This creamy homemade Caesar Dressing recipe is packed with fresh and tangy flavor. It’s quick and easy to make, and absolutely better than store-bought. Dress a classic Caesar salad, drizzle over roasted or grilled vegetables, or schmear some onto a sandwich!
When our family orders a salad to share at a restaurant, it’s most likely a Caesar salad. So when I finally nailed this homemade Caesar Dressing recipe, it definitely made my family super happy – we make it all the time, for this AWESOME chicken caesar pasta salad!! This creamy salad dressing is beautifully flavorful with salty Parmesan and plenty of fresh garlic and lemon. And for those of you who like that briny anchovy flavor that a classic Caesar salad is famous for – but you don’t actually want to deal with those little fishies – well, I have the answer for you: anchovy paste. It’s the easiest, most magical ingredient in this recipe!
Why This Is The Best Caesar Dressing Recipe
My family will vouch for this recipe any day of the week; they love this Caesar dressing. It features the perfect compilation of textures and flavors, based on our favorite restaurants’ Caesar salads. Here’s why we think you’ll love it, too:
- Fresh & extra-lemony. I adore the fresh kicky garlic and bright lemon in this dressing. I purposefully add an extra big dose of fresh lemon, incorporating both the juice and the zest, to mimic the lemony Caesar salad at one of our favorite local pizza places.
- No actual fishies! While the flavors of this recipe stay true to a traditional Caesar salad, you don’t have to deal with actual anchovies. A little squeeze from a tube of anchovy paste does the trick…and it tastes GREAT!
- Easy & one-bowl. Just measure the ingredients into a bowl and whisk. You’re done!
- Better than store-bought. We usually have 2-3 homemade salad dressings in our fridge at any given time – most commonly balsamic vinaigrette, buttermilk ranch, and lemon poppy seed. I simply enjoy salads so much more with my homemade dressing recipes – you really can taste the difference. And this Caesar dressing is fantastically better than anything I’ve come across on store shelves.
Recipe Ingredients
I’ve listed what you’ll need for this recipe below, plus some notes to guide you through making it. For the exact ingredient amounts, scroll down to the printable recipe card at the end of this post!
- Mayonnaise – An authentic Caesar dressing uses olive oil and raw eggs to create the creamy base, but I use mayo. Make sure to use good-quality mayonnaise, and not a jar marked “salad dressing” (such at “Miracle Whip”, which is sweeter and not true mayonnaise). I like to use Hellman’s real mayonnaise.
- Parmesan cheese – I use finely grated Parmesan cheese, so it disperses evenly throughout the dressing.
- Lemon juice & zest – For the best flavor and texture, you simply must use fresh lemon in this recipe. We like our Caesar dressing with lots of lemon flavor – feel free to dial it back a bit if you like.
- Garlic – We also like a lot of fresh garlic! If you prefer less, reduce the amount to 2 teaspoons.
- Olive oil – Use extra virgin olive oil, or vegetable oil in a pinch.
- Dijon mustard – For an earthy, pungent flavor.
- Worcestershire sauce – This adds a vinegary punch of umami flavor.
- Anchovy paste – This adds that authentic tangy bite that Caesar salad lovers crave. Anchovy paste is sold in tubes, and often found in the condiment aisle.
- Salt & pepper – Simple seasonings that bring this dressing altogether.
How To Make Caesar Dressing
Homemade Caesar dressing is quick and easy to make – our daughters whisk it up whenever a Caesar salad is on our menu. Find the detailed instructions in the recipe card lower down.
- Place in a bowl: Add all of the ingredients to a bowl.
- Combine: Whisk everything together until evenly combined.
Tips for Success + Variations
Feel free to adjust this recipe to fit your needs and/or palate. Here are a few ideas for you:
- Adjust the consistency. If you’d like a looser dressing, whisk a little water into it, 1 teaspoon at a time until you reach the desired consistency. If you’d like it thicker, add a bit more mayo or Parmesan, or whisk in some plain Greek yogurt.
- Double it. This recipe makes just a bit more than 1 cup of dressing. If you want to make more for another time, or are making a lot of salad, you can easily double or triple the recipe.
- Use yogurt. If you’re not a fan of mayonnaise, swap in whole milk Greek yogurt. It won’t have quite the same flavor, but it will still be creamy, tangy, and delicious.
- Hate the thought of anchovies? If you absolutely detest including anchovies in any way – even easy anchovy paste – try using capers. They also have a salty, briny, tangy flavor. Just mince them very finely and stir them into the dressing until you’re happy with the flavor. I’d suggest starting with 1 teaspoon.
Ways To Serve It
There are many ways to use this homemade Caesar dressing. Need ideas? Here you go!
- Salad. Caesar dressing is, of course, the classic finish to a Caesar salad. But you can add it to other salads as well. Browse my salad recipes to find the perfect fit, or use it with a grilled romaine salad or this Italian chopped salad in a jar.
- Pasta salad dressing. Try it in a chicken Caesar pasta salad, a tortellini salad, or macaroni salad.
- Potato salad dressing. Or swap this dressing into your favorite potato salad recipe.
- Add to a burger. A dollop of Caesar dressing is a great way to add more flavor to burgers. Try it on my Juicy Lucy burgers or goat cheese stuffed turkey burgers.
- On a sandwich. Spread some Caesar dressing on sandwiches in place of mayonnaise. It’s wonderful on a roast beef sandwich or a chopped cheese sandwich, and an herby turkey grilled cheese sandwich. You could also add some to BBQ chicken sliders!
- In a creamy sandwich filling. Punch up the flavor of a tuna, chicken, or egg salad sandwich by using Caesar dressing instead of mayo.
- As a dip. Dip fresh vegetables like raw carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber spears into a bowl of Caesar dressing. Or, drizzle the dressing over roasted asparagus.
How To Store Homemade Caesar Dressing
Store in a covered container (I like to use a mason jar with a lid) in the fridge for up to 1 week.
More Homemade Dressing Recipes
Caesar Dressing
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup good quality mayonnaise
- ⅓ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic (Use 2 teaspoons if you like less garlic.)
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon anchovy paste
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon Morton kosher salt
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together all ingredients until well combined. Makes just a bit more than 1 cup of dressing.
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