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The Best Homemade Caesar Salad: Easy 15-Minute Recipe

The Best Homemade Caesar Salad in a wooden bowl on a marble counter.

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A classic homemade Caesar salad featuring crisp romaine lettuce, crunchy homemade croutons, and a creamy, flavorful Caesar dressing made from scratch.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 cups torn bread cubes (about half of a small loaf)
  • 2–3 tablespoons olive oil
  • Heavy pinch of salt
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon anchovy paste
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 head romaine lettuce, washed and chopped into bite-sized pieces
  • 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated, shaved, or shredded

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).

2. Drizzle bread cubes with olive oil until lightly coated and toss with a pinch of salt.

3. Spread bread cubes on a baking sheet and bake for 7–10 minutes until golden brown, stirring occasionally to prevent burning. Set aside to cool.

4. In a bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, minced garlic, lemon juice, anchovy paste, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, coarse salt, and black pepper to create the dressing.

5. Refrigerate the dressing until ready to use.

6. In a large bowl, toss the chopped romaine lettuce with enough dressing to lightly coat the leaves.

7. Add half of the croutons and half of the Parmesan cheese and toss gently.

8. Top with the remaining croutons and Parmesan cheese and serve immediately.

Notes

Homemade croutons can be made several days ahead and stored in an airtight container.

The dressing can be prepared up to 1 week in advance and stored in the refrigerator.

For extra flavor, add freshly shaved Parmesan and a squeeze of lemon just before serving.