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.
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
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.
Next, whisk in the mayonnaise, Parmigiano-Reggiano, salt, and pepper.
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!
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.
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
- 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.
- Note: Anchovy paste can be found near the canned tuna in the supermarket.
Nutrition Information
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- 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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Absolutely spot on! Loved it!
I made a chicken caesar salad using this dressing and brought it to a potluck at work. It was the only dish in the room that was fully empty. I can’t say enough good things about it!
I make a LOT of things homemade and I have to say, this is one of the BEST Caesar salad dressings I have ever had. My store was out of anchovy paste, so I bought Cento anchovies and mashed (almost) the whole can into the recipe. I may have used 1 more garlic clove. The extra anchovies, we chopped up and added to the salad. It was amazing and I have literally been craving salads all week, and for me, that is not a thing. So, THANK YOU! We are low carb and this adds a wonderful, delicious, inexpensive yet gourmet dinner to our menu. Happy New Year, thanks for sharing.
How do I post a picture?
Unfortunately, the blog isn’t set up to receive pictures, but you can share it on Instagram. (Be sure to tag me @onceuponachef!) 🙂
Omg!!!! This recipe is a keeper 👌🏻
Still making the salad dressing, it’s our favorite!!! Thank you 🙂
Made this for Christmas dinner this year and it was absolutely delicious!! My nephew said it was the best caesar salad he ever ate in his life and that made me very happy! I did make my own croutons (easy!!) also. Thank you very much.
Outstanding! My husband and I love Ruth Chris’ caesar salad and this recipe rivals it. Wonderful recipe, as are all of Jenn’s. Thank you.
It was so easy and delicious! Everyone loved it! I am sure that I will be using this recipe often!
This salad dressing is the best! My pickiest eater (10 yo) absolutely loves it. I used canned anchovies, not paste. I freeze left over anchovies and use them as needed. This salad is even better with freshly made croutons. Thank you for sharing!
The Caesar Salad was delicious and easy to prepare in advance. I waited until just before serving it to dress it. It was a hit with everyone in our family.
My first time making homemade cesaer salad dressing and it was a hit! Everyone wanted the recipe so forwarded it on! So easy, tastes amazing and so much better than bottled! Thank you so much!
I love your creamy Caesar dressing. All the different flavors hit just the right notes. The garlic, the anchovy paste, the lemon juice and the cheese! And the simplicity of making it. Next year I’m going to also try some of your cookie recipes! So far thanks for a good recipe website!