Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing

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My family loves this rich and creamy Caesar salad dressing. It’s not overly garlicky or fishy — it’s just right.

Fork on a plate with a Caesar salad.

Though most people buy Caesar salad dressing in a bottle, homemade is incredibly easy to make and tastes so much better than store-bought. There are many variations, but this rich and creamy version is the one my whole family loves. It’s not too garlicky and not too fishy – it’s just right. Unlike authentic Caesar dressings which are made with olive oil and thickened with raw eggs, this one has a mayonnaise base, which means you don’t have to worry if you’re squeamish about raw eggs. My kids love this dressing so much that they’ve learned to make it themselves. They don’t even wait for me to make a salad; while I cook dinner, they sit at the kitchen table with a big heart of romaine and dip the leaves in.

This recipe is part of my classic salad dressing collection, which includes go-to recipes for oil and vinegar based dressings, like vinaigrette and balsamic vinaigrette, as well as creamy dressings, such as buttermilk ranch dressing and blue cheese dressing, which are typically made with mayonnaise and dairy products.

What You’ll Need To Make Caesar Salad Dressing

how to make caesar salad

Instead of whole anchovies, I use anchovy paste — makes it easy, especially if you’re squeamish about anchovies (just hold your nose and add it in; the dressing needs every last bit to taste like the real deal!)

For the cheese, it’s important to use imported Parmigiano-Reggiano from Italy; domestic Parmesan pales in comparison. You can always tell if it’s authentic by looking at the rind, which is embossed with the name over and over. If the cheese is already grated, it should be labeled “Parmigiano-Reggiano,” not “Parmesan.”

Step-by-Step Instructions

Begin by whisking together the garlic, anchovy paste, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce.

how to make caesar salad dressing

Next, whisk in the mayonnaise, Parmigiano-Reggiano, salt, and pepper.

how to make caesar salad dressing

The dressing will keep well in the fridge for about a week. For a main course Caesar, try pairing this with my best grilled chicken. Enjoy!

Fork on a plate with a Caesar salad.

Caesar Salad Dressing Video Tutorial

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Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing

My family loves this rich and creamy Caesar salad dressing. It’s not overly garlicky or fishy — it’s just right.

Servings: Makes 1⅓ cups (enough for about 10 starter salads)
Total Time: 10 Minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 small garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon anchovy paste (see note)
  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, from one lemon
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (I like the brand Maille)
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 cup mayonnaise, best quality such as Hellmann's Real
  • ½ cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the garlic, anchovy paste, lemon juice, Dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Add the mayonnaise, Parmigiano-Reggiano, salt and pepper and whisk until well combined. Taste and adjust to your liking. The dressing will keep well in the fridge for about a week.
  2. Note: Anchovy paste can be found near the canned tuna in the supermarket.

Nutrition Information

Powered by Edamam

  • Per serving (10 servings)
  • Serving size: About 2 tablespoons
  • Calories: 184
  • Fat: 19g
  • Saturated fat: 1g
  • Carbohydrates: 1g
  • Sugar: 0g
  • Fiber: 0g
  • Protein: 2g
  • Sodium: 296mg
  • Cholesterol: 13mg

This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.

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Comments

  • Easy and very tasty recipe! Will be my go to for Caesar dressing.

    • — Sue on May 5, 2023
    • Reply
  • Loved it! Perfect & easy! With a wonderful taste.

    • — Blessed Abundantly on May 5, 2023
    • Reply
  • I was craving a Cesar salad, but didn’t feel like going to the store just for a bottle of dressing. I came across your recipe and had all but the anchovy paste on hand. I substituted fish sauce, 1:1. It was the best! I will never buy bottled again, just to have it waste away in the fridge. I can make just what I need!

    • — Phil W on May 2, 2023
    • Reply
  • This is the first time I have made this dressing and it was great, so easy.
    Thank you.

    • — Owen Jenkins on May 1, 2023
    • Reply
  • This has been my go-to favourite dressing for years! I will look for any excuse to make it/eat it. It makes a great veggie dip. This week, I am going to try using roasted garlic. Thank you for sharing this!

    • — Christine on April 30, 2023
    • Reply
  • Just perfect. We have been eating tossed with either oil & vinegars so I wanted a change Made your amazing Caesar dressing and only changed the parm reg to pecorino Romano (good quality available at Costco) and eliminated extra salt. Excellent. Thank you.

    • — Judith Schell on April 29, 2023
    • Reply
  • Just made this!! Fabulous! Thx!

    • — Whitney Cobb on April 28, 2023
    • Reply
  • Made homemade caesar salad dressing for the first time a couple weeks ago using your recipe. It was a huge hit with all the other guests, two even said it was better than their own recipes and asked for “my” recipe 🙂 Husband really loved it and now this is my go to recipe for homemade caesar salad dressing…no more grocery store dressing!! Thank You!!

    • — Peggy on April 25, 2023
    • Reply
  • The best caesar salad dressing I have ever had. We are having chicken caesar wraps for dinner.

    • — Mary on April 23, 2023
    • Reply
  • Perfection! This may be the best caesar dressing I’ve ever had! I didn’t change a thing…it came together in minutes, is delicious, and it goes a long way when coating so you can enjoy it for several servings. (It only gets better next day.) Delicious. Thank you!!!

    • — Kaylee on April 19, 2023
    • Reply

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