Easy Caesar Salad Dressing
Skip the eggs and anchovies with this easy Caesar salad dressing. Tangy, flavorful, and perfect for elevating your salad.
This Caesar salad dressing is rich, creamy, and full of tangy flavor—without the fuss of raw eggs or anchovies. Made with pantry staples like mayonnaise, lemon juice, garlic, and Worcestershire sauce, it whisks together quickly and keeps well in the fridge for up to a week.
It’s ideal for tossing with crisp romaine, croutons, and Parmesan, but also works beautifully as a dip, sandwich spread, or drizzle for grilled vegetables. Once you try this version, you’ll never go back to store-bought again.
Why You’ll Love It
Quick and easy. Made in minutes with simple, accessible ingredients—no eggs or anchovies required.
Bold, tangy flavor. A perfect balance of lemon, garlic, Parmesan, and Worcestershire sauce.
Versatile and meal-ready. Use it for salads, sandwiches, pasta, and more.
Ingredient Notes
- Mayonnaise: Forms the creamy base of the dressing. Use full-fat for best flavor and texture.
- Garlic: Freshly grated or finely minced garlic adds punch.
- Lemon juice: Adds brightness and tang—use freshly squeezed if possible.
- Worcestershire sauce: Provides umami and a bit of complexity.
- Vegetable oil: A neutral oil like safflower or canola ensures a smooth texture.
- Parmesan cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan gives this dressing its signature flavor.
- Salt and pepper: Season to taste—fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper work best.
Steps to Make Caesar Salad Dressing
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, grated garlic, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.
- While whisking, slowly drizzle in the oil until the dressing is smooth and emulsified.
- Stir in the Parmesan cheese.
- Transfer to a jar or cruet, cover, and refrigerate until ready to use.
- To make a Caesar salad, toss romaine lettuce with dressing, croutons, and extra Parmesan to taste.
Tips for Caesar Salad and Dressing
- Use fresh, crisp romaine lettuce and high-quality Parmesan for best results.
- Dress the salad lightly to avoid overwhelming the other ingredients and keep the lettuce crisp.
- This dressing also works well as a spread for sandwiches or a dip for roasted vegetables.
- Shake or whisk the dressing before each use to re-emulsify if it separates in the fridge.
Recipe Variations
- Chicken Caesar: Top with grilled or fried chicken slices or rotisserie chicken shreds.
- Kale: Substitute kale for the lettuce for a nutrient-dense alternative. Massage the kale with a bit of olive oil and lemon juice before adding the dressing.
- Seafood: Incorporated seasoned grilled or sautéed shrimp or scallops.
- Avocado: Top the salad with avocado slices for extra creaminess and healthy fat.
- Pasta: Toss the salad with some cooled cooked pasta and enough dressing to make it creamy. Top with croutons and shredded Parmesan.
- Bacon: Add crisp, cooked, crumbled bacon before serving for a savory crunch.
- Lettuce: Romaine is traditional, but any crisp lettuce is fine.
What to Serve With Caesar Salad
- Steak: A juicy, tender steak pairs well with the crisp texture and tangy dressing.
- Grilled Chicken: Flavorful grilled chicken complements the savory notes of Caesar salad.
- Pasta: Pasta dishes like shrimp fettuccine Alfredo, a roasted garlic pasta, or cacio e pepe.
- Soups: A creamy tomato soup or hearty minestrone pair well with the crisp, flavorful salad.
- Bread: Serve the salad with a crusty focaccia or garlic bread.
How to Store Homemade Caesar Dressing
Refrigerate: Store in a clean, airtight jar or container in the fridge. Label with the date made.
Storage time: Keeps for 5 to 7 days. If unsure, check for off smells, color, or texture. When in doubt, throw it out.
Before serving: Shake or whisk well to re-emulsify before using.
Easy Caesar Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 large garlic clove, grated
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Dash fine sea salt, or to taste
- 5 tablespoons vegetable oil, neutral, such as safflower
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese, freshly grated is best
Instructions
- Combine: In a medium mixing bowl, combine 1/2 cup of mayonnaise, grated garlic, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper; whisk to blend.
- Add the Oil: While whisking constantly, add the oil in a slow, steady stream.
- Add the Parmesan Cheese: Whisk in the Parmesan cheese.
- Refrigerate: Transfer the dressing to a mason jar or cruet and refrigerate it until it's time to make the salad.
- Make the Salad: Arrange romaine lettuce in a salad bowl. Toss with 2 tablespoons of dressing (or to taste) and garnish with freshly shredded Parmesan cheese and croutons. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Disclaimer:
Our nutritional information is based on a third-party application that analyzes the ingredients list to determine the values. The information is meant to be helpful, but should be considered an estimate. Values may differ depending on measurements, brands, serving variations, and database availability.
