Chicken Caesar Salad Recipe

Make restaurant-quality chicken Caesar salad with delicious baked or grilled chicken, crisp romaine, parmesan, creamy dressing, & crunchy garlic croutons. A super simple yet satisfying light lunch or dinner!

I’ve already shared a simple, classic Caesar salad recipe, but now it’s the turn of my favorite and most-enjoyed version – this chicken Caesar salad recipe. Adding baked, grilled, or air-fried chicken transforms this salad from an appetizer or side to a light yet satisfying main meal you can enjoy during the summer and all year long.

Even better, making a Caesar salad with chicken at home is much more affordable than getting it at a café/restaurant. There are even several ways to customize it to your liking – whether that’s adding juicy tomatoes, creamy avocado, or crispy bacon. Keep reading for my favorite variations below.

Plus, while it may seem like many elements to pull together (the chicken plus dressing, plus croutons, plus veg prep), all the elements are fairly meal-prep friendly, so you can prep several portions in one go! In fact, I encourage you to make the dressing well ahead, as the flavor only gets better the longer it sits.

Ingredients in Chicken Caesar Salad

Only a few simple Caesar salad ingredients are required to pull together the BEST Caesar salad recipe.

• Chicken: You can use baked, air-fried, or grilled chicken as the Caesar chicken. I prefer boneless, skinless chicken breasts as they’re leaner meat, though chicken thighs will work too. To save time, use rotisserie chicken (just watch the sodium levels).

It’s easy to adjust the flavor profile of the chicken for this recipe. Keep it simple with garlic powder, salt, and pepper, or use my favorite poultry seasoning, add spice with a Cajun seasoning, try lemon pepper for a bright, citrusy flavor, etc.

• Romaine lettuce: Use fresh, crisp romaine lettuce (or iceberg). Keep it chilled in the refrigerator until time to use for the best texture. Kale also works.
• Caesar dressing: My 7-ingredient homemade Caesar dressing ditches raw eggs for pre-made mayonnaise. It’s mixed with garlic, parmesan, Worcestershire sauce (and/or fresh lemon juice), anchovies (whole or anchovy paste – just enough to add indescribably delicious depth but no fishy flavor to take it from “yum” to “lick the bowl clean” delicious), extra-virgin olive oil, and salt & black pepper. It’s super rich, creamy, tangy, and loaded with heaps of umami.
• Parmesan cheese: It’s best to use a good-quality parmesan, like Parmigiano Reggiano, straight from the block rather than pre-grated/shaved.
• Croutons: Homemade garlic croutons are infinitely better than the rock-solid store-bought croutons and so easy to make with just a handful of ingredients and very little effort. However, store-bought work in a pinch, or even homemade parmesan crisps.

How to Make Chicken Caesar Salad

Cook the Chicken

You can cook the chicken with your preferred method, though I usually grill or bake it. To bake boneless, skinless chicken breasts (click here for the full recipe method):

1. Optionally brine the chicken.
2. Season the chicken with oil and your preferred seasonings.
3. Bake them in a pre-heat oven at 375ºF/190ºC for 18-22 minutes, depending on their size (up to 30 minutes for very large chicken breasts).

To ensure the chicken is properly cooked, insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the mat. It should read 165ºF/75ºC.

4. Remove the chicken from the oven and allow it to rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing it and allowing it to cool.

Prepare the Croutons

You can bake the Caesar salad croutons in the oven at the same time as the chicken. To do so:

1. Toss the oil and seasonings in a large bowl, mixing well.
2. Cube the bread into ½-¾ inch pieces, then throw them in the bowl with the oil mixture and toss to evenly coat.
3. Spread the bread cubes across a baking tray and bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes, flipping once halfway. They’re ready when they’re golden brown and crisp.

How to Make the Salad Dressing

Add all the ingredients except the water to a food processor (or use an immersion blender) and blend until smooth and creamy.

Slowly add in the water, a little at a time, to a consistency that slowly flows off a spoon. Set aside to meld, then taste and adjust any seasonings/flavors before serving.

How to Assemble a Chicken Caesar Salad

1. First, prepare the croutons, dressing, and chicken. Remember to leave time (about an hour) for the chicken and croutons to cool down and the dressing flavors to meld.
2. Then, rinse and slice the romaine lettuce into 1-inch strips, using paper towels or a salad spinner to remove all excess liquid.
3. Use a vegetable/potato peeler to shave the parmesan.
4. Transfer the lettuce to a large salad bowl and add the dressing, using tongs to thoroughly toss them so the leaves are evenly coated.
5. Add the parmesan, croutons, and sliced chicken and toss again. Enjoy!

Enjoy this chicken Caesar salad as a main meal or in smaller portions alongside soup (like tomato soup or minestrone), pasta (like garlic pasta or a lasagna), and garlic bread/focaccia. You can also enjoy it alongside a baked potato or fries.

Can I Make Chicken Caesar Salad Ahead of Time?

While I only recommend assembling the salad just before serving, you can prepare all the elements in advance:

• Dressing: Can be prepared 5-7 days in advance and stored in a clean jar in the fridge.
• Croutons: Can be stored in an airtight jar at room temperature for 7-10 days. However, they’re best within 5.
• Chicken: Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
• Lettuce: Chop, wash, and pat it thoroughly dry before storing it in a paper towel-lined container in the fridge for 2-3 days.

Once assembled, enjoy it immediately for the best texture and flavor. However, any leftover dressed salad will store for an extra day or two in an airtight container in the fridge (minus the croutons, which become soggy if left to sit in the salad).

More Salad Recipes

• Chicken Salad
• Easy Tuna Salad
• Big Mac Salad
• Tuna Pasta Salad

If you try this easy chicken Caesar salad recipe, let me know how it goes in the comments below. I’d appreciate a recipe card rating and would love to see your recipe recreations – tag me on Instagram @Alphafoodie!