Chicken Caesar Salad

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This chicken Caesar salad recipe has always held a special place in my heart. As a child, it was one of the few salads that I actually enjoyed eating. It’s amazing to think that now, as an adult with a passion for healthy eating, salads have become a staple in my diet.

In fact, I have a whole collection of delicious and nutritious salad recipes on my site. I love a good green goddess salad or even a sweet strawberry spinach salad, but this Caesar salad with chicken is still one of my all-time favorites!

Ingredients & Substitutions

This section explains how to choose the best chicken caesar salad ingredients, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

Chicken:

There are multiple ways to cook boneless skinless chicken breasts for Caesar salad, but no matter the cooking method, I recommend this combination of ingredients:

• Chicken Breast – I used juicy baked chicken breasts for this recipe, but you could also make air fryer chicken breasts or pan seared breasts, or use leftover garlic butter chicken, rotisserie chicken, blackened chicken (for a spicy kick), or pressure cooker shredded chicken for this recipe as well.
• Olive Oil – Seals in moisture. Do not use extra virgin olive oil or butter — they will burn! You can also use avocado oil, ghee, or coconut oil instead.
• Spices – Season both sides of the chicken breasts with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and paprika.
• Sea Salt & Black Pepper

Salad:

For the salad, I used a simple combination of veggies, but feel free to add anything you like to this salad. Here’s what I use:

• Romaine Lettuce – Romaine is the classic choice for chicken Caesar salad, but you could also use kale, spinach, arugula, or a mix of greens like spring mix or butter lettuce.
• Grape Tomatoes – Optional, but add juicy texture and flavor. Diced regular tomatoes or cherry tomatoes would work as well.
• Shredded Parmesan Cheese – Otherwise Pecorino Romano or Asiago make good substitutes.
• Croutons – I used gluten-free croutons, but any kind that fit your lifestyle will work. You can also make keto croutons (which are also gluten-free!), or skip the croutons and shredded parmesan and use cheese crisps instead.

VARIATION: Add bacon or hard boiled eggs!

• To add bacon: Cook bacon in the oven, then crumble and add a few tablespoons to your salad. You can also do this with air fryer bacon, stovetop bacon, or microwave bacon.
• To add eggs: Make hard boiled eggs, slice or dice them, and add to the salad. Or make soft boiled eggs and serve cut in half.

Caesar Salad Dressing:

You can use store-bought Caesar dressing, but I love making this salad with my homemade Caesar salad dressing recipe (follow the link to see the amounts for the dressing). This includes:

• Mayonnaise – This is the base and what makes a creamy Caesar salad dressing. I use my homemade mayonnaise, but you could use regular or even plain Greek yogurt if you prefer. My mayo already had Dijon mustard in it, but if yours doesn’t, you can add a teaspoon to the dressing as well.
• Olive Oil – Helps to emulsify the Caesar dressing recipe. You could also use extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, or any oil you prefer.
• Lemon Juice – I often use bottled lemon juice for convenience, but you could use fresh lemon juice instead.
• Anchovy Paste – Essential for a classic homemade Caesar dressing. It won’t taste fishy in the end — promise!
• Worcestershire Sauce – Adds a umami flavor. Soy sauce, soy sauce substitutes, or coconut aminos would work as alternatives.
• Garlic – I used fresh garlic for the best flavor, but you could use 3 teaspoons jarred garlic or 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder for convenience.
• Sea Salt & Black Pepper

VARIATION: Use a different dressing.

You don’t have to use caesar dressing. In fact, ranch dressing or green goddess dressing would make this salad just as delicious.

How To Make Chicken Caesar Salad

This section shows how to make Caesar salad with chicken, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.

Make The Caesar Salad Dressing:

Follow my Caesar dressing recipe:

• Combine. Whisk together the dressing ingredients in a bowl until smooth.
• Adjust salt and pepper. Add to taste as needed.

Cook The Chicken:

Grilled chicken Caesar salad is the most iconic, but I used baked chicken breast, following the steps below. You can also make pan seared chicken breast (use the same ingredients in this recipe instead of the sauce) or grill it.

• Brine. Place chicken breasts in a large bowl with enough water to cover them. Add sea salt and stir to mostly dissolve. Brine at room temperature.
• Prep. Preheat the oven. Remove the chicken from brine and pat dry with paper towels. Place into a large baking dish. Brush both sides with olive oil.

• Season. Sprinkle both sides of chicken with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, sea salt, paprika, and black pepper.
• Cook. Bake chicken breast until firm and no longer pink, and internal temperature reaches 160-165 degrees F with a meat thermometer.
• Rest. Cover with foil and rest for 5 minutes, ensuring the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F, before slicing against the grain.

Assemble Caesar Salad With Chicken:

• Combine. Toss together the romaine lettuce, grape tomatoes, cooked chicken slices, and parmesan cheese.
• Top. Add croutons of your choice, drizzle dressing on top, then toss again.

Storage Instructions

• Store: Transfer any leftover salad to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days without dressing, or up to 1 day if you already added the dressing.
• Meal prep: You can mix up the Caesar salad dressing, cut the tomatoes, and cook the chicken ahead of time. When you’re ready to eat, simply warm the chicken and toss everything together.

What To Serve With Chicken Caesar Salad

Looking for the perfect side dishes to pair with your salad? Here are some ideas to get you started!

• Soup – For a cozy and comforting meal, try serving your salad with a creamy soup like homemade roasted tomato soup, hearty potato soup, zuppa toscana, or even a creamy roasted cauliflower soup.
• Rice – If you’re looking for something more filling, try serving the salad with a side of white or brown rice, or cauliflower rice or creamy cauliflower risotto for a lighter option.
• Bread – And don’t forget the bread! Some cauliflower breadsticks, tender almond flour biscuits, or simple bread and butter would all be great options depending on your needs.
• Easy Mains – If you want to take this salad to the next level, pair it with an Italian meal like stuffed banana peppers, slow cooker chicken cacciatore, or pizza casserole. For vegetarian options, skip the chicken in the salad and serve alongside eggplant rollatini or cauliflower steaks.

More Easy Meal Salad Recipes

For a salad that satisfies, try these easy recipes. Each one is stacked with protein and lots of flavorful add-ins!

Taco Salad

Thai Beef Salad

BLT Salad

Chicken Caprese Salad

4.78 from 9 votes

Chicken Caesar Salad (30 Minutes!)

This easy chicken Caesar salad recipe combines crisp romaine lettuce, juicy chicken, and creamy Caesar dressing for a healthy 30-minute meal.

Prep: 10 minutes

Cook: 20 minutes

Total: 30 minutes

Author: Maya Krampf from WholesomeYum.com

Servings: 4 (adjust to scale recipe)

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Ingredients

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• 1/3 cup Caesar salad dressing ▢
• 2 8-oz Cooked chicken breasts ▢
• 1 head Romaine Lettuce (chopped) ▢
• 2 cups Grape tomatoes (optional; halved) ▢
• 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese (shredded) ▢
• 1 cup Croutons (I used gluten-free croutons, you could use regular or even make low carb croutons) ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.

1. Make the Caesar salad dressing here. (It makes more than you need for the salad; you'll use 1/3 cup for the salad.) Cover and refrigerate.

2. Cook the chicken breasts using your favorite method. (Try baked chicken breast!) Rest for 5 minutes, then slice against the grain.

3. Toss together the romaine lettuce, grape tomatoes (if using), cooked chicken, and parmesan cheese.

4. Top with croutons, drizzle dressing on top, then toss again.

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Recipe Notes

Serving size: 2 cups

Nutrition info does not include optional tomatoes.

Nutrition Facts

Amount per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories 433

Fat 22.5g

Protein 45.4g

Total Carbs 11.9g

Net Carbs 7.6g

Fiber 4.3g

Sugar 2.7g

Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.

Course: Main Course, Salad

Cuisine: Italian

Keywords: caesar salad with chicken, chicken caesar salad, chicken caesar salad recipe

Calories: 433 kcal

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