Chicken Caesar Salad with Parmesan (Printable)
Grilled chicken breast with romaine lettuce, croutons, and Parmesan in a classic creamy Caesar dressing.
# What You Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
→ Salad
05 - 2 large heads romaine lettuce, chopped
06 - 1 cup croutons
07 - 1/2 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
→ Caesar Dressing
08 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
09 - 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
10 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
11 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
12 - 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
13 - 2 teaspoons anchovy paste
14 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
15 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
# Directions:
01 - Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
02 - Brush chicken breasts with olive oil and season evenly with salt and black pepper.
03 - Grill chicken for 6 to 7 minutes per side until fully cooked and juices run clear. Allow to rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly.
04 - In a large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, grated Parmesan, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, anchovy paste, minced garlic, and black pepper until smooth. Adjust seasoning to taste.
05 - Add chopped romaine lettuce to the bowl with dressing and toss until lightly coated.
06 - Add croutons and half the shaved Parmesan cheese, then toss gently to combine.
07 - Divide salad among serving plates. Top each portion with sliced grilled chicken and remaining Parmesan cheese.
08 - Serve immediately while fresh and crisp.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The homemade dressing has this perfect balance of creamy and tangy that store-bought versions never quite achieve.
- Its incredibly versatile - dress it up with extra toppings for dinner parties or keep it simple for a quick weeknight meal.
02 -
- Room temperature ingredients make for a much better dressing - I once made it with cold mayonnaise straight from the fridge and it was noticeably less smooth and didnt coat the lettuce properly.
- Dont toss the salad until right before serving or youll end up with sad, wilted lettuce that nobody wants to eat.
03 -
- When making the dressing, add the ingredients in the exact order listed and whisk each one fully before adding the next - this prevents the emulsion from breaking and gives you that perfect creamy consistency.
- Pat your romaine completely dry after washing or the dressing wont cling properly - I keep a salad spinner just for this purpose after learning this lesson the hard way.