Easy Caesar Dressing Recipe (2024)

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

By Natasha

Aug 03, 2018, Updated Mar 01, 2024

4.87

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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)

4.87 from 60 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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162 Comments

  1. Easy Caesar Dressing Recipe (7)
    So quick and simple! Will be making it this way from now on and sharing the recipe with my kids!! Thank you ☺️

    Reply

    1. You’re very welcome, Meg!! 😀

      Reply

  2. Easy Caesar Dressing Recipe (8)
    Really good!!!!!

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much, Lynette!

      Reply

  3. Easy Caesar Dressing Recipe (9)
    This was so good and so easy to make!

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much!! I just had some today myself haha I make it often. 😀

      Reply

      1. Easy Caesar Dressing Recipe (10)
        2 thumbs up for this recipe. Will make this from now on.

        Reply

        1. Thank you!!

          Reply

  4. Easy Caesar Dressing Recipe (11)
    Fantastic recipe! Easy, quick, foolproof. I am currently living abroad for school and bottled Caesar dressing is not available. I also don’t have any kitchen tools (i.e. food processor, blender etc). Luckily, I do have a micro plane which I used for the garlic, and modified with extra garlic for my taste. I also didn’t have Worchestershire, so I splashed in soy sauce for umami. I followed the ratios of the other ingredients, eyeballing measurements of course. At first taste, I was amazed, it was totally delish and exactly what I wanted! It only took moments to throw together, stirred up with a spoon. I’m so glad I found this recipe!!!! 😀

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much, Megan!! 😀 Glad you were able to adapt it based on ingredients you can source. Appreciate your review!

      Reply

  5. Easy Caesar Dressing Recipe (12)
    Super easy and delicious dressing!

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much, Madie!! 😀 I literally just finished some for lunch haha.

      Reply

  6. This is really good & quick to make. Way better than bottled & not as “fussy” to assemble as recipes using egg yolks. I used Greek yogurt to replace mayo, then mayo for the yogurt/sour cream ratio. A little lighter & still tasted great.

    Reply

    1. So glad you liked it!

      Reply

  7. I added a teaspoon of anchovies paste! Your thoughts?

    Reply

    1. Hi! Did you like it? That’s the important thing! 😀 I personally do like anchovy paste, but some people do not, and that is why I use Worcestershire sauce here (it contains anchovies but is much milder). I find it’s easy to overdo anchovy paste, but when the right quantity is added, it’s amazing!

      Reply

  8. Easy Caesar Dressing Recipe (13)
    I am a Caesar salad connoisseur and by far this dressing is the best. I’ve tried many and sworn by them until this. Simply the best!

    Reply

    1. Yay!! I’m thrilled to hear that. I feel the same way haha I make it often! 😀 Appreciate your review!

      Reply

Easy Caesar Dressing Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is classic Caesar dressing made of? ›

To make the dressing: Mash anchovy fillets and garlic in a large salad bowl. Add lemon juice, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, egg yolk, and Worcestershire sauce; whisk until smooth and creamy. Gradually stream in olive oil while whisking constantly. Season with salt and black pepper.

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 to use instead of anchovies in Caesar dressing? ›

Worcestershire Sauce- The most common substitute for anchovy filets or anchovy paste in Caesar dressing is Worcestershire sauce. It is typically made with anchovies and provides a similar savory, umami flavor.

What is creamy Caesar dressing made of? ›

Process mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, half-and-half, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce with anchovy mixture until dressing is creamy. Refrigerate for 1 hour or more before serving.

What does a real Caesar salad contain? ›

Caesar salad is made with romaine lettuce, croutons, Parmesan cheese, and Caesar dressing. The dressing is a mixture of olive oil, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, and garlic. Tip: Skip the shaky cheese. Shaved Parmesan makes a big difference with this dish, elevating both presentation and flavor.

Do most Caesar dressings have anchovies? ›

Cardini's daughter and several other sources have testified that the original recipe used only Worcestershire sauce, not anchovies, mustard, or herbs, which Cardini considered too bold in flavor. Modern recipes typically include anchovies as a key ingredient, and are frequently emulsified or based on mayonnaise.

What is the difference between Thousand Island and French dressing? ›

The Thousand Island dressing combines ketchup, mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, vinegar, minced onion and garlic. In contrast, the French dressing is composed of olive oil, vinegar, mustard, ketchup, sugar, and paprika, among other seasonings. The former is mayo-based, while the latter relies more on vegetable oil.

How long does homemade caesar dressing last in the fridge? ›

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.

Does Olive Garden Caesar dressing have anchovies? ›

Eggs, garlic paste, lemon juice, anchovy paste, red wine vinegar, Worcester Sauce, Tabasco Sauce, Parmesan Cheese, vegetable oil, salt and pepper, coarse ground Dijon mustard…

What can I use instead of Worcestershire sauce in Caesar dressing? ›

Best Worcestershire Sauce Substitutes
  1. Soy sauce. ...
  2. Soy sauce + ketchup. ...
  3. Soy sauce + apple juice. ...
  4. Miso paste + water. ...
  5. Soy sauce + apple cider vinegar + red pepper flakes. ...
  6. Soy sauce + hoisin sauce + apple cider vinegar. ...
  7. Soy sauce + lemon juice + granulated sugar + hot sauce.
Jul 31, 2019

What brand of Caesar dressing doesn't have 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.”

Why does Caesar salad taste so good? ›

Caesar salad is a universally pleasing dish because it touches on multiple flavor components. Taste: umami/saltiness from the anchovy and parmesan is balanced by the acidic lemon juice. Aroma & physical: The dijon, garlic, and black pepper add interesting aromatics but also a pungent bite.

How to make Caesar salad dressing Jamie Oliver? ›

For the Caesar dressing, finely grate the Parmesan into a bowl, add the mustard, Worcestershire sauce and yoghurt, and whisk to combine. Squeeze in the lemon juice, add 8 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and mix again. Taste and season to perfection, loosening with a splash of water, if needed.

Why is cesar salad healthy? ›

Romaine lettuce, the main ingredient in Caesar salads, provides fiber and other essential nutrients. It contains lutein and vitamin C, both of which can guard against macular degeneration, which leads to blindness in seniors.

Does all Caesar dressing have anchovies? ›

Cardini's daughter and several other sources have testified that the original recipe used only Worcestershire sauce, not anchovies, mustard, or herbs, which Cardini considered too bold in flavor. Modern recipes typically include anchovies as a key ingredient, and are frequently emulsified or based on mayonnaise.

Is classic Caesar dressing healthy? ›

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.

Is Caesar dressing made from mayo? ›

Step-by-Step Instructions. Begin by whisking together the garlic, anchovy paste, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Next, whisk in the mayonnaise, Parmigiano-Reggiano, salt, and pepper. The dressing will keep well in the fridge for about a week.

Does all Caesar dressing have cheese? ›

What is classic Caesar salad dressing made of? A Ceasar salad dressing is made with Parmesan cheese, egg (or egg yolks alone), freshly ground black pepper, olive oil (preferably extra virgin olive oil), anchovies (or anchovy paste), Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard and garlic.

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