Our simple, Homemade Caesar Salad Recipe is a snap to throw together and tastes so much better than using store-bought dressings! Once you make this at home and skip the salad kit, you’ll never go back. Plus, you can use the homemade Caesar dressing in so many different recipes!

Homemade Caesar Salad Recipe

Caesar Dressing has been my favorite of all salad dressings for a really long time. Especially creamy caesar. It is delicious and savory and is always the salad dressing I pick. 

I have struggled to find a great store-bought Caesar that isn’t full of preservatives for a while. There are a few decent options out there (hint, they are usually in the refrigerated section), but once I tried whipping up a batch of this myself there was really no comparison. 

Fresh homemade Caesar dressing is something that should definitely be in your wheelhouse, so keep a few tins of anchovies around for a rainy day and whip up a batch of the best Caesar dressing, maybe ever.

The best Caesar salad comes from the best ingredients, so if you want to serve up your guests something amazing, make sure that you are paying attention to the quality and freshness of all of your base ingredients. 

Buy actual heads of lettuce, for instance. They’ll be much fresher, in general, than the pre-cut and washed stuff you can get in a bag. 

You can also make your own croutons. It is simple and they taste amazing.

Want a lighter version? Try our Caesar Vinaigrette!

Try it in our Caesar Pasta Salad Recipe!

Homemade Caesar Salad Recipe Shopping List

To make a great creamy Caesar salad, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• Garlic – Use fresh garlic! None of that jarred or refrigerated stuff!
• Anchovies – Anchovy paste is okay if that’s what you have on hand.
• Mayo – This is the base for the whole thing, so get the good stuff.
• Pepper – Freshly cracked really DOES make a difference with pepper.
• Lemon – No squeeze-bottle lemon juice please! Use a fresh lemon!
• Worcestershire – Not optional. Adds a savory element to the dressing.
• Parmesan cheese – No stuff in the green can you guys. Use freshly grated Reggiano if you are able.
• Country-style dijon – Pass the Gray Poupon, or use your favorite fancy Dijon if you have the good stuff!
• Lettuce – Romaine is the way! I like using Romaine hearts.
• Shaved Parmesan – Use Parmigiano Reggiano for the best results.
• Croutons – Make your own homemade croutons for extra clout.

Try with our Blackened Shrimp Caesar Wrap!

How to make a Caesar Salad from scratch

This is just the overview so you can see what you’re actually getting into here. When you are cooking, you’ll want to use the full recipe at the bottom of the page.

1. Mix: Whisk the dressing ingredients together and put into the fridge.
2. Blend: Blend the dressing in a bullet blender or with an immersion blender until smooth.
3. Chill: Let the dressing chill for 3-4 hours for the best results.
4. Toss: Roughly chop your lettuce and toss with some of the chilled dressing.
5. Enjoy: Top with your freshly shaved parm and croutons and serve promptly.

Try our Blackened Shrimp Caesar Salad!

Homemade Caesar Salad Recipe FAQ

Can you reduce the calories of Caesar dressing?

If you’d like to reduce the calorie count a bit on your homemade Caesar dressing, there’s a few easy changes you can make. 

1. Substitute Light mayo for the regular mayo
2. Substitute milk for the half-and-half

Creamy Caesar is never going to be LOW calorie, but you can shave a few off the top using those easy swaps that won’t impact the flavor or consistency too much.

Can this recipe be made in advance?

Yes! I will often whip up a batch of this Caesar dressing and keep it in a mason jar in the fridge. That way I can have a quick homemade Caesar for lunch anytime during the week.

How long does Caesar dressing keep in the fridge?

There are no preservatives in this dressing, and it has anchovies in it, so I wouldn’t keep it more than 3-4 days in the fridge.

Try our Greek Freak Dressing!