This Caesar Dressing Recipe is a staple in my fridge. It’s easy to blend up using just 7 ingredients, tastes way better than store-bought, and works on everything from salads to grilled chicken.
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Why This Recipe Works
This Caesar Dressing Recipe is one of my kitchen essentials. Here’s why I keep making it over and over again:
- Creamy, Tangy, and Packed With Flavor: This dressing has everything I love. It’s rich from the mayo and Parmesan, bright from fresh lemon juice, and loaded with garlicky, salty goodness. It’s perfectly tangy like my Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing.
- Anchovies Add Real Flavor: I promise it doesn’t taste fishy. The anchovies add a deep, savory backbone that makes this taste like real Caesar, not just another vinaigrette.
- Ridiculously Easy to Make: All I do is toss the ingredients into a jar and blend for 20 seconds. It comes out perfectly smooth and emulsified every time.
- So Much Better Than Store-Bought: This homemade dressing is worlds ahead of the bottled kind. It’s fresher, more balanced, and I can tweak it exactly how I like, like my Homemade Ranch Dressing.
- Perfect for More Than Salad: I drizzle it over grilled chicken, dip veggies into it, and sometimes even spoon it onto roasted potatoes. It’s creamy, tangy, and works with just about everything.
If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give it a rating. I ❤️ hearing from you!
Ingredients
- Mayonnaise – This creates a rich, creamy base that mimics the texture of traditional Caesar dressing without needing raw eggs.
- Parmesan Cheese – Freshly grated Parmesan adds salty, nutty depth and helps give the dressing its classic, savory flavor.
- Garlic – Just a couple of cloves bring sharpness and a little bite that cuts through the creamy base, balancing the overall taste.
- Lemon Juice – Fresh lemon juice brightens the dressing and adds a touch of acidity that lifts all the flavors.
- Dijon Mustard – A small spoonful of Dijon brings gentle heat and complexity, tying everything together.
- Anchovies or Anchovy Paste – These give the dressing its signature umami depth. They don’t make it taste fishy but instead add savory, salty richness that’s hard to replicate.
- Kosher Salt – A pinch enhances all the other flavors and ensures the dressing is perfectly seasoned.
For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.
Instructions
- Add Ingredients: Place mayonnaise, Parmesan, garlic, lemon juice, Dijon, salt, and anchovies in a mason jar.
- Blend: Use an immersion blender, moving it up and down, until the dressing is smooth and emulsified (about 15–30 seconds).
For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.
Substitutions & Variations
Here are some of my favorite substitutions and variations:
- Anchovy Options: I usually add anchovy filets or paste for the best savory depth, but you can replace them with 1 teaspoon of capers for a similar salty, briny note. If you decide to skip anchovies altogether, add an extra teaspoon of Dijon mustard or Worcestershire sauce to help maintain that rich umami flavor.
- Egg-Free Base: Classic mayonnaise gives this dressing its rich texture, but you can use plain Greek yogurt or even soft tofu for a lighter option. These swaps still keep it creamy and are great if you’re looking to skip raw eggs.
- Cheese Choices: Freshly grated Parmesan blends right into the dressing, but if you’d like a sharper, saltier taste, try Pecorino Romano. Always grate it yourself for the best texture.
What to Serve with Caesar Dressing Recipe
Salad Options
- This creamy Caesar dressing is the perfect finishing touch for all kinds of salads. We love it drizzled over a Slow Roasted Rib Eye Steak With Veggies and Grilled Caesar Salad for a hearty, satisfying meal.
- It’s also great tossed with a Kale Caesar Salad, a Radicchio Caesar Salad, or folded into a Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad for a more filling option.
Other Sides
- Caesar dressing isn’t just for salads. Try serving it as a dip with Crispy Air Fryer Potatoes, alongside Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets, or even with Sweet Potato Fries In Air Fryer.
- For a fun snack board or appetizer spread, set out this Caesar dressing with Air Fryer Tortilla Chips or a platter of fresh cut veggies like carrots, cucumbers, and bell peppers.
FAQs
Anchovies give Caesar dressing its classic salty, savory flavor. They do not make it taste fishy. If you prefer, you can swap them for capers, or add a little extra Dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce to get a similar depth.
Freshly grated Parmesan makes a big difference. It melts into the dressing and creates a smoother, creamier texture. Pre-grated cheese tends to be drier and won’t blend as well.
A regular blender or small food processor works perfectly. If you don’t have either, grate the garlic and cheese, finely mince the anchovies, then whisk everything together by hand in a bowl until smooth.
Yes, this homemade Caesar dressing is naturally low in carbs and works well for keto. It’s delicious on salads, grilled meats, or as a dip.
Store the dressing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. You can also freeze it in ice cube trays, then thaw a few cubes overnight in the fridge when you’re ready to use it.
More Sauce Recipes You’ll Enjoy
- Pineapple Dressing Recipe – This Pineapple Dressing recipe is my go-to when I want to brighten up a salad. It’s sweet, tangy, and bursting with tropical flavor.
- Chimichurri Sauce – This vibrant green sauce packs a punch with its unique combination of fresh herbs, citrus, and a hint of saltiness from capers.
- Mushroom Sauce for Steak – This 15-minute Mushroom Sauce for Steak showcases earthy baby bella mushrooms, savory aromatics, and tangy Dijon mustard bathed in a rich and cheesy sauce.
- Burger Sauce Recipe – This Burger Sauce recipe is my go-to for leveling up homemade burgers. It’s creamy, tangy, and full of flavor with just the right kick.
If you try this recipe, let me know what you think! Rate and review this recipe in the comments below. Don’t forget to take a picture and tag me on Instagram @lenaskitchenblog!
Caesar Dressing Recipe
Equipment
- Immersion blender or blender
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 2 cloves garlic, or more to taste
- ½ large lemon, juiced
- 1 ½ teaspoons Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 filets anchovies, or 1 ½ teaspoons anchovy paste
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a large mason jar.
- Use an immersion blender to blend all of the ingredients together. Pull the blender up and down until the dressing has emulsified. Blending will only take around 15-30 seconds.
- Stir the dressing, and taste to adjust the seasoning if needed. Tasting is key to achieving the perfect taste. You may want a little more anchovy, salt, or lemon.
- Serve with romaine lettuce, croutons, and your choice of protein (such as grilled chicken). Keep the dressing refrigerated and eat within 2 weeks.
Notes
- Use high-quality, freshly grated Parmesan for the best flavor and a rich, creamy texture.
- Don’t worry about the anchovies making it taste fishy. They add a balanced, salty depth that’s essential to true Caesar dressing.
- Taste the dressing after blending and adjust with more lemon, salt, or anchovy to suit your preference.
- This dressing is easiest to make with an immersion blender directly in a jar. You can also use a regular blender or small food processor.
- If you don’t have a blender, grate the garlic and cheese, finely mince the anchovies, then whisk everything together in a bowl.
- For a lighter version, try replacing the mayo with plain Greek yogurt or soft tofu.
- If you want to skip anchovies, use 1 teaspoon of capers or add extra Dijon and a splash of Worcestershire sauce to help replace the savory notes.
- Keep the dressing stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
- It can also be frozen in ice cube trays, then thawed in the fridge overnight for easy single servings.
- This dressing is perfect on a classic Caesar salad, with grilled chicken, or even drizzled over baked sweet potatoes for a savory side.
Nora
First, my you be blessed forever from the Heavens for sharing a Cesaer dressing without eggs. I’m 70 & haven’t yet overcome my distaste for eggs in any form after growing on a midwest dairy farm where eggs were the breakfast faire until I said “no more!”. After that it was Cream of Wheat. Yes, I was lucky to have a stay at home mom on the farm & she was the best. I was so excited to view this recipe that I haven’t even tried it yet, but I will shortly. There’s nothing not to like about the ingredients though. Thank you.
lena gladstone
Happy to hear that Nora.
Kelsey
Love this dressing! I’ll be making this again and next time I will make my own mayo beforehand! Thank youuuu Lena!
Elizabeth
Made this Caesar dressing last night and it was delicious. I love how fresh it tasted. Way better than store bought dressing! Yum!
Larisa G
I don’t know why I never thought about making my own dressing? So easy, and quick to make, and I know exactly what’s going in my body! We loved it, definitely saving this to my recipes!
lena
It’s simply the Best! I keep a double batch in the fridge at all times, it’s my family’s favorite recipe. So happy you love it too.
Jana
The most tasty and easiest Caesar Dressing you will find. It is in my refrigerator at all times!!
lena
I love this recipe so much, one of my favorites. So happy you loved it too.
Checka
This is my moms recipe and I use it all the time at my dads and love it
Emily
My new go-to recipe for salad dressing! It’s so delicious!
Angela moyseyuk
A must for a good ceases salad!! Love this recipe !
Olga DeGiovanni
Easiest and tastiest Caesar dressing recipe (used your recipe to make the Mayo too) so it was all from scratch!
Stephanie Major
This is my go-to dressing recipe. It’s easy to make and simply delicious!!
Julia
I made this in a pinch in about 5 minutes. It was a delicious change to our old standby vinaigrette and elevated the meal perfectly. I will definitely add this to my rotation.
Inna
Have this in my fridge at all times. It’s sooo good!
Erlinda
This is the best dressing, restaurant quality! I’ll be making this often.
Larisa Sidorov
Best Caesar ever!!! I loved Lenas old recipe too, but this one is so smooth and creamy, I love it. So easy to make and only a few ingredients to make it. Do yourself a favor and make this ASAP!!! Best dressing ever.
Courtney
This is amazing! so delicious!! You need the anchovy paste.
Courtney
deliciously simply perfect!
Tracy
Oh my goodness this was fantastic! I didn’t have anchovies ( love then though) so I substituted fares and it was FABULOUS!!
Alina
BOMB . COM
You don’t ever have to buy ceaser dressing ever because you most likely already have the ingredients in your pantry to make this incredible dressing! So creamy, so good. We added extra garlic and a few extra anchovies and let me tell you it was so yummy! You gotta try it!
lena
Oh! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! It’s one of our absolute favorites. I make a double batch weekly, that’s how much my family loves this recipe.