Healthy Chicken Caesar Salad Recipe

The hit of fresh garlic, crunchy croutons, tender chicken and zesty lemon give so much flavour and texture in every bite of this Caesar salad. The homemade creamy salad dressing is made with Greek yogurt and capers instead of mayonnaise and anchovies for a healthy (and different) twist on a classic salad recipe. Save this to put on your weekly meal plan rotation.

Why you’ll love this recipe

• We swapped out mayonnaise for healthy Greek yogurt
• If you aren’t a fan of anchovies, typically in a Caesar dressing, you can try pickle juice, capers, fish sauce, or apple cider vinegar
• The croutons are made with sourdough instead of white bread, making them more nutritious and gut-friendly
• Homemade dressing eliminates preservatives, excess sodium, additives and sugar
• The extra fresh garlic is an immune-booster
• The whole salad is fresh, vibrant, protein-rich, and satiating

How to make Caesar salad dressing (no mayo)

Dressing Ingredients:

• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice (freshly squeezed is best)
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon crushed up capers (or anchovy paste, pickle juice or apple cider vinegar)
• 1-2 cloves garlic, minced (adjust to taste)
• 1 tablespoon olive or avocado oil
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Dressing Instructions:

1. Combine Ingredients: In a medium mixing bowl, add the Greek yogurt, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, use a fork to crush up the capers (or pickle juice, vinegar, or anchovy paste), minced garlic, and olive oil
2. Mix Well: Whisk everything together until smooth and creamy. If the dressing is too thick, you can add a teaspoon of water or more lemon juice until you reach your desired consistency. To make it extra smooth and creamy, give it a quick whiz in a blender
3. Serve: Drizzle small amounts of the dressing at a time, tossing well, over the chopped greens. Add more dressing, as needed. Top with roasted chicken, garlic sourdough croutons, and Parmesan cheese. Bring the salad alive with a squeeze of fresh lemon before serving

Have leftover dressing: Store any leftover Caesar dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can also use it as a dip for veggies or in sandwiches. If you have leftover lettuce and chicken, roll it up in a tortilla with some Caesar dressing for a delicious Chicken Caesar Wrap

How to make the chicken for the salad

Preheat the oven to 400F. Line a baking dish or oven-safe dish with parchment paper. This step is optional, but saves on clean-up time

Place chicken in a bowl and drizzle 2 thawed, boneless and skinless chicken breasts with olive oil, sea salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Use your hands to coat the chicken well on both sides with the oil and seasonings. Place onto the baking dish

Bake the chicken for 30 minutes. Let it cool for 5 minutes then slice it into thin strips. Distribute the strips onto a plate with Caesar salad that has been tossed with dressing. Top with croutons, Parmesan cheese and serve with a lemon wedge

How to make the sourdough croutons

These croutons will be going into the oven for the last 10 minutes that the chicken is cooking

Chop a small baguette or loaf of sourdough bread into small cubes and place in a mixing bowl

Prepare a small baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside

Drizzle with olive or avocado oil, sea salt, pepper, garlic powder, and dried parsley

Transfer the croutons to the baking sheet and place in the oven while the chicken is baking, at the same temperature. I usually put them in the oven for the last 10 minutes that the chicken is cooking so that they come out at the same time

Let the croutons cool while the chicken is resting and while you finish plating the salad. Use them to garnish the salad

FAQ

What else can I add to a Caesar salad?

Feel free to add thinly sliced red onion, chopped cherry tomatoes, extra capers, or crispy bacon bits to the salad.

What kind of lettuce is best for a Caesar salad?

You will want to use a crispy lettuce, like Kale, Iceberg, Butter, or Romaine, as opposed to soft greens like Spinach. The crispy lettuces withhold their crunch when coated with the creamy Caesar dressing.

What kind of Parmesan cheese is best in a Caesar salad?

Freshly grated or thinly shaved Parmesan or Asiago cheese is best to top a Caesar salad with. Although still considered Parmesan cheese, the shaker version is not as pungent, nor does it have the same taste factor as the fresh cheese.