Craving a creamy, flavorful Caesar dressing? Skip the store-bought bottles loaded with unrecognizable ingredients and preservatives. This homemade easy Caesar dressing uses simple ingredients and a mini food processor to create a dressing that rivals anything you'd find at a restaurant.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Made with real lemon juice, garlic, and the magic touch of anchovies, this dressing boasts a rich, savory depth of flavor that perfectly complements romaine lettuce, croutons, and Parmesan cheese.
- Fresh & Flavorful: Homemade Caesar dressing allows you to control the quality of ingredients, resulting in a brighter, more flavorful dressing compared to store-bought options.
- Simple & Quick: This recipe comes together in under 10 minutes, perfect for busy weeknight meals.
- Customizable: Feel free to adjust the ingredients to your taste preferences. Add more anchovies for a stronger savory punch, or omit completely! Add an additional squeeze of lemon juice for a bit more tanginess.
Ingredients You'll Need
Packed with the savory goodness of anchovies, balanced with the tang of lemon juice and the richness of Parmesan cheese, this easy Caesar dressing is bursting with flavor and comes together in a matter of minutes.
- Mayonnaise - use your favorite brand
- Greek Yogurt - plain
- Parmesan cheese, shredded
- Lemon juice, fresh squeezed
- Anchovies (plus a tablespoon of their oil)
- Garlic, fresh minced
- Dijon mustard
- Salt - to taste
- Black pepper - to taste
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How To Make Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing
In less than 10 minutes, you can have a restaurant-quality Caesar salad dressing ready to go. So skip the store-bought varieties and embrace the ease and flavor of homemade Caesar dressing!
Add Ingredients To A Mini Food Processor
- Place the mayonnaise, plain yogurt, lemon juice, and Dijon mustard into a mini food processor.
Grate or Mince The Fresh Garlic
- Add the Parmesan cheese, anchovies, salt and the black pepper.
- Finely mince, or grate the fresh garlic into the mixture.
Pulse Until Smooth and Creamy
- Pulse the mini food processor until the mixture is creamy and smooth.
Transfer To A Clean Storage Jar
- Transfer to a clean pint sized Mason jar for storage and refrigerate for at least an hour for flavors to blend.
- Serve on your salad. You can dress a full salad with 4 to 6 oz of the Caesar dressing, or ladle a tablespoon or two on individual salad plate. Enjoy!
Substitutions and Variations
Here are a few delicious variations or substitutions when making this easy Caesar dressing.
- If you don't have fresh garlic cloves, you can substitute ½ teaspoon of garlic powder.
- Grated Pecorino Romano cheese can be used as a substitute for Parmesan cheese.
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice offers the brightest flavor. Bottled lemon juice can be used in a pinch.
Tips for Success
Here are a few tips for making this recipe:
- Fresh garlic and lemon juice will result in the most flavorful dressing.
- Pulse the dressing until it reaches a smooth and creamy texture.
Serving Suggestions
This easy Caesar dressing is perfect for topping romaine lettuce salads with croutons and Parmesan cheese shavings. It also pairs well with grilled chicken, shrimp, or salmon.
Related Recipes
- Warm Brussel Sprout Salad w Maple Dressing
- Cold Wild Rice Salad With Apples
- Pistachio Crusted Salmon
- Sous Vide Roast Beef (Eye of Round)
- Air Fryer Broccolini
Storage Options
- Store leftover Caesar dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Note: Caesar dressing is not freezer safe due to the presence of mayonnaise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can omit the anchovies altogether. The dressing will have a milder flavor, but it will still be delicious.
Use real mayonnaise, not the sweet salad dressing like Miracle Whip. Any mayonnaise you like will work. Full-fat mayonnaise will yield a richer dressing, while light mayonnaise will result in a lighter version.
Yes, a blender can be used also.
More Delish Ideas
Easy Caesar Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt
- ½ lemon juiced
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese shredded
- 2 canned anchovies
- 1 tablespoon oil from the anchovies
- ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper or to taste
- 2 cloves garlic minced
Instructions
- Place the mayonnaise, plain yogurt, lemon juice, and Dijon mustard into a mini food processor.1 cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup Greek yogurt, ½ lemon, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Add the Parmesan cheese, anchovies and oil, salt and the black pepper.¼ cup Parmesan cheese, 2 canned anchovies, 1 tablespoon oil, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Finely mince, or grate the fresh garlic into the mixture.2 cloves garlic
- Pulse the mini food processor until the mixture is creamy and smooth.
- Transfer to a clean pint sized Mason jar for storage and refrigerate for at least an hour for flavors to blend.
- Serve on your salad. You can dress a full salad with 4 to 6 oz of the Caesar dressing, or ladle a tablespoon or two on individual salad plate. Enjoy!
Notes
- Use Fresh Ingredients: Fresh garlic and lemon juice make a big difference in the final flavor.
- Start with Low Power: When using a food processor, begin by pulsing on low power to avoid over-processing the dressing.
- Taste and Adjust: Don't be afraid to taste your dressing as you go and adjust the seasonings to your liking.
- Let the Flavors Meld: If possible, let the dressing sit in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
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