Food & Drink

10 Ways to Eat Caesar Salad That Go Beyond the Classic Recipe

written by JESSICA FRIEDHOFF
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Source: Two Peas and Their Pod
Source: Two Peas and Their Pod

There are some ingredient combinations that were just made to go together. Peanut butter and jelly, tomato and basil, and bacon and eggs are just a few that come to mind. And if we’re talking about classic combos, I would also argue that the ingredients of a Caesar salad belong in that category. Something about the combination of romaine lettuce, creamy dressing, Parmesan cheese, and crispy croutons just works. It’s a classic for a reason and truly one of the most satisfying things to eat in the summertime (paired with a side of fries, of course). But if you’re looking to switch it up beyond a basic salad, there are tons of ways to put a fun twist on your old reliable. These alternative Caesar salad recipes taste even better than the classic:

1. Crunchy Chicken Caesar Sub

@rachaellsrecipes

I have yet to meet someone who doesn’t like caesar salad. Also, sorry if you don’t like crunchy bread, but turning the bun into garlic bread-like crouton takes it to the next level. ALSO AGAIN, replacing the egg wash with caesar dressing to make it even more extra💅🏼🥬 Crunchy Chicken Caesar Sub *makes 4 sandwiches Sub rolls of choice 1lb chicken tenderloins, tenderized 2 hearts romaine lettuce, washed, dried, chopped Fresh grated parmesan Lemon, juiced Caesar dressing, for salad + 1/2 cup for breading @progresso breadcrumbs or panko for breading Flour for breading @chosenfoods avocado oil For garlic butter 2 heads of garlic, roasted 1 tbsp parsley, finely chopped 8 tbsps unsalted butter, softened 1/8 cup fresh parmesan, grated Salt and pepper *full recipe can be found at http://rachaellsrecipes.com

♬ Lady Love – Piero Piccioni

This sandwich slaps everything you love about a Caesar salad on top of a crunchy, cheesy garlic bread base, and I truly can’t think of anything more perfect.

2. Grilled Romaine Caesar

@maxiskitchen

Grilled romaine caesar✨ . For the Dressing:▪️1 Egg Yolk▪️1/2 Lemon, Juice▪️1 tsp Dijon Mustard▪️1/4 Cup + 2 Tbsp Vegetable Oil▪️3 Anchovies, minced▪️1 Large Garlic Clove, grated or minced▪️1/4 Cup Grated Parmesan▪️1 Tbsp Water▪️ . For the Salad:▪️1 Large Head Romaine or 2 Small▪️Olive Oil▪️Salt & Pepper▪️1/4 Cup Panko Breadcrumbs▪️Grated Parmesan, for serving▪️ . 🌱Vegan Modification: Instead of caesar dressing, whisk together juice of 1/2 a lemon, 1/4 cup olive oil, and a pinch of salt . 1️⃣ First make the dressing: Whisk together the egg yolk, lemon, and dijon; Slowly add in the vegetable oil about 1 tbsp at a time, whisking to incorporate (the mixture should emulsify and thicken) 2️⃣ Add in the anchovies, garlic, parmesan and water; taste and add more lemon if needed then set aside in the fridge 3️⃣ In a small pan over medium heat, toast the panko breadcrumbs (stirring constantly) in 2 tsp olive oil with a pinch of salt until golden brown and then set aside 4️⃣ Rinse the romaine under water to clean (and rinse in between the leaves) and dry with a towel; cut the romaine in half or quarters (depending on how large it is) leaving the root in tact 5️⃣ Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides and grill on a preheated grill or grill pan over medium heat for 1-2 mins per side (until you can see grill marks) 6️⃣ Fan out the leaves and lay flat on the plate; drizzle with dressing and sprinkle with toasted breadcrumbs and more grated parm on top – enjoy! . ⏲25 minute total prep + cook time . Recipe makes 4 appetizer size salads (dressing can stretch to 6-8 salads) . #grilledromaine #saladsoftiktok #cookingtiktok #easysalads #ceasersalads

♬ original sound – Maxine Sharf

Salad is probably not something you’d typically consider throwing on the grill, but this video might just change your mind. Grilling Romaine lettuce gives it a smoky, umami-rich flavor that will totally surprise you, and it goes perfectly with a drizzle of Caesar dressing, some toasted breadcrumbs, and a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese.

3. Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

@jbrndkx

Let’s make the viral caesar pasta salad recipe for dinner tonight!👩🏽‍🍳 #chickenpasta #caesar #caesarsalad #healthyrecipes #chickencaesarsalad

♬ La – DYSTINCT

If you need a dish to bring to a backyard grill-out this summer, look no further. Everyone loves a good pasta salad, and this one is packed with romaine lettuce, crispy chicken, cucumbers, croutons, and Parmesan cheese, all topped off with a squeeze of lime juice and your Caesar dressing of choice.

4. Pesto Chicken Caesar Wrap with Roasted Corn and Avocado

@katieaustin

Every ingredient in this makes this caesar salad wrap SUPERIOR🤌 pesto chicken caesar wrap with roasted corn + avocado.. CANT BEAT IT🤤

♬ Summer – Instrumental – Devinney

A wrap is one of the most classic non-salad Caesar salad recipes out there, but thanks to the addition of pesto, garlic-toasted breadcrumbs, roasted corn, lemon juice, and avocado, this is quite possibly the most delicious-looking variation I’ve seen.

5. Caesar Salad Toast

@mob

Make a massive crouton and whack the salad on top. Done. #salad #crouton #toast #ontoast #saladrecipe #caesar

♬ original sound – Mob

Croutons are obviously the best part of any Caesar salad, and this recipe essentially creates one giant crouton (a piece of bread toasted in oil and garlic) and then pops the salad on top. Genius!

6. Sesame Kale Caesar Salad with Crispy Oven-Roasted Chickpeas

@itslizmiu

SESAME KALE CAESAR SALAD with Crispy Oven-Roasted Chickpeas 🥬 I. AM. SO. PROUD. OF. THIS. LIP. SMACKING. DRESSING. It’s so rich, creamy, tangy aaand it’s easy. Like easy easy. I really love my regular degular caesar dressing but admittedly – it’s not great for you 😅 Played around with the dressing this week to make an infinitely more nourishing version AND tried to avoid hard-to-find ingredients. Usually I’d add a LOT of vegan parme$an and Worcestershire sauce and I also tried to avoid cashews as it seems a lot of people are allergic! (also expen$ive). SO this is what I came up with and it’s still just as delicious. I’m also a self-professed kale-hater but THIS had me inhaling kale like it’s oxygen (see my prep method for kale below). DRESSING 1/2 cup Tahini 1 cup Water 2 tbsp Dijon Mustard 2 tsp Capers 2 tbsp Lemon Juice (1.5 lemnons) 2.5 tsp Soy sauce 4 cloves Garlic 1/2 cup Nutritional Yeast SALAD Kale Romaine/Cos Lettuce Heart Lemon Juice Olive Oil Capers AIR-FRIED TOFU Tofu Olive Oil Salt CRUNCHY CHICKPEAS 2 cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed Olive oil Salt Smoked Paprika Oregano CHICKPEA PREPARATION Preheat oven to 200ºC. Drain chickpeas and rinse. Pour chickpeas onto some tea towels and pat dry (this will help them to crisp up faster and dry properly). Place chickpeas into a bowl with a drizzle of olive oil, a good pinch of salt and some paprika (you can add more if you like but I prefer to keep it simple). Pour chickpeas onto a lined baking tray and place into an oven and bake for 30-40 minutes, stirring every 10 mins or so for even baking. KALE PREPARATION Destem your kale. Wash and spin kale then chop into small bite sized pieces and place into a large mixing bowl. Squeeze the juice of 1/2 a lemon and a small drizzle of olive oil onto the kale and massage the kale for 2 minutes to get soften the leaves a little (this makes it so much more palatable but you can still store it prepped in the fridge like this for days!) #caesarsalad #plantbasedrecipes #vegancaesarsalad

♬ DROP!! – Joey Valence & Brae

Traditional Caesar salad recipes are packed with ingredients that don’t necessarily align with everyone’s dietary preferences. So, if you’re looking for a better-for-you, vegan-friendly version, this recipe might be your new go-to. It combines a tahini-based dressing with kale, air-fried tofu, and crispy roasted chickpeas for a nutritious, texture-rich combo.

7. Elote Grilled Caesar

@madelinethekitchen

Elote Grilled Caesar 🌽🥬🍅 Even better than the last! The tajin casear dressing takes it to another level and you can’t forget the toasted panko breadcrumbs for that salty crunchy topping. Truly so delicious! #ceasar #grilling #food #foodie #dinner #salad #grilledcaesarsalad #explore #fyp #nyc #summer #privatechef

♬ original sound – ur mom <3

If you’re on board with the grilled salad idea, this elote-inspired version takes it to a whole new level. Topped with grilled corn, toasted breadcrumbs, crumbled cotija cheese, and a Tajín Caesar dressing, then served alongside grilled skirt steak, this recipe puts the word “salad” to shame.

8. Salmon Caesar Salad Pitas

Chicken is the classic protein pairing for a Caesar salad, but salmon can work just as well. For this 15-minute recipe, all you have to do is air-fry some salmon, toss together a Caesar salad, then stuff everything into pita bread.

9. Chicken Caesar Salad Pizza

@mamacookslowcarb

Recipe below 👇🏼 This was so good, I could cry 🥹 CHICKEN CRUST CAESAR SALAD PIZZA FOR THE CRUST: 20 oz canned chicken, drained well 1 large egg 1/2 cup grated parmesan 1 tsp garlic powder 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper FOR THE CAESAR DRESSING: 1/2 cup mayo (can be replaced with plain Greek yogurt) 1/4 cup sour cream 1.5 tsp anchovy paste (optional) four cloves garlic 1.5 tablespoons olive oil The zest of half a lemon (optional) 2.5 tablespoons lemon juice 1.5 tsp Dijon mustard 1 TBSP Worcestershire sauce 1/2 tsp cracked black pepper 1/4 C shredded Parmesan salt to taste TO FINISH THE PIZZA: 1 heart of Romaine, chopped Shaved Parmesan to taste Fresh cracked black pepper to taste The zest of 1/4 of a lemon (optional) Balsamic glaze (optional) Preheat your oven to 375°, line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and spray the parchment paper with nonstick cooking spray as well. Combine all the chicken crust ingredients into a bowl and mix while breaking it up really well with a fork, you don’t want any large lumps. pour the mixture onto your prepared, baking sheet and press down using your hands while forming your desired shape for your crust. You want to try to get it about the 1/4 inch thick. Bake for 40-45 minutes. While the crust is baking, prepare the Caesar dressing. Combine all the ingredients into a bowl and mix well. Once the crust is done baking, let it cool for a few minutes (to prevent the lettuce from wilting on top). Spread some of the dressing on top of the crust. Mix the romaine with as much or as little of the Caesar dressing you’d like and place on the crust. Top with grated Parmesan, cracked black pepper, and lemon zest if desired. Balsamic glaze is AMAZING on this as well. ENJOY! 😋 #caesarsalad #caesarsaladpizza #caesarpizza #chickencrustpizza #chickencrust #pizzaandsalad #mealprep #funrecipes #dinnerrecipes #highprotein #highproteinlowcarb #uniquerecipes #viralrecipe

♬ Souvenir De Paris – Martin Taylor

Would I ever actually make this insane chicken-crust pizza topped with Caesar salad IRL? Not likely. But am I intrigued enough to watch the full recipe tutorial when scrolling through TikTok? You bet.

10. Chicken Caesar Lettuce Wraps

@feelgoodfoodie

This chicken Caesar salad wrap is just so good with a satisfying crunch and perfect taste all wrapped in an iceberg lettuce. I saw @nocrumbsleft make it a couple times and I just had to try it! You have to try it! #lettucewrap INGREDIENTS Iceberg lettuce Parmesan cheese Croutons Grilled chicken Pickled onions, optional Caesar salad dressing

♬ Feel Good – Tundra Beats

If you want the convenience of a wrap but not the extra fluff of a whole tortilla, grab a head of iceberg lettuce to make this recipe. Roll up your wrap with some grilled chicken, Parmesan, croutons, pickled red onions, and your dressing of choice for an easy on-the-go lunch.