Description
Truly the BEST Chicken Caesar Salad ever. With crispy, seasoned homemade croutons, juicy grilled chicken, and an easy Caesar dressing, this recipe is fresh, flavorful, and satisfying.
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
1. Preheat oven to 400°F. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, parsley, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Spread bread cubes on a baking sheet. Toss with olive oil mixture. Bake 13–15 minutes, until golden and crisp. Set aside.
3. In a bowl, whisk olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, salt, and pepper.
4. Add chicken and marinade to a Ziploc bag or bowl. Marinate for at least 2 hours, turning occasionally. Drain before cooking.
5. Preheat grill to medium-high. Grill chicken 4–5 minutes per side until cooked through (165°F internal temp). Let cool and dice into bite-sized pieces.
6. In a bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, buttermilk, Parmesan, garlic, lemon juice, Dijon, and Worcestershire. Season to taste.
7. To assemble, place romaine in a large bowl. Top with grilled chicken, croutons, and Parmesan. Drizzle with dressing and toss gently to combine.
Notes
Letting the chicken marinate for at least 2 hours adds maximum flavor.
Use a cast iron grill pan for perfect indoor grilling.
To save time, prepare the dressing and croutons ahead of time. Store dressing in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Great for lunch, dinner, or entertaining guests.
- Prep Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Grilled
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 salad
- Calories: 510
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 24g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 105mg