head of Romaine lettuce should yield about 7 cups of sliced lettuce. 
    2.   Be sure the lettuce leaves are dry.  Otherwise, the dressing will not stick to the leaves. A salad spinner works best. If you do not have a salad spinner, place the lettuce in a colander and rinse the lettuce under running. Shake the colander to remove as much water as possible. Wash the rinsed lettuce, spread it on a clean or paper towel, and pat it dry.
    3.   Be careful not to use too much dressing.  Start with 2-3 tablespoons of dressing and add additional dressing 1 tablespoon at a time.  Salads drenched in dressing are soggy and do not taste good.
    4.   The ingredients can be prepared early in the day. Store them covered in the refrigerator. Do not cut the lettuce the day before you plan to use it. Otherwise, the cut edges of the lettuce will turn a pinkish color which is not appetizing.   

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 cup
    • Calories: 126
    • Sugar: 2.5 g
    • Sodium: 280.8 mg
    • Fat: 8.5 g
    • Carbohydrates: 9.1 g
    • Protein: 4.2 g
    • Cholesterol: 7.7 mg

    Keywords: salad, health, Caesar Salad, Romaine lettuce

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @gittas_kitchen on Instagram and hashtag it #gittas_kitchen

    Disclaimer: The nutritional information provided is approximate and calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavored to be as accurate as possible.

    There are links to Amazon for equipment that I use to make this recipe for your convenience. If you purchase the equipment, I'll receive a small commission. For more information, please read my policy.

    More Salads

    • Greek pasta salad with farfalle pasta, grape tomatoes, cucumbers, feta cheese, parsley
      Simple and Healthy Greek-Style Pasta Salad without Black Olives
    • Corn and Tomato Salad in a white bowl
      Easy Sweet Corn and Tomato Salad with Feta and Basil
    • Easy Kale and Quinoa Salad with Lemon Dressing
    • Arugula salad with red pepper flakes in a white bowl, lemon wedges on side and wooden salad tons next to the bowl
      Easy Baby Arugula Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Did you make this recipe? Let me know! Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe rating ★ 5 Stars ☆ ★ 4 Stars ☆ ★ 3 Stars ☆ ★ 2 Stars ☆ ★ 1 Star ☆

      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Lori Hicke

      July 23, 2020 at 10:35 am

      Thanks Gitta, I’m going to make this with garbanzo beans for lunch. Thanks for the great recipes!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Gitta

        July 23, 2020 at 12:23 pm

        Thanks Lori. Let me know how you like it! Please tell me if you would change anything. I appreciate your feedback!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Picture of Gitta

    Welcome to my food blog! My goal is to inspire you to prepare delicious meals for your family by sharing simple and healthier recipes. Step-by-step instructions are included to ensure that you are successful. Join me in my kitchen, and let's start cooking!

    More about me →

    Refreshing Summer Recipes

    • Cooked shrimp with lemon wedges on a white square plate with cocktail sauce in a round bowl next to the shimp
      Easy Roasted Shrimp Cocktail
      ★★★★★
      Cook Time15 minutes
    • Top view of cucumber salad in white bowl
      Cucumber Salad (Gurkensalat)
      ★★★★★
      Cook Time15 minutes
    • Grilled chicken on Greek salad in white bowl
      How to Make Greek Salad with Grilled Chicken
      ★★★★★
      Cook Time30 minutes
    • Corn and Tomato Salad in a white bowl
      Easy Sweet Corn and Tomato Salad with Feta and Basil
      ★★★★★
      Cook Time15 minutes
    • Yogurt Panna cotta with raspberry sauce on a plate
      Simple Panna Cotta with Yogurt and Raspberry Sauce Recipe
      ★★★★★
      Cook Time15 minutes

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions

    Newsletter

    • Subscribe to the Newsletter

    Contact

    • About & Contact Information

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Gitta's Kitchen