These Chicken Caesar recipes will guide you on a culinary adventure, featuring homemade croutons and homemade dressing. This post includes various methods to prepare the chicken, dressing, and salad. Explore the vibrant flavors, from herbal breadcrumbs to the delicious homemade Caesar dressing. This dish will make Julius Caesar proud.
This recipe is ideal for a busy weeknight dinner that the whole family will enjoy. The tangy dressing pairs wonderfully with the crunchy homemade croutons and crisp romaine lettuce. You can prepare the homemade croutons in advance, and they will remain fresh and crispy for several days. Similarly, the homemade Caesar dressing can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for days. This preparation will help minimize your cooking time during hectic weeknights. Just follow the step-by-step instructions to create an easy, restaurant-quality dish.
Lets start with the homemade croutons. Remember these easy-to-make croutons enhance the flavor and texture of this dish. Follow these step-by-step directions:
Ingredients:
- One half a baguette of your favorite bread
- Olive Oil
- 2 tbsp Fresh Chopped Rosemary
- 2 Tbsp Fresh Thyme leaves
- Kosher salt to taste
Caesar Croutons Directions:
- Tear the bread into 1-inch pieces and place in a large bowl
- Drizzle enough Olive oil over the bread to slightly moisten ALL the pieces of bread
- Mix thoroughly with the Rosemary, Thyme, and salt
- Spread the breadcrumbs on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet
- Heat oven to 400 degrees F and toast until they are golden brown
- Set aside and let cool until you are ready to assemble the salad
Next, let’s prepare the chicken for grilling or baking for our Chicken Caesar Salad recipe. We can either marinate the chicken or coat it with “Chef Gianni’s rub” to create the most flavorful protein for your salad. You can use either two large skinless chicken breasts or four boneless chicken thighs.
Marinade Ingredients:
- 1/2 Cup of Olive oil
- 1/2 Cup of Red Wine Vinegar
- 2 Fresh minced garlic clove
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Marinate the chicken for grilling:
- Mix the ingredients in a one-gallon ziplock bag, and place the chicken in the bag.
- Squeeze out the air and seal the bag then lightly pound the chicken with a meat pounder being careful not to perforate the bag. If desired you can add a little lemon juice.
- Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes while we make homemade Caesar salad dressing.
- After the boneless chicken breasts are marinated for at least 30 minutes grill on a preheated grill on medium heat until an internal temperature of 160 degrees F is reached (at the thickest part of the chicken).
If you choose not to marinate your chicken you can use “Chef Gianni’s Rub”, and bake the chicken for your baked Caesar chicken recipe.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons paprika
- 1 tablespoons Kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 1/2 tablespoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
Combine all the ingredients and sprinkle the large chicken breasts or thighs. Then bake the chicken at 350 degrees F until an internal temperature of 160 degrees F is reached (at the thickest part of the chicken). Usually around 20 minutes.
Let’s make the Ceasar salad dressing
Ingredients:
- 4 Minced Fresh Garlic Cloves
- 2 Tbsp Dijon Mustard
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 Tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice
- 3 Tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
- 2/3 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 Tbsp Kosher Salt to taste
- 1/2 Tsp Ground Black Pepper
- 1/3 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
Combine all ingredients in a salad dressing shaker or large bowl and mix or shake thoroughly. I you desire a more garlicky Caesar dressing simply add more garlic.
Now all the main ingredients are ready, let’s assemble the Chicken Caesar Salad
Green salad Ingredients:
- 3 heads fresh and crisp romaine lettuce
- 6-8 oz piece of parmesan cheese (Shaved or grated cheese)
Chicken Caesar Recipe Directions:
- Wash lettuce thoroughly and pat completely dry with paper towels
- Chop lettuce into one-inch segments and place in a large bowl
- Slice and place chicken slices on the lettuce
- Add the Homemade croutons on the chicken
- Then add the Shaved or grated parmesan cheese
- Sprinkle about half of the Homemade caesar dressing on the salad and toss. Set the remaining dressing aside if your guests want more. You can always add more dressing, but you cant remove
Variations of Caesar Chicken Recipes:
- You can add an egg yolk to your dressing if desired. Make sure they are pasteurized
- Anchovy fillets can be added on top of the salad to add a salty taste of the sea.
- To create a creamy Caesar dressing, substitute Olive oil for mayonnaise or sour cream when making the homemade Caesar dressing.
- To create a vegetarian version simply omit the boneless chicken breasts or chicken thighs
- Rotisserie chicken can be used as a different version of juicy chicken
- Red pepper flakes can be added to create some heat
- Sourdough bread can be used to make homemade croutons to create a softer crouton with a crispy shell
- Store-bought croutons arent as tasty, but can be used if prep time is restricted
Helpful tips to make a good Caesar salad:
- Be careful not to overcook the chicken you want juicy chicken for your salad
- When adding the homemade croutons to the salad include the crumbs and herbs that didn’t stick to the croutons. They will add more crunch to the salad and enhance the crisp texture
- Cut the leafy tops off your heads of Romaine lettuce. This will ensure the salad contains only crisp romaine lettuce
Storage of the Chicken Caesar Salad:
- Your salad will stay fresh for a few days in an airtight container. I wouldn’t suggest freezing it.
- The remaining dressing will stay fresh in the refrigerator for a few weeks
Servings: 4 Servings
Ingredients
Homemade Croutons
- ½ Baguette Favorite Bread
- 3-4 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 2 tbsp Fresh chopped Rosemary
- 2 tbsp Fresh Thyme Leaves
- Kosher Salt to taste
- Ground Black Pepper to taste
Chicken
- 2 Large Skinless Chicken Breasts or 4 Boneless Thighs
Chicken Marinade
- ½ Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- ½ Cup Red Wine Vinegar
- 2 Cloves Fresh Minced Garlic
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Chef Gianni's Rub
- 2 tbsp Paprika
- 2 tbsp Kosher Salt
- 2 tbsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tbsp Black Pepper
- 1 tbsp Onion Powder
- 1.5 tbsp Cayenne Pepper
- 1 tbsp Dried Thyme
Salad
- 3 Heads Fresh Romaine Lettuce
- 6-8 oz Block Parmesan Cheese to taste
Caesar Dressing
- 4 cloves Fresh Minced Garlic
- 2 tbsp Dijon Mustard
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 2 tbsp Fresh Lemon juice
- 3 tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
- ⅓ Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 1 tbsp Kosher salt to taste
- ½ Tsp Ground Black Pepper
Instructions
Homemade Croutons
- Tear the bread into 1-inch pieces and place in a large bowl
- Drizzle enough Olive oil over the bread to slightly moisten ALL the pieces of bread
- Mix thoroughly with the Rosemary, Thyme, and salt
- Spread the breadcrumbs on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet
- Heat oven to 400 degrees F and toast until they are golden brown
- Set aside and let cool until you are ready to assemble the salad
Caesar Salad Dressing
- Combine all ingredients in a salad dressing shaker or large bowl and mix or shake thoroughly.
Grill the Marinated Chicken
- After the boneless chicken breasts are marinated for at least 30 minutes grill on a preheated grill on medium heat until an internal temperature of 160 degrees F is reached (at the thickest part of the chicken).
Bake the Chicken coated with "Chef Gianni's Rub"
- Bake the chicken at 350 degrees F until an internal temperature of 160 degrees F is reached (at the thickest part of the chicken). Usually around 20 minutes.
Assemble the Salad
- Wash lettuce thoroughly and pat completely dry with paper towels
- Chop lettuce into one-inch segments and place in a large bowl
- Slice and place chicken slices on the lettuce
- Add the Homemade croutons on the chicken
- Then add the Shaved or grated parmesan cheese
- Sprinkle about half of the Homemade caesar dressing on the salad and toss. Set the remaining dressing aside if your guests want more. You can always add more dressing, but you cant remove
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
