Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad (Printable)
Grilled chicken with crisp romaine, croutons, and creamy Caesar dressing topped with fresh Parmesan. A satisfying classic.
# Ingredient List:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
→ Salad
05 - 2 large heads romaine lettuce, chopped
06 - 1 cup croutons
07 - 1/2 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
→ Caesar Dressing
08 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
09 - 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
10 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
11 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
12 - 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
13 - 2 teaspoons anchovy paste
14 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
15 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
# Directions:
01 - Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
02 - Brush chicken breasts with olive oil and season generously with salt and black pepper on both sides.
03 - Grill chicken for 6-7 minutes per side until fully cooked and juices run clear when pierced. Transfer to plate and let rest 5 minutes before slicing thinly.
04 - In a large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, grated Parmesan, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, anchovy paste, minced garlic, and black pepper until smooth. Adjust seasoning as needed.
05 - Add chopped romaine lettuce to the bowl with dressing and toss until lightly coated.
06 - Add croutons and half of the shaved Parmesan cheese, then toss gently to combine.
07 - Divide salad among four plates. Top each serving with sliced grilled chicken and remaining Parmesan cheese.
08 - Serve immediately while chicken and croutons are still warm.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The homemade dressing takes just minutes but tastes like something from an upscale restaurant without all the mysterious ingredients on commercial bottle labels.
- You can prep most components ahead of time and assemble just before serving, making it perfect for those nights when you want to impress without being trapped in the kitchen.
02 -
- Room temperature ingredients make all the difference in Caesar dressing, as cold mayo can cause the emulsion to break and leave you with a grainy texture.
- Massaging the romaine leaves with clean hands after washing and before chopping helps remove excess water that would dilute your beautiful dressing.
03 -
- Pat your chicken completely dry with paper towels before seasoning to ensure those beautiful grill marks and prevent steaming instead of searing.
- Reserve a tablespoon of the dressing to drizzle over the plated salads as a final touch, creating a restaurant-worthy presentation that will impress everyone at the table.