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Chicken Caesar salad is a classic dish that never fails to impress with its flavorful combination of juicy chicken, crisp lettuce, and tangy Caesar dressing. I have years of experience crafting delectable salads, but this dish will leave your taste buds begging for more. I remember the first time I tasted a Chicken Caesar salad. The perfectly cooked chicken and the creamy dressing left a lasting impression on my palate. Since then, I have experimented with different variations of the recipe.
For those looking to switch things up, I suggest combining this recipe with a side of garlic bread, Arabic Salad, or a roasted vegetable medley. These dishes complement the chicken Caesar salad exceptionally well and can provide an even more satisfying and well-rounded meal. So why not try this recipe and see why it’s a staple on restaurant menus and dinner tables?
Why Would You Like Chicken Caesar Salad?
- You can have this chicken Caesar salad as a main course or a side dish.
- This salad has high fiber and water content due to some ingredients, including lettuce and other vegetables.
- This salad has crunchy croutons and other raw vegetables, making it more enjoyable.
- Most people consider this salad a reset meal after a vacation, and it helps relieve stress.
- All the ingredients present in this recipe are healthy and highly nutritious.
- You can make this recipe quickly without any problem and don’t need to spend hours chopping vegetables.
- This chicken salad is all you need to stay fit and enjoy life’s flavors.
- This salad is low in calories; you don’t need to worry about your diet and calorie count when you are making this salad. You can also add yogurt instead of mayo to make it healthier and decrease the calorie count.
Ingredients For Chicken Caesar Salad
For making Salad:
- 1 head of chopped and torn-into-pieces romaine
- 1 clove of grated and minced garlic
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 skinless and boneless chicken thighs or breast
- Salt and pepper
- 1 Lemon zest
- 2 tbsp roasted pine nuts
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
For Croutons:
- 3 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
- Salt
- 1 clove Minced garlic
- 3 cups of ciabatta bread (cut into 1/2-inch cubes)
- Freshly ground black pepper
For Dressing and Assembly
- 3 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1tbsp lemon zest
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 5 oil-packed anchovy fillets, drained and mashed into a paste
- 2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
- 4-5 dashes of Worcestershire
- ½ cup of grated parmesan cheese
- Black pepper and salt
Ingredients Notes
Chicken: You can take chicken breast or thighs, fry them in a pan, and season them properly.
Romaine: Romaine lettuce adds fresh crispness to this salad. You can also make homemade crouton and parmesan. You can also add kale, as it tastes good in Caesar salad. There are multiple other options as alternatives, including sliced fresh mushrooms.
Dressing: You can use your favorite Caesar dressing. There are different methods to make this dressing as every method is different from the other. You can customize the ingredients in this recipe according to your preferences.
Additions: Add additional ingredients, including crispy capers, bacon, and bacon bits. You can also add grilled shrimp and eggs that you can make easily inside an air fryer.
Anchovies: You can also add anchovies inside the dressing for the Caesar salad to enhance the flavor and make it more delicious.
How To Make The Best Chicken Caesar Salad?
Step One: Prepare Chicken
The first step is to prepare the chicken. For this purpose, add olive oil, lemon, Italian seasoning, garlic, salt, and oil in a medium bowl, and whisk them properly.
Add the marinated chicken to the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or 8 hours.
Step 2: Croutons
Take the bread and cut it into 1 inch and then transfer the bread into a large bowl.
Now add seasoning, including minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Use clean hands, mix the bread completely, and wait until it is thoroughly coated.
Preheat the oven to 425F and spread the bread thoroughly into an even layer onto the baking sheet.
Mix the croutons and rotate the baking sheets. Now continue to make until you see golden and crunchy croutons
Step 3: Grill Chicken
Remove the chicken from the marination and arrange it on a grill for 7 minutes. Grill from all sides and put it aside on a plate.
If you are using broiler chicken, you must wait for two minutes until the chicken is lightly golden. Then, let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before making slices.
Step 3: Dressing and Assembly
Whisk the mayonnaise, anchovies, Worcestershire, and lemon juice in a medium bowl. Promptly, whisk some oil slowly until the dressing is thick and homogenous. Now whisk the parmesan and add some salt and black pepper.
Add the dressing to the bowl and place lettuce inside it. Mix the whole salad gently by using salad tongs and clean hands. Now taste and add more dressing if you want.
Now divide the salad into plates and add chicken with the croutons. Your salad is ready; you can now garnish it with parmesan and black pepper. Serve the remaining dressing along with the salad.
How To Store Chicken Caesar Salad?
- It is better to serve this Caesar Salad fresh and tossed, but if you have some leftovers inside your fridge. You can also store this salad in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. For this purpose, you must keep your salad inside an airtight container and seal it properly.
- Keep this salad inside the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Please don’t keep it inside the fridge for longer than 4 days, as the dressing will become soggy.
- You can save the salad for at least one week if you have separate vegetables from the dressing. Tossed salad is not for keeping in the fridge for long.
How To Freeze Chicken Caesar Salad?
- If you have some leftover chicken Caesar salad, you can also freeze it. You can freeze your Caesar chicken salad inside the freezer for three months or more.
- But there is a high chance that the flavor and texture of your salad will destroy, and you won’t be able to enjoy a fresh salad.
- To freeze the chicken salad, put it inside an airtight container and the freezer; this salad will stay inside the freezer for over three months.
Tips to Make the Best Chicken Caesar Salad
- It is better to grill the chicken instead of baking it. Place the seasoned breast on a medium-heated grill and cook it for over 12 minutes on each side.
- Avoid assembling the salad way before you need to serve it. It is essential to ensure that you assemble the salad before serving it to keep it fresh.
- When you assemble it right before serving, it will have the maximum crispiness, and the chicken will be juicy and moist. You need to cool the chicken down before you add the lettuce to the salad recipe.
- If you want to make it ahead of time, you can also do this, but you don’t have to assemble it beforehand. You can wash the lettuce, combine the dressing, and measure the rest of the ingredients.
Alternative Ingredients You May Try
3 tbsp of Cajun seasoning instead of Italian seasoning will enhance the taste.
- Crispy bacon along with chicken will back the recipe flavorful
- 4 slices prosciutto to add perfection
- Continental parsley leaves for garnishing to make the salad look good
- Peeled and quartered egg in place of romaine for variation
Alternative Recipes
- French Carrot Salad
- Napa cabbage salad with dressing
- Tomato, Avocado, Cucumber Salad
- Arabic Salad
- Lebanese Fattoush Salad
- Deviled Egg Potato Salad
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does a Chicken Caesar Salad Contain?
The chicken Caesar salad has several ingredients: chicken, croutons, caesar dressing, romaine lettuce, and parmesan. There is also a tossing of citrusy anchovy dressing with Italian spices to make the salad zesty and mouth-watering.
Is Chicken Caesar salad Healthy?
Yes! The chicken Caesar salad is healthy; however, you can make it healthier by replacing mayonnaise with yogurt. This change of ingredient will taste different and a little tangier. You can add some sweetener to the salad to balance the acidity. You can also add 3 tbsp of mayo instead of ¼ cup.
Chicken Caesar Salad
Ingredients
For making Salad
- 1 head of chopped and torn-into-pieces romaine
- 1 clove grated and minced garlic
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 skinless and boneless chicken thighs or breast
- 2 tbsp roasted pine nuts
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 Lemon zest
- Salt and pepper
For Croutons
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 clove Minced garlic
- 3 cups ciabatta bread (cut into 1/2-inch cubes)
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Salt
For Dressing and Assembly
- 3 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 5 oil-packed anchovy fillets, drained and mashed into a paste
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 4 dashes of Worcestershire
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- Black pepper and salt
How to Make?
- Add olive oil, mustard, garlic, and honey to prepare the marination of the chicken. Whisk them appropriately, add chicken, and add it in the fridge for 6 to 8 hours.
- Make the croutons by breaking the bread into pieces and adding them to the baking oven.
- Shallow fry or bake the chicken in the foil to make it juicy.
- Add anchovies, lemon, garlic, and egg yolks to make the dressing.
- Mix all the ingredients into one bowl, and add the dressing. It is better to serve fresh.
