An original Caesar salad recipe is a classic you need in your back pocket for entertaining or just a regular lunch or dinner. This homemade Caesar salad is way better than the bagged versions and easily as good as any you can get at a restaurant!

a plate of Caesar salad made with our take on the original caesar salad recipe in front of a large bowl of salad, croutons, and dressing — Homemade Caesar Salad Recipe

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We’re guilty.

We did change a few of the original Caesar salad recipe developed – oddly enough – in Tijuana, Mexico in the 1920s.

But don’t worry.

Our homemade Caesar salad will taste better than any Caesar you can get at even the finest eateries and definitely better than any of the bagged salad blends you can pick up at the grocery store.

A plate of Caesar salad — Original Caesar Salad Recipe

And you probably have most of the ingredients you need on hand right now!

If you don’t, no worries, because you can easily find them at any grocery store in the produce department, bakery, and condiment aisle.

Ingredients and Kitchen Supplies

Ingredients for original caesar salad recipe: romaine, croutons, Caesar dressing, and shaved Parmesan cheese — Original Caesar Salad Recipe Ingredients: Romaine, Croutons, Caesar Dressing, and Shaved Parmesan

Here’s what you need to make the original Caesar salad recipe.

For the dressing:

Mayo – Yes, the original Caesar salad recipe used raw egg yolks, but since those are generally less tolerable to most people, we use regular mayo instead.
Lemon Juice – Some evidence suggests the original recipe for Caesar used lime juice, but lemon juice is pretty much the popular go to choice for the dressing now.
Garlic – You will want about 4 to 6 fresh cloves of garlic.
Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese – You can use just grated parm cheese if you like or get the fancy stuff.
Worcestershire Sauce – This was in the original Caesar salad recipe, and it is believed the original inventor used this and not anchovies. Anchovies were – from what we’ve read – a later addition to the dressing that the creator did not want to use. We gladly honor his thoughts if that was the case.
Dijon Mustard – Grey Poupon is generally the best to go with, but you can use whatever brand you like.
Salt and Pepper – This is to taste, so add as much or as little as you like.

For the croutons:

Fresh Bread – You can use French, Italian, or ciabatta baguettes or loafs.
Olive Oil – Gives the croutons a nice golden-brown look and richer flavor.
Seasonings – Salt and garlic powder help to flavor the croutons.
Parm Cheese – This is optional, but it gives the croutons some added flavor and crunch.

For the Caesar salad:

Romaine Lettuce – We’ve been known to make Caesar salads with other greens, like kale, spinach, or other types of lettuce, but for the original Caesar salad recipe, you want romaine.
Cheese – For the traditional salad, you want to use only Parmigiano-Reggiano, but you can add others like mozzarella and provolone if you like.

Some items you’ll want to have handy when making the components of Caesar salad include:

How to Make the Original Caesar Salad Recipe

We broke this down into the components but don’t worry, it is all very easy.

Like to the point that in our crazy house with three kids and three dogs, we make this whole thing at least twice a week for dinner.

For the Caesar Dressing

1. Mix the dressing.

Fully mixed dressing in a clear bowl. — Fully mixed dressing.

Caesar salad dressing is very easy to make.

Add all the ingredients to a large mixing bowl and mix until well combined.

You can add more parm cheese if it seems watery, but keep in mind, it will thicken as it rests, so it will be a little bit thinner when you first make it.

Cover and place in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.

For more information on making Caesar dressing, you can get all the info from our Caesar Dressing Recipe.

For the Croutons

1. Prepare the bread.

Mixing croutons with tongs in a clear bowl. — Mix the croutons and parm cheese.

Cut your bread into about 1 inch cubes.

They can be a bit larger or smaller as long as they are about the same size.

Toss the bread with olive oil, salt, and garlic.

Finally, toss in the parm cheese to coat.

2. Bake the croutons.

Tray of homemade croutons. — Croutons fresh from the oven.

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

Bake for 6 to 8 minutes or until they turn goldn brown and start to toast up.

Allow to cool before tossing with the Caesar salad.

For a more detailed breakdown, you can check out our How to Make Croutons Recipe that includes how to do it in an Air Fryer as well.

Make the Caesar Salad

1. With your components combined, we form Caesar Salad!

Cut the romaine lettuce on a cutting board

OK, maybe it is not that simple, but it might as well be.

The only “hard” part remaining is to rinse, dry, and either chop or pull apart the romaine lettuce into more bite-sized chunks.

Add the croutons, Parmesan cheese, and lettuce to a large bowl

Once your lettuce is ready, place in a large salad or mixing bowl and toss it to combine.

Toss the Caesar salad ingredients together in a bowl using tongs to combine — Toss the chopped romaine, croutons, and shaved parmesan together

Then pour on the Caesar dressing, and add in the croutons.

Use a pair of tongs or fork and spoon to fully mix the Caesar salad.

Caesar dressing added to the Caesar salad but not mixed in — Add the Caesar Dressing

Serve with Italian grilled chicken on top and more cheese for a salad meal.

Serving

The original Caesar salad recipe in a large glass bowl — Original Caesar Salad Recipe

The original Caesar salad recipe is pretty versatile.

With the right add-ons, you can serve it easily as a meal.

One of our favorite toppings is Italian grilled chicken.

You can also serve it alongside other Italian pastas, like pasta with pesto.

Storing

The original Caesar salad recipe in a large glass bowl with a bowl of homemade croutons and jar of homemade Caesar Dressing next to it — Original Caesar Salad Recipe

You can easily store each of the components of the original Caesar salad recipe, but we do not recommend storing a fully made salad.

The croutons tend to get soggy and the luttuce limp.

If you do want to bring a Caesar salad along for lunch, we recommend not mixing in the croutons until you are ready to eat it.

Even better if you can bring the dressing, croutons, and lettuce separately just to keep it all fresh.

The Caesar dressing should stay fresh for about 3 to 5 days in the fridge and the croutons fresh for about 5 days on the counter in an air tight container.

For the love of all things fluffy, please do not freeze a Caesar salad. Seriously, what’s wrong with you? Should I call someone for you?

Tips and Tricks

The perfect forkful of a homemade Caesar salad shown with a plate of Caesar salad in front of a large bowl of salad, croutons, and dressing — Original Caesar Salad Recipe

You can skip making croutons if you like, just find your favorite brand. They are not hard to make at all though, so if you have the time, it is worth doing.
Despite popular belief, you do not need to use anchovies to make the original Caesar salad recipe.
If making ahead, store the ingreidients separately to prevent wilting of the lettuce and the bread crumbs from becoming soggy.
You do not absolutely have to wait to use the Caesar dressing, but it does help to wait to allow all the flavors to combine.

Other Salad Recipes

A close up of homemade Caesar salad — Homemade Caesar Salad

Looking for other salad recipes? Here are some favorites:

Did you make this? Let me know!

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