Try it on chicken or shrimp for a simple meat marinade, roasted veggies (or air fryer vegetables), or use as a dip for your veggie tray. This homemade Caesar dressing is about to become a staple in your house! I tested it against about a dozen store brands to get it just right — if not better.
Caesar Dressing Ingredients
This section explains what is in Caesar dressing, how to choose the best ingredients, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
Mayonnaise – This is the base and what makes a creamy Caesar dressing recipe. I use homemade mayonnaise (which is simple to make using an immersion blender with egg, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, salt, and avocado oil), but you could use store-bought if you prefer. Plain Greek yogurt also works as a substitute if you’re concerned about raw eggs, but the flavor would be a bit different. Olive Oil – This emulsifies the caesar dressing ingredients. Other oils, such as extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil, will also work. Lemon Juice – Adds that classic tangy flavor. I often use bottled lemon juice for convenience, but juice from fresh lemons tastes even better. Anchovy Paste – Don’t skip this! Anchovy paste is a classic ingredient in Caesar dressing and adds so much depth — you won’t get a fishy flavor in the final results. I love to use the paste instead of canned anchovy fillets, because it’s easy to measure and can be stored and saved to use later, unlike a can of anchovies. Worcestershire Sauce – Adds umami flavor. If you don’t have any, you can replace it with coconut aminos or soy sauce alternatives. Garlic – I used fresh garlic for the best flavor, but you could use 3 teaspoons of jarred garlic or 3/4 teaspoon of garlic powder for convenience. Sea Salt & Black Pepper – To taste.
I didn’t include it in this basic Caesar salad dressing recipe because the mayo I make already has it, but feel free to add 1-2 teaspoons of Dijon mustard for extra depth. The process is super fast! Simply whisk together the Caesar dressing ingredients in a bowl until smooth. Adjust salt and pepper to taste as needed.
Salads – Obviously this is the perfect dressing recipe for chicken Caesar salad, made with romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, croutons (or keto croutons), and parmesan cheese. But I also love to swap the tahini sauce for this dressing in cucumber noodle salad and use it in place of the Italian dressing for marinated artichoke salad as well. Asparagus – To round out an Italian meal, serve up roasted asparagus, quick and easy air fryer asparagus, or delicious sauteed asparagus drizzled with dressing. Seafood – Use this dressing to season your baked shrimp, easy pan seared salmon, or drizzle it over pan seared scallops. Raw Veggies – Dunk carrots, cucumbers, broccoli, celery, or bell peppers into Caesar dressing instead of ranch. Roasted Veggies – Give those cooked veggies some flavor, too! Drizzle this dressing on roasted fennel, caramelized roasted cauliflower, tender roasted broccoli, or on carrots and parsnips instead of the honey glaze. It works with any roasted veggies you like.
Please enter your first name for your account. Your saved recipe will also be sent to your email. My entire recipe makes 2 cups.
