Chicken Caesar Salad

Elevate your salad game with our easy chicken Caesar salad recipe that brings restaurant-quality flavor right to your home kitchen in just 10 minutes. Combining crisp romaine lettuce, tender grilled chicken and a delicious homemade Caesar dressing, this salad perfectly balances fresh and savory flavors.

Whether you’re looking for a light lunch or a crowd-pleasing addition to the potluck dinner, this recipe transforms nine simple ingredients into a timeless favorite that can feed a crowd. You can easily scale the recipe up or down depending on how many people you’re serving or turn it into leftovers for your work lunches this week.

Ingredients for Chicken Caesar Salad

• Romaine lettuce: Torn romaine provides a crisp and refreshing base for the salad and holds up well to the hearty toppings and creamy dressing without wilting.
• Chicken: Cooked boneless, skinless chicken breasts add lean protein and a satisfying texture to the salad. Grill, bake or pan-sear the chicken for added flavor.
• Croutons: Seasoned croutons add texture and absorb the flavorful dressing. For extra flavor, you can use store-bought or make your own croutons.
• Parmesan cheese: Shredded Parmesan provides a rich, salty flavor that’s essential to a classic Caesar salad.
• Olive oil: Extra virgin olive oil forms the base of the salad dressing and provides richness and healthy fats.
• Lemon juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice provides brightness and acidity to balance the creamy dressing.
• Garlic: Minced garlic gives the dressing a pungent and savory kick.

Directions

Step 1: Make the dressing

Christine Ma for Taste of Home

In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic and pepper until the mixture is well emulsified.

Editor’s Tip: For an even creamier dressing, blend the ingredients in a food processor or blender to allow the garlic and lemon juice to fully incorporate with the olive oil.

Step 2: Assemble the salad

Christine Ma for Taste of Home

In a large salad bowl, combine the torn romaine lettuce, sliced chicken, seasoned croutons, shredded Parmesan cheese and salt. Toss gently to ensure that all ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the salad.

Step 3: Dress and serve

Christine Ma for Taste of Home

Pour the prepared dressing over the salad ingredients. Toss gently to coat everything evenly. Serve immediately.

Christine Ma for Taste of Home

Recipe Variations

• Add more protein: For a heartier salad, add sliced boiled eggs, crispy bacon or grilled shrimp. Here’s how to hard-boil an egg one of five ways.
• Change up the greens: Swap the romaine for kale or mixed greens for a different texture and added nutrition to this chicken caesar salad recipe.
• Use different cheeses: Substitute the Parmesan with pecorino romano or even a creamy blue cheese for a unique twist.
• Add some vegetables: Include cherry tomatoes, cucumbers or roasted red peppers to add more color and nutrients to the salad. A diced avocado topping will add creaminess and healthy fats to the recipe.
• Turn it into a pasta salad: Toss in cooked and cooled pasta to make this a more substantial one-pot meal.

How to Store Chicken Caesar Salad

For the best results, store the components of your chicken caesar salad separately. Keep the dressed lettuce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days. Store the chicken, croutons and extra dressing separately—they can keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. Assemble just before serving to maintain freshness and the classic crunch.

Can you make chicken caesar salad ahead of time?

Yes, you can prep the components of this chicken caesar salad recipe beforehand. Cook and slice the chicken breasts, make the dressing and wash and dry the lettuce up to 24 hours in advance. Store everything separately and assemble just before serving.

Chicken Caesar Salad Tips

Christine Ma for Taste of Home

Can you use a different type of lettuce for chicken caesar salad?

While romaine is traditional in a classic Caesar, you can experiment with other crisp lettuces like little gem or a mix of romaine and butter lettuce for a different texture.

How do you keep chicken caesar salad from getting soggy?

To prevent a soggy salad, make sure your romaine lettuce is thoroughly dried after washing. Dress the salad just before serving and don’t add too much dressing at once.

What can I serve with chicken caesar salad?

This salad pairs well with garlic bread, a light pasta dish or even a bowl of soup for a complete meal. Or, you can transform this salad into something heartier like a wrap or pasta salad—here are 23 recipes for Caesar salad fans.

Can I use store-bought dressing for this chicken caesar salad?

Absolutely! If you’re short on time, a high-quality store-bought Caesar dressing can be used instead of this recipe’s homemade dressing.