5 stars (19 ratings)
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Truly THE BEST ever. With crispy, seasoned croutons, grilled chicken and an easy dressing!
This crisp, fresh caesar salad with homemade crispy croutons and perfectly juicy grilled chicken (hello, Spring!) has been getting me through these past few weeks. For starters, it’s finally starting to warm up to use a grill. But when it snows in the middle of April in Chicago, I’ll throw these chicken breasts on a grill pan.
Store-bought croutons or dressing can of course be used here but we all know the store-bought version just does not compare. Nope, nothing compares to those freshly baked, slightly garlicky seasoned croutons, and the homemade dressing is just right – not too rich, not too creamy. It really is just right.
I will also point out that there are no egg yolks or anchovies in this (although you can certainly add those in to your liking if you wish). As for the chicken, if white meat is not your thing, thighs can easily be substituted. And you can prep everything in advance, making this a very quick weeknight meal on those super busy, hectic nights.
Best Chicken Caesar Salad with Homemade Croutons
Yield: 4 servings
Prep: 2 hours hours 20 minutes minutes
Cook: 10 minutes minutes
Total: 2 hours hours 30 minutes minutes
Truly THE BEST ever. With crispy, seasoned croutons, grilled chicken and an easy dressing!
5 stars (19 ratings)
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Ingredients
for the croutons
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
- 1 clove garlic, grated
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 4 cups ciabatta bread cubes
for the chicken
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 1 clove garlic, grated
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
for the dressing
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- 3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan
- 1 clove garlic, grated
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 ½ teaspoons Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
for the salad
- 2 heads romaine, roughly chopped
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan
Instructions
for the croutons
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, parsley and garlic; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Spread bread cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet. Stir in olive oil mixture and gently toss to combine. Place into oven and bake until crisp and golden, about 13-15 minutes; set aside.
for the chicken
In a small bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
In a gallon size Ziploc bag or large bowl, combine chicken and olive oil mixture; marinate for at least 2 hours, turning the bag occasionally. Drain the chicken from the marinade.
Preheat grill to medium high heat.
Add chicken to grill, and cook, turning occasionally, until chicken is completely cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, about 4-5 minutes per side. Let cool before dicing into bite-size pieces.
for the dressing
In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, buttermilk, Parmesan, garlic, lemon juice, Dijon and Worcestershire; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
for the salad
To assemble the salad, place romaine in a large bowl; top with chicken and croutons. Pour the dressing on top of the salad and gently toss to combine. Top with Parmesan.
Did you make this recipe?
Tag @damn_delicious on Instagram and hashtag it #damndelicious!
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posted on April 21, 2023under chicken, salad
23 CommentsLeave a Comment »
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23 comments -
Char — April 8, 2024 @ 9:18 PM Reply
I love the simplicity of a Caesar salad! Your version was delicious! I loved the dressing. I actually forgot buttermilk and was thinking about just picking up ready made dressing. So glad I didn’t!
-
Barbara — March 28, 2024 @ 8:50 AM Reply
Do you have nutrition info per serving?
-
Theresa Kennedy — January 31, 2024 @ 8:46 PM Reply
Excited to try this recipe. Easy and nice u noted your omission of egg and anchovies. Oh and I’m a Chicago suburban gal. Grill pan!
-
Cathy — January 29, 2024 @ 4:02 AM Reply
Delicious! Nice and fresh dressing made the salad. Easy to make too.
-
Kam — November 20, 2023 @ 2:55 PM Reply
Came out great! Thanks!
-
Lynne — October 22, 2023 @ 5:57 PM Reply
I can’t believe I made such a delicious Caesar salad – and on my first attempt.
The croutons were so easy and added so much flavor. It’s inexpensive, but tastes fancy, with no need for preservatives.
The recipe scales down and up easily. Thank you for another home run, Chungah.
-
Nicole — August 24, 2023 @ 7:35 PM Reply
Truly an amazing dish! One of the “Best” per husband. Thank you. Nice to feel good after a meal.
-
Renee — August 8, 2023 @ 4:01 PM Reply
This salad was so incredibly delicious! It will definitely be part of the rotation here are our house. I just hope I can have a little more will power with the croutons next time. But wait, they don’t count if they are on a salad right?!!
-
angelia welty — July 25, 2023 @ 6:50 PM Reply
This was awesome. All the flavors were perfect. Family loved it. I ate so many of the croutons. Lol
-
Muhammad Ehsan — July 21, 2023 @ 3:42 PM Reply
Wow, I just tried this recipe, and it was a total hit! The instructions were clear and easy to follow, making the cooking process a breeze. The final dish turned out to be incredibly delicious, exactly as described. I loved the blend of flavors and the use of fresh ingredients. This recipe has definitely earned a spot in my go-to collection. Can’t wait to make it again and share it with my family and friends! Thank you for sharing such a fantastic recipe!
-
Will — June 26, 2023 @ 12:45 PM Reply
Hi
I prefer thighs instead of breast so I’ll be using that but why do you have to add lemon to the chicken?
I don’t have any lemons. Is it necessary?
Thanks
-
Kristy — June 15, 2023 @ 6:20 AM Reply
Made this for some friends and it was a huge hit! Excellent flavors! I plan to keep this on rotation. I followed the recipe exactly and found all measurements/seasoning to be spot on. Thanks for the fantastic recipe!
-
Myaa — June 14, 2023 @ 12:57 PM Reply
Huge hit with the family! Made double the salad dressing since they loved it so much.
-
Tina — June 12, 2023 @ 7:25 PM Reply
I made this for a work potluck and got rave reviews! Chicken caesar salad is not normally a favorite of mine but this recipe is absolutely delicious. Much better than what you typically get in a restaurant. I’ll be adding it in to my rotation of easy summer dinners.
-
tracys — May 23, 2023 @ 12:15 AM Reply
Love the recipe, alp thank you for the helpful tips on how to get the kids involved!
-
Deb — May 15, 2023 @ 2:02 PM Reply
Delish salad will be making this again thank you once again!!!
-
Linnea — May 9, 2023 @ 6:58 PM Reply
I made this tonight and it was absolutely delicious!!! My 10 year old son declared it the best salad of all time. Thank you for the recipe!
-
Rachel — May 9, 2023 @ 6:25 PM Reply
Absolutely delicious!
-
Michelle M — May 8, 2023 @ 5:23 PM Reply
Delicious and quick! Great weeknight dinner—used pre-marinated chicken to pull it together even faster.
-
Catherine — May 1, 2023 @ 3:42 PM Reply
Made this for dinner tonight and it’s better than any Caesar salad I’ve had in a restaurant. The dressing is fantastic and the croutons give it the perfect crunch. Grilled the chicken yesterday to make things a little easier for tonight. It was moist and flavorful even after being in the fridge overnight. Thanks for another winner!!!
-
Mary — April 22, 2023 @ 7:45 AM Reply
This looks great! Any substitution suggestions for people like me who hate mayonnaise?
-
Candace — May 13, 2023 @ 7:49 AM Reply
I can’t stand mayonnaise…full fat Greek yogurt is a great substitution.
-
Laurie — April 22, 2023 @ 6:26 AM Reply
I love that the dressing doesn’t have anchovies. I usually substitute lemon juice for some tang in my recipe too. I’ll give this one a try (minus the chicken) for my vegetarian daughter. Thanks!
Char — April 8, 2024 @ 9:18 PM Reply
I love the simplicity of a Caesar salad! Your version was delicious! I loved the dressing. I actually forgot buttermilk and was thinking about just picking up ready made dressing. So glad I didn’t!
Barbara — March 28, 2024 @ 8:50 AM Reply
Do you have nutrition info per serving?
Theresa Kennedy — January 31, 2024 @ 8:46 PM Reply
Excited to try this recipe. Easy and nice u noted your omission of egg and anchovies. Oh and I’m a Chicago suburban gal. Grill pan!
Cathy — January 29, 2024 @ 4:02 AM Reply
Delicious! Nice and fresh dressing made the salad. Easy to make too.
Kam — November 20, 2023 @ 2:55 PM Reply
Came out great! Thanks!
Lynne — October 22, 2023 @ 5:57 PM Reply
I can’t believe I made such a delicious Caesar salad – and on my first attempt.
The croutons were so easy and added so much flavor. It’s inexpensive, but tastes fancy, with no need for preservatives.
The recipe scales down and up easily. Thank you for another home run, Chungah.
Nicole — August 24, 2023 @ 7:35 PM Reply
Truly an amazing dish! One of the “Best” per husband. Thank you. Nice to feel good after a meal.
Renee — August 8, 2023 @ 4:01 PM Reply
This salad was so incredibly delicious! It will definitely be part of the rotation here are our house. I just hope I can have a little more will power with the croutons next time. But wait, they don’t count if they are on a salad right?!!
angelia welty — July 25, 2023 @ 6:50 PM Reply
This was awesome. All the flavors were perfect. Family loved it. I ate so many of the croutons. Lol
Muhammad Ehsan — July 21, 2023 @ 3:42 PM Reply
Wow, I just tried this recipe, and it was a total hit! The instructions were clear and easy to follow, making the cooking process a breeze. The final dish turned out to be incredibly delicious, exactly as described. I loved the blend of flavors and the use of fresh ingredients. This recipe has definitely earned a spot in my go-to collection. Can’t wait to make it again and share it with my family and friends! Thank you for sharing such a fantastic recipe!
Will — June 26, 2023 @ 12:45 PM Reply
Hi
I prefer thighs instead of breast so I’ll be using that but why do you have to add lemon to the chicken?
I don’t have any lemons. Is it necessary?
Thanks
Kristy — June 15, 2023 @ 6:20 AM Reply
Made this for some friends and it was a huge hit! Excellent flavors! I plan to keep this on rotation. I followed the recipe exactly and found all measurements/seasoning to be spot on. Thanks for the fantastic recipe!
Myaa — June 14, 2023 @ 12:57 PM Reply
Huge hit with the family! Made double the salad dressing since they loved it so much.
Tina — June 12, 2023 @ 7:25 PM Reply
I made this for a work potluck and got rave reviews! Chicken caesar salad is not normally a favorite of mine but this recipe is absolutely delicious. Much better than what you typically get in a restaurant. I’ll be adding it in to my rotation of easy summer dinners.
tracys — May 23, 2023 @ 12:15 AM Reply
Love the recipe, alp thank you for the helpful tips on how to get the kids involved!
Deb — May 15, 2023 @ 2:02 PM Reply
Delish salad will be making this again thank you once again!!!
Linnea — May 9, 2023 @ 6:58 PM Reply
I made this tonight and it was absolutely delicious!!! My 10 year old son declared it the best salad of all time. Thank you for the recipe!
Rachel — May 9, 2023 @ 6:25 PM Reply
Absolutely delicious!
Michelle M — May 8, 2023 @ 5:23 PM Reply
Delicious and quick! Great weeknight dinner—used pre-marinated chicken to pull it together even faster.
Catherine — May 1, 2023 @ 3:42 PM Reply
Made this for dinner tonight and it’s better than any Caesar salad I’ve had in a restaurant. The dressing is fantastic and the croutons give it the perfect crunch. Grilled the chicken yesterday to make things a little easier for tonight. It was moist and flavorful even after being in the fridge overnight. Thanks for another winner!!!
Mary — April 22, 2023 @ 7:45 AM Reply
This looks great! Any substitution suggestions for people like me who hate mayonnaise?
-
Candace — May 13, 2023 @ 7:49 AM Reply
I can’t stand mayonnaise…full fat Greek yogurt is a great substitution.
Laurie — April 22, 2023 @ 6:26 AM Reply
I love that the dressing doesn’t have anchovies. I usually substitute lemon juice for some tang in my recipe too. I’ll give this one a try (minus the chicken) for my vegetarian daughter. Thanks!
