This homemade Caesar salad dressing lasts well in the fridge so you can make it ahead, then serve it up for classic Caesar salads throughout the week. This is kid-friendly and very easy!
Caesar salad was the gateway salad for my kids—it’s the first one they enjoyed and the way they learned that they do, in fact, like salad. For a while we relied on salad kits from the store, but as our family (and appetites) have grown, I wanted an easy homemade option I could use that cost less and made the logistics of salads for my family straight forward.
This recipe is the answer. It’s a version of a recipe my mom has made for a while, with a thinner consistency (so it’s easier to mix) and a little less mustard. There’s also the option to add garlic or not, so you can customize it for your family and their preferences. (It’s delicious both ways, so take the shortcut of not adding garlic if that’s easier for you.)
This homemade salad dressing doesn’t have raw egg, so it’s safe for pregnant women and little kids.
Also: It’s SO yummy!
(You may also like Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad, Italian Chicken Cutlets, and easy meatball recipes.)
Table of Contents
Ingredients You Need
Here’s a look at what you need so you know what to pick up at the store or grab from the pantry. The good news is that if you do need to purchase ingredients, they last so you can make the dressing a handful of times (or more) before you need to restock.
- Mayonnaise: Or you can use plain whole Milk Greek yogurt as a somewhat less conventional, but still very creamy, base. Use vegan mayo, if needed.
- Grated Parmesan cheese: Grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese has more flavor than purchased shredded versions, so that is my preference here.
- Fresh lemon juice: Measure (or approximate) from about ½ large lemon or a whole medium lemon. The amount of juice in any one lemon can vary, so you may want to measure the first time you make this.
- Worcestershire sauce: This adds an undertone of flavor that helps it taste like classic Caesar.
- Anchovy paste: This is usually sold near the canned tuna in a tube. Once opened, you’ll want to store it in the fridge, but it lasts for months.
- Dijon mustard: Any type of smooth Dijon mustard works here so use a favorite brand.
- Garlic clove: This is optional as it can be a very strong flavor that the kids may or may not enjoy. If using, you can mince or grate it on a fine microplane. The dressing works with or without it!
- Salt and black pepper for extra flavor.
Step-by-Step Instructions
This homemade Caesar dressing is as simple as stirring the ingredients together.
- Add the ingredients to a medium bowl. Add the garlic if using.
- Stir very well.
- To make the dressing a little less thick and easy to toss with lettuce, thin with a little water.
- Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
How to Store
Once mixed, store the homemade Caesar dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Our family usually gets 2-3 family-size salads from one batch of dressing.
Best Tips for Success
- Adding fresh garlic adds flavor, but can be a very strong one so whether or not you add it is up to you.
- Look for anchovy paste near the canned tuna. It’s usually sold in a tube that’s packaged in a cardboard box.
- Look for Worcestershire sauce near the mayonnaise and mustard, or other condiments, in your store.
- Use dressing on chopped Romaine with croutons for a classic Caesar Salad.
- Add chicken tenders or chicken nuggets for a chicken Caesar salad.
- Toss dressing with cooked, slightly cooled pasta for a Caesar pasta salad.
Related Recipes
I’d love to hear your feedback on this post, so please comment below to share!
Easy Homemade Caesar Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise (or plain whole milk Greek yogurt)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from about ½ large lemon)
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon anchovy paste
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 garlic clove (minced or grated on a fine microplane; optional)
- ¼ salt
- ¼ black pepper
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a medium bowl. Add the garlic if using. Stir well.
- Add 2-3 tablespoons water to thin to desired consistency.
- Use or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Equipment
Notes
- Store dressing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks.
- Adding fresh garlic adds flavor, but can be a very strong one so whether or not you add it is up to you.
- Look for anchovy paste near the canned tuna. It’s usually sold in a tube that’s packaged in a cardboard box.
- Look for Worcestershire sauce near the mayonnaise and mustard, or other condiments, in your store.
- Use dressing on chopped Romaine with croutons for a classic Caesar Salad.
- Add chicken tenders or chicken nuggets for a chicken Caesar salad.
- Toss dressing with cooked, slightly cooled pasta for a Caesar pasta salad.
Nutrition
This post was first published October 2022.
This is legitimately the best Caesar dressing I’ve had and super easy to make! I prefer it over the bottled options at the supermarket and my toddler loves it on salad. We’re a garlic loving family, so I usually put in two cloves. I make adding the garlic even easier by using frozen cubes of garlic puree that I find in my supermarket’s frozen veggie section.
I’m so glad to hear that!
Never going back to store bought again. Wasn’t able to find anchovy paste on my last store run, but this still tastes pretty yummy even without it. Thanks Amy!
I LOVE THIS!!!!! I never like bottled Caesar from the grocery store and only prefer Caesar salad from restaurants, because their dressing is so much better. This recipe is restaurant quality and EASY. Thanks, Amy!
My daughter has an egg allergy and I love that so many of your recipes are easy to make egg free! I haven’t found a good egg free Cesar dressing, but this will be easy to make with vegan mayo (which tastes like regular to me.) Thanks!
Enjoy it!
I absolutely second this! My son also has an egg allergy and I came here to review and say the same thing. Thank you for your recipes! So happy to have come across this.
Are the last two ingredients 1/4 teaspoon? The recipe I’m seeing online today just says 1/4 salt and 1/4 pepper.
Thank you for all you do!
Want to make this but would this be considered pregnancy safe?
Yes, there are no raw eggs which is the thing that sometimes makes Caesar dressing unsafe for pregnancy.
This is just next level! My daughter wouldn’t even touch lettuce, but has been obsessed once I covered it with this dressing. Here in Brazil it’s hard to find Caesar dressing in stores (let alone good ones) so this recipe has definitely made me happy!
The best Caesar dressing I’ve EVER had!! I’ve been making it weekly.
Hi Amy! I see you have homemade chicken nugget recipes, but what store bought Dino one is pictured? Thanks!
Hi- the ones pictured are a brand called Yummy Dino Nuggets and they seem to be very wildly available in freezer aisles. Hope that helps! (We also like Applegate but they are twice the price so we do both!)
I never comment on recipes and I am a huge Caesar salad lover….let me just say you have to make this!!! 10/10. Delicious and easy. Tastes like a restaurant quality Caesar. Was perfect with a Dino nugget dinner!
Love this dressing!
I made it a little less of a few things to customize it, so good!