Easy Caesar Dressing Recipe (2024)

Home Easy Caesar Salad Dressing (10 Minutes & No Blender!)

By Natasha

Aug 03, 2018, Updated Mar 01, 2024

4.88

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This easy creamy Caesar salad dressing recipe comes together fast, and you don’t need any fancy ingredients to make it. It’s better than store-bought or at a restaurant!

Making Caesar salad? You definitely need to add in myEasy Homemade Croutons.

Easy Caesar Dressing Recipe (2)

Why you’ll love it

This quick and easy Caesar dressing is the one you’ve been searching for. It’s so good. It’s incredibly simple to whip up on busy weeknights, and it doesn’t make a mess like other more involved versions do. You don’t have to deal with a blender, no food processor, nada.

You will never go back to the stuff in a bottle after trying this homemade Caesar dressing with pantry ingredients since you can feel good knowing exactly what’s going into it. I’m pretty picky when it comes to Caesar dressing, and this is by far my favorite!

What you’ll need

  • Mayonnaise – mayo makes a wonderful creamy base so that there are no raw eggs, and it eliminates all the guesswork. I use Hellmann’s mayo. You can also make your own mayo, but honestly the pre-made stuff is great for salad dressings.
  • Sour cream – adds more creaminess and a tangy zip
  • Worcestershire sauce – Worcestershire sauce contains anchovies, so we’re not using whole anchovies like other recipes do. This gives it just enough of that signature anchovy umami flavor in a great Caesar dressing without it being overwhelming!
  • Fresh lemon juice – for a pop of acidity and bright freshness
  • Dijon mustard – it’s a beloved trick of mine to give dressings and sauces even more savory depth of flavor
  • Garlic – we’ve got a good amount of fresh garlic here
  • Parmesan – freshly grated parmesan cheese is an absolute must in any Caesar dressing for that nutty, cheesy quality

Tools for this recipe

Check out Natasha’s favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!

Easy Caesar Dressing Recipe (3)

Pro tip

The S&L kitchen feels this Caesar dressing is perfect as written, but not everyone’s tastebuds are the same, and that’s totally okay! Feel free to adjust to your own preferences. Need more lemon juice? Add it. More salt or pepper? More garlic? Don’t be shy!

How to make Caesar salad dressing

This is an overview, and full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

  • Grate your parmesan.
  • Add all the ingredients to a small bowl or a measuring cup. Stir or whisk until smooth.
  • Chill if desired in the fridge, and then drizzle it over romaine lettuce, croutons, and parm!

Substitutions and variations

  • You could leave the parmesan cheese out, but I recommend including it. It really tastes much better with it in here. You could also sub for asiago cheese in a pinch.
  • If your heart is set on using anchovies or anchovy paste, you could, but I prefer Worcestershire sauce. Be careful not to overdo it if you do go that route!
  • Need to make it vegetarian? Sub in some minced capers instead of the Worcestershire sauce for that briny, savory flavor. Start with 1 tbsp and adjust from there.

Leftovers and storage

  • This Caesar dressing recipe yields about a cup of dressing, so it’ll make two decently sized salads or one large one, so you probably won’t have leftovers!
  • But if you do have leftovers or doubled the recipe, this dressing will keep in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the fridge.

What to serve with Caesar salad

  • Caesar salad goes with basically any main course, but I love it with this Creamy Garlic Chicken, Easy Pan Seared Pork Chops Recipe, or these Garlic Butter Steak Bites!
  • Want to make something other than a classic Caesar salad with this dressing? Try my Chicken Caesar Crostini or this Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad.

More homemade salad dressing recipes

  • Homemade Ranch Dressing
  • Creamy Balsamic Dressing (Easy, No Blender!)
  • Simple Homemade Honey Mustard Dressing (Dairy-free)
  • Chipotle Cilantro Lime Ranch Dressing
  • Creamy Pesto Dressing
Easy Caesar Dressing Recipe (4)

Is this your new favorite Caesar salad dressing recipe? You’re only about 10 minutes away from finding out. Leave a star rating and review below if you made it!

Easy Caesar Dressing Recipe (5)

4.88 from 63 votes

Easy Caesar Salad Dressing

By Natasha Bull

This easy creamy Caesar salad dressing recipe comes together fast, and you don't need any fancy ingredients to make it. It's better than store-bought or at a restaurant!

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Total: 10 minutes mins

Servings: 16 tablespoons

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Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
  • 3/4 cup mayo
  • 2 tablespoons sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 large clove garlic minced
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Grate your parmesan cheese.

  • Add all ingredients to a medium bowl. Give everything a good stir (or whisk it) until the dressing is smooth. Taste and adjust as needed.

  • Serve immediately or chill first.Dressing will keep in the fridge, covered, for a few days.

Notes

  • I encourage you to play with the ingredient quantities if the taste isn’t exactly what you’re looking for. I’ll occasionally make this without measuring and I usually end up adding more Worcestershire and Dijon than written.
  • Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information. Serving size in this salad dressing is one tablespoon (it makes about a cup in total).

Nutrition

Serving: 1tablespoon, Calories: 82kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 7mg, Sodium: 97mg, Potassium: 3mg, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 30IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 20mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

© Salt & Lavender Inc. Content and photographs are copyrighted. Sharing this blog post is much appreciated, but copying and pasting full recipes without authorization to social media is strictly prohibited.

Leave a star rating and comment below!

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Easy Caesar Dressing Recipe (6)

Hi! I’m Natasha.

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168 Comments

  1. Yes, we love it! My kids & grandkids love this because it’s delicious & so easy to make

    Reply

    1. Wonderful!! 😀 Thank you, Karen!

      Reply

Easy Caesar Dressing Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is real Caesar salad dressing made of? ›

Mince 3 cloves of garlic and place in a small bowl. Add mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, anchovies, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard; mix well to combine. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Refrigerate until ready to use.

What are the two types of Caesar dressing? ›

Caesar salad dressing comes in a few basic forms. First, some are creamy, like ranch dressing, while others are more like vinaigrette, with a visible separation of oil and water-based ingredients.

What are the ingredients in craft Caesar dressing? ›

Soybean Oil, Water, Vinegar, Romano and Parmesan Made from Cow's Milk Cheeses (Part-skim Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes), Sugar, Egg Yolks, Salt, Contains Less Than 2% of Dried Garlic, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Spice (Contains Celery), Corn Syrup, Xanthan Gum, Dried Onions, Whey, Cream, Modified Food Starch, ...

What is the difference between creamy and classic Caesar dressing? ›

The classic version is oil based, vinaigrette style. I love a good vinaigrette, but I prefer my Caesar dressing to be creamy, so I use mayonnaise instead. Because the mayonnaise is already smooth and emulsified, it makes a wonderful base for creamy dressings.

Why is Caesar dressing so fatty? ›

Caesar dressing is made with egg yolks, salt, and oil. These ingredients produce a dressing that is often high in saturated fat and sodium. While light and fat-free Caesar dressings exist, they typically only reduce fat and not sodium.

Does Real Caesar dressing have anchovies in it? ›

Does Caesar Salad Dressing Have Anchovies In It? While anchovy fish or anchovy paste is an ingredient in some Caesar salad dressing recipes, the original recipe did not use this particularly pungent ingredient. You can make this creamy dressing without any fish at all, or use a different type altogether if you prefer.

What is in Panera Caesar dressing? ›

Soybean Oil, Water, Egg Yolk, Worcestershire Sauce (Distilled White Vinegar, Anchovies, Garlic, Molasses, Onion, Salt, Sugar, Water, Chili Pepper Extract, Cloves, Natural Flavorings, Tamarind Extract), Red Wine Vinegar, Garlic (Garlic, Water, Citric Acid), Garlic Juice (Garlic, Vinegar, Salt), Anchovy Paste (Anchovies, ...

Can you buy Caesar dressing without anchovies? ›

Gotham Greens offers two different types of Caesar salad dressing, and lucky for us, one of them is totally vegan. Made with miso and Dijon mustard, the dressing also works as a great dip choice thanks to its rich flavor and “peppery kick.”

How long does homemade Caesar dressing last? ›

You can omit the anchovies if you're not a fan. The dressing will still be delicious, but it might not have the same traditional Caesar dressing flavor. How long does homemade Caesar dressing last in the refrigerator? This can be stored for up to 2 weeks.

What is the emulsifier in Caesar dressing? ›

Egg yolks: Raw egg yolks add richness, flavor, and help to bind the dressing together. Pasteurized egg yolks — which have been briefly heated to kill off any harmful bacteria — are readily available and can be used here. Dijon mustard: Smooth Dijon mustard works with the egg yolks to emulsify the dressing.

Which ingredient is not commonly found in a Caesar salad? ›

The ingredient typically not found in a classic Caesar salad is Iceberg lettuce. A traditional Caesar salad, made primarily of romaine lettuce, doesn't include iceberg lettuce. It may vary in different recipes.

Does all Caesar dressing have cheese? ›

Caesar salad is all about that classic creamy dressing. The dressing should have plenty of garlic and Parmesan cheese, a bit of briny anchovies, and lots of black pepper. This classic uses raw egg yolks to build a creamy emulsion without any cream.

Why does Caesar dressing taste so good? ›

Pungent but not too strong, Caesar dressing comes together easily with a lineup of common ingredients—eggs and oil (or an even easier option, mayonnaise); garlic; lemon or white wine vinegar; a splash of Worcestershire; a dollop of Dijon; and ideally, a few anchovies.

What is Royal Caesar dressing? ›

Royal Caesar Dressing

Robust and impressive, creamy version of this American classic that is rich with aged Parmesan cheese and just a hint of anchovy, blended with soybean oil, eggs, cider vinegar, garlic, onion, lemon juice, black pepper and worcestershire sauce.

Why is my Caesar dressing not thickening? ›

The key to a thicker dressing is to slowly drizzle in the oil while whisking vigorously. This keeps the dressing emulsified and also helps incorporate more air into the dressing to help it thicken up. It will get even thicker in the refrigerator as the oil cools.

Does Caesar salad dressing contain vinegar? ›

Knowing how to make caesar salad dressing is the most involved part, really, but even that is super quick and easy. Like most salad dressings, homemade caesar salad dressing is made from an emulsified combination of oil, vinegar, and some seasonings.

Does all Caesar dressing have raw eggs? ›

But commercially prepared dressings are usually made with pasteurized eggs. The pasteurization process kills off bacteria (like salmonella) that raw eggs can harbor — which means they can't bug you or your baby. So go ahead, seize that bottle of commercially prepared Caesar and get busy.

Why is Caesar dressing not vegetarian? ›

Caesar dressing gets its umami-rich flavor from anchovies and Worcestershire sauce, and its creamy texture from egg yolks and parmesan cheese. None of those things are vegan. So, how do you recreate that classic caesar flavor without any animal products? Many companies have tried, but only a few succeeded.

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