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 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.

What's the most popular Caesar dressing? ›

Top 50 Scanned: Caesar Dressing beta
Popularity
#1Caesar Parmigiano Yogurt Dressing Bolthouse Farms2 tbsp
#2Dressing, Lite, Creamy Caesar Ken's Steak House2 tbsp
#3Dressing & Marinade, Lite, Caesar Ken's Steak House2 tbsp
#4Classic Caesar Dressing Kraft2 tbsp
46 more rows

What was the original Caesar salad made of? ›

The seven ingredients of the original Caesar salad: whole leaves of romaine lettuce, a raw egg yolk, Italian olive oil, grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, Worcestershire sauce, lime juice and a toasted round of baguette. Photo by Bill St. John, for UCHealth.

Which ingredient is not commonly found in a Caesar salad? ›

The ingredient typically not found in a classic Caesar salad is Iceberg lettuce. A traditional Caesar salad, made primarily of romaine lettuce, doesn't include iceberg lettuce. It may vary in different recipes.

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, ...

What is the healthiest Caesar dressing? ›

Best: Marzetti Simply Creamy Caesar

With the low saturated fat, only 11% of the DV for sodium, and just 50 calories, this is one of the healthiest Caesar dressings that still has the creamy texture you'd expect.

How long does homemade Caesar dressing last? ›

You can omit the anchovies if you're not a fan. The dressing will still be delicious, but it might not have the same traditional Caesar dressing flavor. How long does homemade Caesar dressing last in the refrigerator? This can be stored for up to 2 weeks.

What is the most requested salad dressing? ›

Ranch Dressing

The ranch is hands down America's most beloved salad dressings. It is made from a number of ingredients such as buttermilk, mayonnaise, mustard, garlic, onion, chives, salt, and pepper.

What is the most popular salad dressing in the world? ›

Most Famous Dressings in the World
  1. Ranch Dressing. The ranch is a salad dressing or dip made with buttermilk, salt, garlic, onions, herbs (dill, parsley, chives, etc.), and spices (mustard seeds, black pepper, paprika, etc.) ...
  2. Fry Sauce. ...
  3. Chermoula. ...
  4. Blue Cheese Dressing. ...
  5. Thousand Island Dressing. ...
  6. Italian Dressing.

What is Lady's Choice Caesar dressing? ›

Lady's Choice Caesar Dressing is made with anchovy, eggs and finished with a hint of traditional spice. Made using the classic Caesar dressing recipe. Consistent quality and texture in every bottle -- more efficient than making from scratch. Ideal for salads, burgers and wraps.

Why does Caesar salad taste so good? ›

Pungent but not too strong, Caesar dressing comes together easily with a lineup of common ingredients—eggs and oil (or an even easier option, mayonnaise); garlic; lemon or white wine vinegar; a splash of Worcestershire; a dollop of Dijon; and ideally, a few anchovies.

Why is my Caesar salad soggy? ›

The vinegar or citrus juice you used in your dressing breaks down the cell structure of the leaves, releasing water trapped in the greens. Which is why your 18-hour-old leftover salad is all wet and deflated. Salad hates that.

Does all Caesar 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 are the ingredients in Great Value Caesar dressing? ›

Soybean Oil, Water, Parmesan And Romano Cheeses (cultured Pasteurized Part Skim Milk, Salt, Enzymes), Distilled Vinegar, Egg Yolk, Sugar, Salt, Contains Less Than 2% Of Red Wine Vinegar, Dried Garlic, Spice, Phosphate Acid, Anchovies, Whey, Dried Onion, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Modified Food Starch, Molasses, Disodium ...

What is the main ingredients in salad dressing? ›

A classic recipe that everyone enjoys, made with oil and vinegar. This is the solid foundation of the salad dressing world. To make, whisk 1 tsp Dijon mustard with 2 tbsp white wine vinegar, 6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, a pinch of sugar and salt and pepper in a small bowl or shake together in a jam jar.

Why does cesar 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!

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