By Becky Hardin
Published Aug 16, 2022
A bed of romaine lettuce topped with juicy chicken breast, croutons and parmesan, and drizzled in a homemade dressing–this classic Chicken Caesar Salad is always a favorite! Simple to make and loaded with flavor and crunchy textures, it’s perfect to serve for a tasty lunch.
What’s in this Chicken Caesar Salad Recipe?
There are so many reasons why a chicken Caesar salad has been so popular for so many years. The creamy and tangy dressing, the crunchy croutons, and that juicy chicken breast… What’s not to love?! It’s time to make your lunchtimes tastier!
- Greek Yogurt: A healthier alternative to mayonnaise , it provides creaminess and tanginess without as much fat.
- Parmesan Cheese: Adds a salty and savory element to the salad, enhancing its overall flavor.
- Lemon Juice: Provides brightness and tartness that cuts through the richness of the dressing.
- Olive Oil: Makes the dressing smooth and rich.
- Dijon Mustard: Adds a touch of spiciness and depth to the dressing. It also helps to emulsify the oil and vinegar.
- White Wine Vinegar: Adds acidity and a touch of sweetness to the dressing.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Adds a salty and umami flavor to the dressing.
- Anchovy Paste: A classic ingredient and key element in Caesar dressing, it adds a rich, savory, and slightly briny taste.
- Salt + Pepper: Enhance the overall flavor of the dressing.
- Garlic: Adds an aromatic flavor to the dressing.
- Romaine Lettuce: Serves as the salad’s crisp and refreshing base. The leaves are sturdy and hold up well to the creamy dressing.
- Cooked Chicken Breasts: Adds extra protein to the dish, turning this salad into a full meal.
- Croutons : Add a satisfying crunch to the salad.
Pro Tip: Feel free to add your favorite veggies and toppings, such as chopped cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, or torn kale.
Variations on Caesar Salad with Chicken
You can really use any kind of chicken for this recipe! A classic Caesar salad usually has pan-seared or grilled chicken breasts , but I also love Instant Pot shredded chicken , air fryer chicken breast , crispy baked chicken fingers , baked chicken thighs , or oven-fried chicken breast .
Although it is a salad, chicken Caesar salad is not necessarily healthy, as it is high in calories, fats, and sodium. Here, I’ve swapped in Greek yogurt in place of the traditional mayonnaise, which does make the dressing a little lighter than usual.
Ranch dressing tends to be higher in calories, but Caesar has more sodium and sugar.
This recipe makes 4 servings that are 364 calories each.
This salad is great because it’s so adaptable. I like to use rotisserie chicken in a rush, but you can use any leftover cooked chicken you have on hand!
Anchovy paste is usually in the condiments section of the grocery store, but it can also sometimes be found in the canned goods section with the tinned fish.
The acid in Caesar dressing can make the greens wilt more easily, so be sure to dress the salad just before serving!
How to Store
While caesar salad is best enjoyed on the day it is made, it will keep well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 day. Beyond that, it will begin to wilt and turn slimy.
I do not recommend freezing this salad, as the greens will turn soggy.
Serving Suggestions
This chicken Caesar salad recipe makes for a great little lunch or appetizer, but you can easily serve it up with favorite sides like Homemade Garlic Bread , Air Fryer Corn on the Cob , Crockpot Twice Baked Potatoes , or Cheddar Bay Biscuits .
Ingredients1x2x3x
For the Caesar Dressing
- ▢ ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- ▢ ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ▢ 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
- ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ▢ 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- ▢ 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
- ▢ 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ▢ 1 teaspoon anchovy paste
- ▢ ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ▢ 1 clove garlic minced
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
For Assembly
- ▢ 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- ▢ 1 pound cooked boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into strips
- ▢ ½ cup freshly shaved Parmesan cheese
- ▢ 1 cup croutons
Video
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, combine the dressing ingredients. Whisk until well combined, then cover and chill until ready to use. ½ cup plain Greek yogurt, ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon anchovy paste, ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 1 clove garlic, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- In a large bowl, toss lettuce together with half of the prepared dressing to coat. 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- Transfer the lettuce to a serving bowl or platter and top with sliced chicken, croutons, and shaved Parmesan. Serve immediately with the rest of the dressing on the side. 1 pound cooked boneless, skinless chicken breasts, ½ cup freshly shaved Parmesan cheese, 1 cup croutons
Becky’s Tips
- Use any chicken you like for this recipe, such as rotisserie chicken, shredded chicken, or grilled or baked chicken.
- Feel free to add your favorite veggies and toppings, such as chopped cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, or torn kale.
- You can make the dressing and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Caesar Salad Recipes We Love
- Classic Caesar Salad
- Kale Caesar Salad
- Chicken Caesar Salad Wrap
- Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
- Chopped Chicken Caesar Salad
Chicken Caesar Salad Recipe
Ingredients
For the Caesar Dressing
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon anchovy paste
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 clove garlic minced
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
For Assembly
- 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 1 pound cooked boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into strips
- ½ cup freshly shaved Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup croutons
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, combine the dressing ingredients. Whisk until well combined, then cover and chill until ready to use. ½ cup plain Greek yogurt, ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon anchovy paste, ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 1 clove garlic, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- In a large bowl, toss lettuce together with half of the prepared dressing to coat. 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- Transfer the lettuce to a serving bowl or platter and top with sliced chicken, croutons, and shaved Parmesan. Serve immediately with the rest of the dressing on the side. 1 pound cooked boneless, skinless chicken breasts, ½ cup freshly shaved Parmesan cheese, 1 cup croutons
Video
Notes
- Use any chicken you like for this recipe, such as rotisserie chicken, shredded chicken, or grilled or baked chicken.
- Feel free to add your favorite veggies and toppings, such as chopped cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, or torn kale.
- You can make the dressing and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
