Easy Caesar Salad Dressing Recipe (2024)

This recipe is: dairy freeegg freegluten freenut free

Skip the heavy, creamy dressing and make this easy, Caesar vinaigrette instead. This homemade caesar salad dressing recipe only takes a few minutes and it’s egg and dairy free.

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Easy Caesar Salad Dressing Recipe (1)

This is the best Caesar salad dressing recipe

I have a major love-hate relationship with salad. I’m not sure why, but I go through major phases of wanting to eat salad everyday to avoidingit like the plague. I seriously can’t decide how I feel about it. Though, I will say that I think dressing is a major contributing factor.

I’m pretty against bottled dressing even though it’s inevitable that I’ll have to use one every now and then, and I’m really picky about having my salad dressed. I’m not a fan of putting my dressing on at the table. I know it seems like there isn’t much of a difference, but it seems huge to me.

So I try to make homemade dressing whenever I can. It’s not all that hard, and it makes such an impact on the flavor of a salad.

Easy Caesar Salad Dressing Recipe (2)

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Easy Caesar Salad Dressing Recipe (3)

Here’s what you’ll need to make it

Easy Caesar Salad Dressing Recipe (7)

Why you’ll love this caesar dressing

  • Now, I know caesar dressing can be a bit controversial. There’s so many stances you can take on the subject – creamy vs. non-creamy, anchovies or not, and is there seriously supposed to be raw egg in this.
  • I’m actually onboard with all of them (I’m not about to do the whole raw egg thing just out of laziness). But, I have to say, a caesar vinaigrette with anchovies is by far my favorite.
  • And, it’s so easy to make. The secret is anchovy paste. Ok, it’s not actually a secret, but it’s quite a time saver and gives you the flavor you’re looking for from the anchovies without having to actually chop up those squishy little filets.

This recipe makes enough for 1 really big salad or two average sized ones.

Easy Caesar Salad Dressing Recipe (8)

Everything you need to know about recipe name

What can I substitute for anchovies in Caesar dressing?

I like to use anchovy paste to add this particular flavor to caesar dressing. This is easily kept in the fridge and can be added to all sorts of things for adding salty, fishy flavor. Whole anchovy fillets can be pureed, Worcestershire sauce, fish sauce or even capers can be substituted as an alternative to anchovy paste.

Do all Caesar dressings have anchovies?

Traditionally Caesar dressing does include anchovies or anchovy paste, and you won’t quite get the flavor right without it.

More salad dressing recipes:

  • Dijon vinaigrette
  • Homemade ranch dressing
  • Thousand island dressing
  • Ginger dressing
  • Cilantro dressing

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Easy Caesar Salad Dressing Recipe (9)

Caesar Salad Dressing

★★★★★4.7 from 6 reviews
Print Recipe

Skip the heavy, creamy dressing and make this easy, Caesar vinaigrette instead. This homemade caesar salad dressing recipe only takes a few minutes and contains no raw egg. Plus, it’s healthy, dairy free and paleo friendly so you can enjoy it whenever you want.

  • Author: Melissa Belanger
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: about 2/3 cup 1x

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 23 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon anchovy paste
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

  1. Whisk together dressing ingredients until the oil has emulsified.
  2. Use immediately or refrigerate for up to 1 week.
  • Category: Salads
  • Method: Mixing
  • Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 176
  • Sugar: 0.4 g
  • Sodium: 498.7 mg
  • Fat: 19 g
  • Saturated Fat: 2.7 g
  • Carbohydrates: 1.6 g
  • Fiber: 0.1 g
  • Protein: 1 g
  • Cholesterol: 2.6 mg

Keywords: dairy free, gluten free, egg free, easy, dressing, vinaigrette, salad dressing, caesar salad

Published: June 8, 2020. Updated: October 10, 2022.

This post contains affiliate links. I may earn commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. I will never recommend a product I don’t use or trust.

Easy Caesar Salad Dressing Recipe (10)

Melissa Belanger

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  1. I’m the exact same! SO picky about dressings, and they have to be dressed before they come to the table. Otherwise you end up trying to poke through an already packed bowl of salad trying to coat everything in dressing.. yeck. This sounds awesome because we could whip it up at any time, without having to go through all the steps of a traditional Caesar!

    Reply

  2. Did have anchovy paste, so used worcestershire sauce instead (not the same, but ok). I used half the oil, and added water and a little bit of honey as I found the lemon to be overwhelming. Otherwise, yummy!

    Reply

    1. Not a Caesar salad dressing

      Reply

  3. Pingback: 10 Homemade Condiments - Simply Whisked

  4. Pingback: Kale Chicken Caesar Salad - Simply Whisked

  5. Where do you find anchovy paste in the store usually?

    Reply

    1. I usually find it by the canned fish, like tuna and salmon. If it’s not there, check near the Italian stuff where tomato and garlic paste are located!

      Reply

  6. I just made this dressing – DELICIOUS!

    Reply

    1. I’m so glad you liked it!

      Reply

  7. Great dressing. I added some parm in and it tasted great!

    Reply

  8. How many calories are in this per tbsp? Is it really 0???

    Reply

  9. Good flavor, I used canned anchovies is oil and created the paste myself. It was a little too tart. I will scale back on the lemon juice next time around. Otherwise, the kids enjoyed it initially. Thanks!

    Reply

    1. Hi! I’m very excited to try making this today, I came upon vinaigrette Cesar dressings from a little cafe a while back. My question is, how much anchovies should be used in place of the paste? I couldn’t find it at the store.

      Reply

      1. You should use about 6 anchovy filets!

        Reply

  10. Made this tonight and it’s good! But gosh, it’s really salty. I definitely would have cut the added salt by at least half

    Reply

  11. In place of anchovy paste is use capers and then blend the dressing. A little bit of Worcestershire helps.

    Reply

  12. Very good basic dressing, who can wrong with oil, mustard, and lemon. Used fresh anchovies instead, added Romano cheese….yum!

    Reply

    1. Im sure adding some cheese would be delicious, not so dairy free though!

      Reply

  13. This was so good! I haven’t been able to have a Caesar salad in like 15 years because of various dietary restrictions, but finally found a way around them and this recipe was a part of it. It was better than any Caesar I ever remember having. So good!

    Reply

  14. I’m going to try using Thai FISH SAUCE instead of the anchovy paste which I don’t have. The dressing looks good. Thanks. Just found your nice website today.

    Reply

  15. I’m a Caesar dressing aficionado!! I’m thrilled with this recipe -it’s the very best, short of doing the old recipe with raw egg. Thanks alot. I’m glad to find your website.

    Reply

  16. It a little heavy on the lemon and not creamy enough

    Reply

    1. This is more of a vinaigrette recipe, and it’s not meant to be super creamy. Sorry you didn’t love it!

      Reply

  17. I haven’t made this yet but I THINK THIS IS THE DUPE I’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR!!!! Trying this tonight, trying to get away from vegetable oil and I loved the Ken’s Lite Caesar dressing and I tried my hand at it but I think this will be the perfect recipe! Can’t wait to try it!!!!!! Subscribing!

    Reply

  18. This is one of the easiest and tastiest Caesar salad dressings ever! I always get complements about it when I make it for guests.

    Reply

    1. I’m so happy to hear that you liked the recipe! Thanks for the review!

      Reply

  19. I just made this (with pureed anchovies instead of anchovy paste). It’s very good, but I may add less lemon juice next time as it’s a bit overwhelming!

    Reply

  20. Hi Melissa,
    This recipe looks really tasty! One tip to share bc simply shaking an already separated dressing doesn’t *fix it*. Once a dressing is separated, it’ll continue to separate the instant the shaking stops. The only way to solve this is by preventing the separation. To do so, combine all the non-oil ingredients first – THEN pour the oil in a thin stream into that mixture while simultaneously whisking it. It’s that thin, gradual stream of oil while whisking that helps the ingredients incorporate better without separating. 😉

    Reply

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Easy Caesar Salad Dressing Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is real Caesar salad dressing made of? ›

Base Ingredients: Caesar salad dressing typically has a base of mayonnaise or egg yolks, which gives it a creamy and rich texture. It often includes garlic, lemon juice, and Dijon mustard for flavor. Anchovies: Caesar dressing is known for its distinct umami flavor, which comes from anchovies.

What are the two types of Caesar dressing? ›

Caesar salad dressing comes in a few basic forms. First, some are creamy, like ranch dressing, while others are more like vinaigrette, with a visible separation of oil and water-based ingredients.

How to make Caesar salad dressing Jamie Oliver? ›

For the Caesar dressing, finely grate the Parmesan into a bowl, add the mustard, Worcestershire sauce and yoghurt, and whisk to combine. Squeeze in the lemon juice, add 8 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and mix again. Taste and season to perfection, loosening with a splash of water, if needed.

What is the difference between creamy and classic Caesar dressing? ›

The classic version is oil based, vinaigrette style. I love a good vinaigrette, but I prefer my Caesar dressing to be creamy, so I use mayonnaise instead. Because the mayonnaise is already smooth and emulsified, it makes a wonderful base for creamy dressings.

What are the ingredients in craft Caesar dressing? ›

Soybean Oil, Water, Vinegar, Romano and Parmesan Made from Cow's Milk Cheeses (Part-skim Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes), Sugar, Egg Yolks, Salt, Contains Less Than 2% of Dried Garlic, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Spice (Contains Celery), Corn Syrup, Xanthan Gum, Dried Onions, Whey, Cream, Modified Food Starch, ...

Does all cesar dressing have anchovies? ›

Does Caesar Salad Dressing Have Anchovies In It? While anchovy fish or anchovy paste is an ingredient in some Caesar salad dressing recipes, the original recipe did not use this particularly pungent ingredient. You can make this creamy dressing without any fish at all, or use a different type altogether if you prefer.

What is in Panera Caesar dressing? ›

Soybean Oil, Water, Egg Yolk, Worcestershire Sauce (Distilled White Vinegar, Anchovies, Garlic, Molasses, Onion, Salt, Sugar, Water, Chili Pepper Extract, Cloves, Natural Flavorings, Tamarind Extract), Red Wine Vinegar, Garlic (Garlic, Water, Citric Acid), Garlic Juice (Garlic, Vinegar, Salt), Anchovy Paste (Anchovies, ...

Can you buy Caesar dressing without anchovies? ›

Gotham Greens offers two different types of Caesar salad dressing, and lucky for us, one of them is totally vegan. Made with miso and Dijon mustard, the dressing also works as a great dip choice thanks to its rich flavor and “peppery kick.”

Is eating a Caesar salad healthy? ›

The bottom line. A classic Caesar salad can fit into any healthy eating plan, but modifications to make it more nutritious may be a good idea if you eat them often. Choose a salad dressing that's low in saturated fat and sodium and consider using a 1-tablespoon (14-gram) serving.

What is Romano Caesar dressing? ›

Fit for an emperor! This creamy and flavorful favorite has every bit of the traditional flavor of Caesar, but without the eggs and anchovies. Spread this dressing on a wrap with grilled chicken and fresh greens to create the perfect grilled chicken Caesar wrap!

Why does Caesar dressing taste so good? ›

Yolks are what give richness to a classic Caesar salad dressing recipe, while umami anchovies are the primary reason it tastes so good—that, and a good garlicky kick.

Is Caesar dressing made from mayo? ›

Ingredients
  1. 6 cloves garlic, peeled, divided.
  2. ¾ cup mayonnaise.
  3. 6 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, divided.
  4. 5 anchovy fillets, minced.
  5. 1 tablespoon lemon juice, or more to taste.
  6. 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce.
  7. 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard.
  8. salt and ground black pepper to taste.
Apr 7, 2023

Why is my Caesar dressing not thickening? ›

The key to a thicker dressing is to slowly drizzle in the oil while whisking vigorously. This keeps the dressing emulsified and also helps incorporate more air into the dressing to help it thicken up. It will get even thicker in the refrigerator as the oil cools.

Is Caesar dressing healthier than ranch? ›

While ranch dressing is the clear winner, Caesar, buttermilk, elderberry vinaigrette and bleu cheese dressing also appear in the top five. Are you a salad dressing fanatic? Here's everything you need to know about its impact on your health.

Does all Caesar dressing have cheese? ›

Caesar salad is all about that classic creamy dressing. The dressing should have plenty of garlic and Parmesan cheese, a bit of briny anchovies, and lots of black pepper. This classic uses raw egg yolks to build a creamy emulsion without any cream.

Why does Caesar dressing have anchovies? ›

And yes, the rumors are true, caesar dressing has anchovies! This is actually an essential ingredient, and gives the dressing a super-charge of mouthwatering umami flavor. Pro tip, you can use anchovies to amp up the flavor in other dishes too, like tomato sauce!

Does Ken's Caesar dressing have anchovies? ›

Soybean Oil, Distilled Vinegar, Water, Apple Cider Vinegar, Romano Cheese (Pasteurized Part-Skim Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Salt, Sugar, Contains Less Than 2% Of Garlic,* Anchovies, Spice, Mustard Flour, Potassium Sorbate And Sodium Benzoate (Preservatives), Red Pepper, Calcium Disodium EDTA (To Protect ...

Does Panera Caesar dressing have anchovies? ›

Creamy textured dressing, inspired by our bakery-cafe favorite, with a finish featuring notes of garlic, coarse black pepper, onion and anchovy.

Does Caesar salad dressing contain vinegar? ›

Knowing how to make caesar salad dressing is the most involved part, really, but even that is super quick and easy. Like most salad dressings, homemade caesar salad dressing is made from an emulsified combination of oil, vinegar, and some seasonings.

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