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Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing
My family loves this rich and creamy Caesar salad dressing. It’s not overly garlicky or fishy — it’s just right.
Though most people buy Caesar salad dressing in a bottle, homemade is incredibly easy to make and tastes so much better than store-bought. There are many variations but this rich and creamy version is the one my whole family loves. It’s not too garlicky and not too fishy — it’s just right.
Unlike authentic Caesar dressings which are made with olive oil and thickened with raw eggs, this one has a mayonnaise base, which means no raw eggs so you don’t have to worry about giving it to your kids. And speaking of kids, mine love this dressing so much that they’ve learned to make it themselves. They don’t even wait for me to make a salad; while I cook dinner, they sit at the kitchen table with a big head of romaine and dip the leaves in.
What You’ll Need To Make Caesar Salad Dressing
Instead of whole anchovies, I use anchovy paste — makes it easy, especially if you’re squeamish about anchovies (just hold your nose and add it in; the dressing needs every last bit to taste like the real deal!)
For the cheese, it’s important to use imported Parmigiano-Reggiano from Italy; domestic Parmesan pales in comparison. You can always tell if it’s authentic by looking at the rind, which is embossed with the name over and over. If the cheese is already grated, it should be labeled “Parmigiano-Reggiano,” not “Parmesan.”
How To Make Caesar Salad Dressing
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. That’s all there is to it.
The dressing will keep well in the fridge for about a week. For a main course Caesar, try pairing this with my Grilled Chicken with Lemon, Garlic & Herbs. Enjoy!
You May Also Like
- Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
- Big Italian Salad
- Kale & Brussels Sprouts Salad with Walnuts, Parmesan and Lemon-Mustard Dressing
- Balsamic Vinaigrette
Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing
My family loves this rich and creamy Caesar salad dressing. It’s not overly garlicky or fishy — it’s just right.
Ingredients
- 2 small garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon anchovy paste (found near the canned tuna in the supermarket)
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, from one lemon
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (I like the brand Maille)
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup mayonnaise, best quality such as Hellmann's Real
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the garlic, anchovy paste, lemon juice, Dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Add the mayonnaise, Parmigiano-Reggiano, salt and pepper and whisk until well combined. Taste and adjust to your liking. The dressing will keep well in the fridge for about a week.
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (10 servings)
- Serving size: About 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 184
- Fat: 19g
- Saturated fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 1g
- Sugar: 0g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Sodium: 296mg
- Cholesterol: 13mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
This recipe has ruined all other Caesar dressings fo us. It is, by far, the best dressing & super simple to make. We make this exactly as the recipe reads except for adding a bit more anchovy paste. Highly recommend!
Absolutely delicious!! So easy too. Thank you. Your recipes always turn out great!
This is life changing! I make this all the time and come across as a master of Caesar salad! I’ve shared this recipe more times than I can count! I like to leave out the Parmesan and make Parmesan crisps to keep the carbs down and make it super fancy.
This salad dressing is absolutely delicious. The only change I made was to omit the additional salt. I thought, for my taste, the anchovy paste would provide enough. Thanks for sharing!
Perfect, easy caesar salad recipe.
This dressing is incredible! I’d been searching for years but always thought it would be too complicated to make. I also didn’t like the soybean and canola oils used in commercial brands. I make it with avocado oil mayo and will try others’ suggestions for thinning it out a bit. Love it!
This is my go to dressing. Does not compare to bottled dressings. I add a touch of buttermilk so it thins it out a bit, as it too thick without a liquid. Thanks for this amazing recipe!
I made it and found it to be super thick! I diluted it to the consistency we like with a little water. Then I increased the dijon and the anchovy paste. Next time I will cut the mayo in half and add the full amount of the rest of the ingredients.
I think is has a great flavor and will definitely make it again. Thank you for sharing it.
Great recipe, that all the family love!!
After making this fabulous dressing I had a dinner sized salad three days in a row. It totally screwed up my calorie count. It is taking all my willpower not to make another batch. Loved it, loved it, loved it! Definitely as good of not better than any restaurant ceasar dressing I have ever had.
I found this recipe recently and agree with all the 5* reviews. The best caesar dressing and so simple to make. It’s always in my fridge now. Mmmmm.
Thank you for posting this recipe. It’s just perfect!!!
Simply the BEST caesar salad dressing I have ever tasted. Every time I make it, everyone asks for the recipe and website! The number one comment heard is this tastes better that any Caesar I have had in any restaurant. Also, lasts for a long time stored in glass Pyrex in fridge. AWESOME!
Fabulous!
This is the best recipe! Better than any restaurant dressing and way better than any bottled caesar!!! Will use it over and over again! Thanks for the recipe!
BEST EVER! & Thank you for introducing me anchovy paste! Even my husband devoured it and now requests it every time we do caesar salad ha. I finally told him there is anchovy in it and to my surprise doesn’t mind one bit 😉 this is a keeper for life. I don’t change or modify a single thing.
Love it! I subbed Greek yogurt for half the mayo to cut back on calories a little. Otherwise followed recipe exactly.
Hands down my favorite Caesar dressing! I’ve made it several times in the past year and it never disappoints. I actually think it tastes better than dressings I’ve had at restaurants.
Delicious dressing! No more store bought for me 😊
There is mayonnaise in this recipe, that’s all you need to know.
Also anyone who says ‘If the cheese is already grated, it should be labeled “Parmigiano-Reggiano,” not “Parmesan.”’ Shouldn’t be trusted…. Like…. what?
Oil and raw eggs is mayonnaise
Maybe you should actually try it before leaving a negative review?
Best Caesar salad dressing recipe yet! I have passed along the URL to your recipe numerous times. 🙂
I made this but it was so very salty. I tried everything to doctor it but I ended up throwing it out and made it again. It was better the second time. I feel the addition of 1/8 tsp salt should be removed from recipe. There’s plenty of salt already in most of the ingredients and I’m surprised I’m the only one who feels this way. If there’s a reduced-salt option, please let me know. Overall, the dressing was very good & everyone was very impressed.
I forgot to mention this: I omitted the salt on the second batch. You can always add more salt on your individual salad.
I finally bought some anchovy paste and tried your recipe. It was perfect! And it gave me enough for a Caesar Salad for lunch later that week.
I made this tonight for some Caesar chicken wraps and omg, it’s perfect.
So delicious and easy. Thanks for this great recipe!
This recipe delivered in every great way! I used anchovies to make anchovy paste (my grocery pickup wouldn’t let me pick up the paste) and got the authentic Parmesan-Reggiano. I followed the recipe exactly and it is amazing!
Thank you, Jennifer!
I made this dressing for the first time and it is very thick. What should I thin it with?
Nancy K.
You can thin it with some water. Just be careful to add a little at a time. Hope you enjoy!
I would thin it with more lemon juice. You can never go wrong with that.
Made as instructed aftertaste was SOOO mayoey. Added 1/3c parm and tbsp lemon and perfect
Easy, good, genuine caesar character. I used Fresh Gourmet Crispy Beets in lieu of croutons. Added lovely color and a bit less fat. Otherwise followed the dressing recipe to the letter.
Good shit. Recommend.
There is nothing to change in this recipe. It is everyones requested dressing and most shared.
I do make it ahead of time so everything mingles together nicely.
This dressing turned out really good. My husband asked for a homemade Caesar salad and this was so easy. The only thing I missed was some bacon bits! Maybe next time.
I used fermented Thai anchovie juice.
Aka fish sauce
Love this dressing! My son is a fan of Chopt Chicken Caesar salad. So he uses your dressing to recreate his favorite dish. He takes romaine lettuce (washed, torn), black beans (washed and drained), corn (we like Trader Joe’s roasted frozen corn, defrosted), leftover cooked and chopped chicken breast, 4 blend Mexican cheese, crushed tortilla chips and your caesar dressing. Mix well. He crushes extra tortilla chips for top. Delicious and saves us from spending lots more for take out.
The cheese is shredded.
Another perfect Once Upon a Chef recipe. I look at this site for a recipe before googling it these days; I don’t think I’ve ever had one that wasn’t near perfection. Thanks Jen for all
Your hard work- you’re a true master!
Wow, that sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing!
Delicious! I used Asian fish sauce (which I was always have in my cupboard) instead of anchovy paste. Also added a sprinkle of Italian seasoning.
loved it! so simple and so tasty! and love the fact that it’s mayonnaise-based so I dont have to worry about raw egg…thanks a lot!
Have made this several times and when visiting my daughter always make it a couple of times. Love the fact that there is no raw egg and all the ingredients are already on hand.
Would love to freeze a batch for her. Will freezing compromise the mayo?
Glad you like this! Unfortunately, I don’t think it would freeze very well — sorry!
Basically, just have to just keep some in the fridge at all times.
Luv it! I made this and my son who used to cook for a living, thought I had bought it at our favorite restaurant! I added a bit more mustard, lemon juice and anchovy and it was perfect for my tastes. I like the fact that it’s mayonnaise based. Awesome Awesome recipe! Thank you for sharing it!
You can stop your search for homemade caesar salad dressing. I’ve made this many, many times and the recipe is perfect – everybody loves it!
Hi when it says a cup of, what size cup are you using?
Hi Benni, I see from your email that you are in the UK. The cup of mayo in the recipe is a dry measuring cup we use in the US. You’ll need 240 grams of mayo. Hope that clarifies!
Can you leave out the anchovy paste?
If you’re a bit squeamish about anchovies/anchovy paste, I’d encourage you to just hold your nose and add it in; I think the dressing needs it to taste like the real deal! That said, a few readers have commented that they’ve omitted it and have still been happy with the results.
I love this recipe. It’s the best one I’ve found on the webs and I make it frequently.
I once had only half the needed amount of lemon juice so I substituted the other half with red wine vinegar and it still turned out great.
The parm and anchovy makes the dressing plenty salty for my taste so I leave out the added salt.
TIP: If the anchovy paste remaining in the tube needs to be stored longer-term, a handy way to freeze it is to lay down a sheet of wax paper or parchment paper and squeeze out little 1-tsp-sized dollops of the paste onto the paper, spacing them at least 1 inch apart and making sure to leave enough empty room on the paper for it to be folded over to cover all the dollops. With the dollops sandwiched between the two layers of paper, flatten them into discs and then fold up the package and pop it in a freezer bag. Then the frozen dollops of anchovy paste can be used a teaspoon at a time as needed.
Hands down fabulous!
Your Caesar recipe has changed my culinary life! OK, sounds dramatic, but it really has been an amazing journey with this one. We first tried it several years ago and loved it. We’ve been making it for years and we pass it on to friends and family around the world. When people ask how to make it, I just say “go online to find Once Upon a Chef, Simple Caesar!” We have made many variations, but your recipe is the classic. I might add a touch more anchovy paste or Worcestershire, but the key I have always found is making sure I use that freshly squeezed lemon! We often add roasted pine nuts to the salad and find that that the dressing is a perfect compliment to their flavor. My wife loves the dressing so much that we’ve taken to using it on baby Kale, since that “traps” even more dressing in the nooks and crannies and the firm texture stands up to my wife’s “wet” amount of dressing. I’m pretty sure my now-adult daughters have made this recipe in many countries around the globe, whenever they can find the ingredients! Thanks for a recipe that is now a family staple.
I pinned this recipe a couple of years ago (I know!) and FINALLY made it this week. WOW!!! We have a new go-to – no more store bought dressing for us! Comes together in literally two minutes. The flavor is so perfectly balanced and gets even better the next day. Wishing I had made it sooner but so glad I finally did!
Outstanding recipe and so fast to come together. Perfect exactly as written.
This is now a new family favorite! So creamy and flavorful. I discovered that the trick to finding anchovy paste was to look in the canned meat section of the supermarket. And also, I triple the amount of garlic for a unique garlicky Cesar. Yum!
didn’t have garlic (used garlic powder), only had vegenaisse, then forgot to put the parmesan in…”This is delicious!” is what I got back 🙂 from the wife! I have been trying Caesar salad for a while and I’ve pinned your recipe to the wall
Love this recipe. I used anchovies because its my treat.
I make a “classic” Caesar for the adults in my household, but scrambled to look for a kid-friendly version without raw egg when my bottle of Newman’s ran out. Made this for the kids, and liked it so much that I don’t bother making 2 different versions anymore! I made the recipe exactly as written the first time, but then made a few modifications afterwards. I use plain Greek yogurt instead of the mayo, and thin with a little water to get the consistency I like. That’s all!
Amazing taste and easy to make. Love it!
Great recipe! A keeper!
Our family loves homemade salad dressing and this one will be our go to for Caesar salad! We loved it!
Super easy and tastes great!
Oh my goodness this is delicious!!AND so easy! I could not find anchovy paste so I just bought anchovies in oil and made a paste myself! This will be my go to Caesar dressing from now on!!
Just loved this…had it on romaine with chicken and home made croutons for lunch…so good. Jenn, why can’t it last longer in the fridge as all the ingredients are fridge friendly? I made a half recipe, but it is not something I want to eat every day until gone. Question 2, once my anchovy paste tube is half gone, it becomes so hard to squeeze it out. I use Roland brand and believe me, I struggled this morning to get it out of the tube. Is there a secret to it? Thanks again for another winner.
Hi Carol, It may very well last for longer than a week, but I’ve only kept it for that long and I try to err on the conservative side on the blog so no one gets sick. 🙂 You could certainly experiment with keeping it a bit longer though. And I don’t have any great tips for squeezing the paste out of the tube other than just starting at the bottom (kind of like a tube of toothpaste and as it gets low, using the counter edge to push the contents toward the opening.) Hope that helps!
actually, pushed it all up, folded up the bottom so it could not work it’s way back down…that seemed to help
I just made this for a cottage weekend to go with our steaks. It’s going to be YUM. I used my mini food processor – super easy to make and tastes amazing! I added a little extra garlic coz that makes everything better 😉 Thanks Jenn!
Where is the recipe please thank you Susan
Hi Susan, Scroll to the very top of the reviews and immediately above that, click on the word “recipe.” That will show you the recipe. Hope that clarifies!
I made this dressing last night to rave reviews. I was out of anchovy paste so I substituted fish sauce. I used 1/3 cup of mayonnaise and 1/3 cup of olive oil, thus reducing the “fat” by 1/3 cup.
The dressing was creamy and did not overwhelm the romaine. Delicious! I try different Caesar salad dressings on a monthly basis (with coddled eggs and without, but I won’t be trying any others now.
Carrol H.
The best I’ve had!
Wonderful and easy to make.
This is the best Caesar dressing I have had. I made it with Hellman’s 1/2 the Fat mayo. I made it first without the anchovy Paste (did not have any). It did not taste the same without it so I had to get it and add it to the dressing. Made it perfect tasting. Thank you for the recipe.
Easy and delicious. I used to make the egg/oil one, but it always felt like a lot of work. This is an amazing alternative, and it was really delicious. We used half kale/half romaine to up the nutritional content and homemade croutons for that freshness, and it was honestly delightful. I went back for third helpings!
Once you make this dressing, you’ll be making it once a week. It’s amazing and delicious. My favourite of all time! Thank you for posting it!
I made it exactly as written and my daughter, granddaughter, and I LOVED this recipe….AS IS. Thanks for this wonderful recipe.
Excellent Dressing. I wish I had this recipe sooner.
Simply the best and easiest Caesar dressing! My family loves this, and we make up a batch just about every week. Good quality Parmesan makes all the difference and balances out the other flavors perfectly. Thanks for a great recipe!
It was really tasty
I’m so glad I found this recipe! Best Caesar dressing I’ve ever had and so easy to make. Thank you!
So easy! Always have the ingredients on hand – SO MUCH BETTER than store bought!
I’ve made this several times now and we absolutely love it. The best Caesar dressing we’ve made and better than most restaurants! If I want it a little thinner I reduce the mayo and add a bit of olive oil. Perfect either way!
WOW, WOW, WOW!!! EXCELLENT recipe! These are all the flavors that I LONG for with caesar dressing! The only changes I made were: kraft mayo, and 1 extra tsp of everything except lemon, mayo and cheese. THIS DRESSING IS FABULOUS!! Thanks so much!
Hi Jenn,
I have some beautiful globe basil in my garden and thinking of adding it to the recipe. Thoughts?
Hi Kathleen, it will introduce a different flavor to the dressing, but it should be good. Depending on how much you add, you may need to thin the dressing out a bit with water (just go easy so you don’t thin it too much).
I can’t wait to make this recipe! I was wonder how would it taste if I were to roast the garlic?
Hi Jessica, I think it’d be good, especially if you prefer a more mellow garlic flavor.
This was the best! Creamy, garlicky…so good. You won’t be disappointed. Loved it!
Ok, This is one great dressing! Easy to make and tastes great and works well as a dressing for salads or a dip or (by the spoonful on a lettuce leaf!) Have also spread on grilled chicken. Yum!
Just made this tonight, it is my favorite thing I’ve made in awhile! It was perfect for a warm evening. Added grilled chicken and was a complete satisfying meal. I’ve been trying to do some simple yet delicious recipes for during the week lately, most are ok, but this is a keeper for sure! Loved it and so did the family!
Thank you!
Amazing! My husband was always the one to make a Caesar dressing in our family…very good, but the olive oil/egg variety. At restaurants I always enjoyed the creamier versions and stumbled on Jenn’s recipe. I used real anchovies we had on hand and it turned out fantastic. Now, my husband requests this dressing over his. We love it! Thank you, Jenn!
I’m am a huge Caesar Salad snob. I stumbled across this recipe and fell in love! I’m frequently asked to bring it to parties. I do use real anchovies and pretty much make them into a paste, also I add extra! So absolutely yummy! There is not one restaurant near me with dressing this good. Bravo
Fantastic! I now make a better caesar salad than my favorite restaurant to order it…with my homemade croutons.
If I couldn’t find anchovy paste and have a can of anchovies instead, how many anchovies would you say is the equivalent to 1/4 teaspon of paste?
Hi Jillian, I’d guesstimate it would be about 2. Hope you enjoy!
It’s a summer family favorite! Amazing!!!
Never knew how great homemade Cesar dressing could be. Will never buy again since discovering this recipe!
I thought I had the corner on the best caesar dressing BUT this is spectacular and easy to adjust to taste. Like the fact I do not need that raw or tempered egg. I am a retired chef and I wish I had found this before I retired. I grill my romaine first and with this dressing it seriously is a wee slice of heaven. Thank you Jenn Segal for sharing this one.
What would you use to replace the anchovy paste for vegetarians?
Hi Suzanne, I don’t know a perfect substitute for anchovy paste – I’m sorry!. I’d probably just increase the Dijon and Parmesan a bit to add flavor. Hope you enjoy!
I have discovered an amazing Caesar dressing from Bayley and Sage in London. They use gherkins in place of the anchovies and it is the best dressing I have ever tasted
Capers could work, as it has a saltiness to it.
I’m a caterer and have been making a version of this dressing for more than 25 years-everyone loves it. To keep it from being too creamy, I reduce the mayo to 2/3c and add 1/3c. Olive oil (I use regular not extra virgin, so it doesn’t emulsify) I have had people tell me this is the standard by which they measure all other Caesar salads
This is an amazing dressing! So easy to put together. I pair it with the grilled chicken with lemon that is suggested and it is a wonderful main course meal. My whole family loves it. It is one of those dishes that you crave and look forward to having again.
Wow!
We absolutely love this dressing.
I sometimes make it exactly as the recipe is written.
But our favorite is to use 1/2 cup mayo, 1/4 cup Greek yogurt, and 1/4 cup buttermilk. This makes a dressing that isn’t so heavy on mayo, plus is a little thinner than when made with all mayo.
Sometimes I add 1 teaspoon fish sauce in addition to the anchovy paste. (I always omit the salt, but it is especially important to leave salt out if you use any fish sauce!)
I like to add a few drops of garlic olive oil and a few drops of lemon olive oil. They really ramp up the flavor!
But – – the recipe really is delicious to make it exactly as written.
Thank you for sharing it with us!
I’m happy I found this when I was without our usual bottled dressing. I had to substitute white vinegar for lemon juice and have never bought anchovies, but it was still great. I can’t wait to try it with the two missing ingredients included. And like others, no more bottled Caesar dressing for me. Thanks!
This is one of the best Caesar dressings I’ve had whether at home or a restaurant. We add just a little extra dijon but otherwise use the exact ingredients.
Wonderful flavor! However, I would prefer it to be thinner. How can I thin the dressing without altering the taste?
Hi Sarah, Feel free to thin it out with some water; just go easy and add a little at a time until you get to the consistency you want. Hope that helps!
I made a kale caesar with grapes and walnuts. Amazing dressing.
Thanks Jenn.
Thanks for this tasty easy dressing recipe. I made it (again) tonight and added some leftover chicken and polenta croutons from scratch. Great recipe!
Can you use olive oil as a sub for mayo? For a healthy alternative!
Hi Sarah, I wouldn’t recommend it for this dressing. If you want to use olive oil, I’d suggest a caesar dressing that’s intended for that – sorry!
This is delicious. I followed the recipe exactly using quality ingredients and I will never use store bought dressing again. Thank You
This Caesar dressing is awesome! So yummy and easy to make!
Love this recipe !! I did add some milk to thin out this dressing but other than that I will make my own Cesar dressing.
My family and I enjoyed it! Delicious!
Love this recipe from Once upon a chef and make it all of the time it is excellent. Have doubled the garlic and use Asiago cheese.
First recipe I made from this website and now make it regularly. So good!
I love this dressing Thankyou
I make your Caesar dressing often, it’s a big hit with my family and friends. And so easy to make !
This is the first time I have reviewed a recipe, this dressing is excellent! Every time I make this for a group I am asked for the recipe!
So I made this recipe without the anchovy paste, used fresh lime juice instead of lemon, liquid aminos instead of Worcestershire sauce and honey mustard instead of dijon and used parmesan cheese. I was scared it wouldn’t turn out good with so many changes (I had none of those recommended items to hand so I used what I had) it tasted awesome!! I can only imagine what the original tastes like. Thank you sooooo much!
This is the best caesar dressing! No more bottled stuff. The freshness of the lemon juice and umami from the anchovies makes it superb. I’ve made it several times now and I actually double the anchovy paste as I like it a little more pronounced.
Amazing. Absolutely amazing. Every year we get lots and lots of Kale, so I decided to made kale Caesar salad and this dressing just made it the best Caesar salad I’ve ever had. And I didn’t even include the anchovy paste or the Worcestershire. I did it all in a blender. Just pulse to blend and scrape down side as needed. Now I’ll look forward to the kale. Ps for Kale caesar, just wash the kale and cut or tear into smaller pieces. Thank you!!!!!
This dressing is the “bomb.com” and super easy to make !!!
Thanks for this great recipe :0)
Loved this and more than that my husband ate a salad (and enjoyed it) and my daughter who hates anchovies couldn’t get enough! So easy in my nutribullet too. Thanks!
Delicious! I made this one day ahead and it’s better as it sits. I usually default to Renee’s mighty Caesar at home, and this blows it out of the water. Super easy to make – I tossed everything into my KitchenAid mixer and whipped it up. Will be making this weekly!
This dressing is amazing plus quick and easy to make. I’ll never by shop bought again it’s that good.
Looking forward to trying your Buffalo Wings tonight.
Loving your website
Just perfect!! And Easy!
Decided to google a dressing recipe while at the store. Wanted something more fresh than a store bought bottle. This was so easy and absolutely delicious. Thank you for your recipes.
This is by far the best dressing EVER!! We went through so much romaine lettuce because of this dressing. Not to mention my very picky teenage daughters could not get enough of this dressing. I caught one dipping fries in the leftover jar. Fantastic job!!
I can’t believe it! I was so skeptical! I’ve never made a caesar dressing before. But I can’t get to the store so I thought I’d give it a try! Its Perfection! It’s as good as the fancy restaurant we go to on anniversaries! Thank you so much for the perfect easy Caesar dressing recipe.
This recipe is my wife and I’s go to for Caesar dressing. It is so simple and easy instead of making the Mayo from scratch, but of course sometimes we do, but in a pinch this recipe is by far the best. We buy quality ingredients and it tastes amazing. I highly recommend this dressing. If you find it a little thick you can always add it to slightly damp Romaine. Thank you for providing an easy quick and delicious recipe my family will enjoy for years to come.
This is the most awesome cesar salad dressing ever! Totally delish!! Thank you!
This was DELICIOUS! I’ll never buy Caesar dressing again!
Will never buy Caesar dressing again. This was so easy and flavorful. Had everything we needed already. Left the anchovies out and it was still full of flavor. Will try them soon though.
Best dressing ever. Made for Mothers Day and my niece said better than any restaurant. She is a connoisseur of Ceasar Salad. Keeping a jar in the frig for whenever I need a good salad. Good with left over chicken. Thanks
Can you use Greek yogurt or sour cream instead of mayo?
Yes, CM, You can get away with using Greek yogurt or sour cream but I would suggest reducing the lemon juice a bit because either of those will add some tartness to the dressing. Please LMK how it turns out!
This salad dressing was very easy to make and absolutely delicious. I could not get out to shop and had had no romaine lettuce. This “Caesar Salad” was with iceberg and tasted wonderful!
Loved it! You can use a little less mayo if you want. I never fill the whole 1 cup but I do a little more than 1/2 too. I just don’t know how I long I can store it for I’m assuming 1 week?
So glad you like it! Yes, it refrigerates nicely for about a week.
I love Caesar salad but it is such a pain to get out my blender to go through the whole process. This was delicious and so, so easy! Thank you!
This is my favorite Caesar dressing of all time. Better than any restaurant. It’s on frequent rotation in our house.
Seriously, better than any caesar salad dressing I’ve ever had. My Fiance and I love caesar dressing and we are so pumped to have discovered this recipe!!
This is also excellent with 2 anchovies if you don’t have paste, and Romano cheese instead if Parm (which is what I had around) and I don’t miss dealing w a raw egg whatsoever! 🙂
I don’t like store bought, too much lemon or something, bitter and sour! my daughter-in-law’s sister-in-law makes it great but would not give her recipe to us. this one is so much better and now we won’t have to wait for her to give us some!!!!! we really like garlic so I used 6 cloves for a double batch! yum!!!!! thanks so much!
OMG… I made this yesterday and it was probably the best salad I have ever tasted. I was skeptical without the addition of the egg yolks, but the mayonnaise was an excellent substitute. This is now my go-to Caesar salad for life.
I have whole anchovies. How many do think equals one teaspoon of paste? Two?
Yes, I think 2 sounds about right. Hope you enjoy!
This was the first recipe I made of yours, Jenn. I had tried a couple of others, but wasn’t satisfied. Then, I made this one. It turned out great, and is our favorite recipe for Caesar salad dressing now!
I loved the recipe! My husband doesn’t like anchovy so I substituted with garlic-flavored oil and it was still good!
Bought a 3 pack of sale organic romaine from the store then remembered store bought lettuce is blah tasting- edible and happy to have it, just unexciting. This dressing makes it delicious and an excuse to use the anchovy paste hanging in my pantry waiting for an excuse to come out and party. Thanks!
I love this recipe! Have looked for a good Caesar Salad Dressing for years, never found quite what my taste buds wanted – but this one is perfect. A couple of minor substitutions – instead of 1 tsp of anchovy paste, I prefer a 2 oz can of the real thing. I just chop them up and add them instead of the paste. Sometimes just half the can into the mix, and the remainder sprinkled on top of the salad. Also in place of the Parmigiano-Reggiano, I use my home blend that I’ve used on pasta dishes for years, which is an equal parts Asiago-Romano-Parmesan blend. As you might guess, I am a fan of strong flavors! But this recipe is a clear winner and is now my “go-to” Caesar Salad Dressing.
Yum! So easy to make and so absolutely delicious. I substituted the mayo for vegenaise and my husband could not tell the difference. The best Cesar dressing and so easy to make!
Excellent recipe! I didnt have anchovy paste, but chopped anchovies worked fine. Lightened up on the mayo too, to have less thick dressing.
Relatively simple recipe for an excellent Caesar. I added some olive oil, which added complexity and, like the anchovy paste, made it feel like “the real thing.”
Awesome taste. It’s very hard to find a good true Caesar dressing in both restaurants and stores. I don’t have to look for either now. I can just whip some up! Thanks.
This was such an easy recipe and very easy to make! No blender or food processor. Thank you.
Just made a half recipe minus the anchovy paste and it was excellent!! Will buy the paste when I go to the store to have on hand for next time.
Absolutely love this recipe! How long can it keep In the fridge for? Must know since I’m going to make A TON of it!
So glad you like it! It should keep nicely in the fridge for about 5 days.
I want to make this tonight with dinner but I have just about every other mustard other than Dijon. (Honey, yellow, brown) Would another kind work? Thanks!
Hi Lauren, I’ve never used anything but Dijon mustard, but I suspect you could probably get away with brown. Please LMK how it turns out!
Great, easy recipe! Delicious.
The best I have ever had
Wonderful recipe, our favourite Ceasar dressing and so simple to make!
Thank you.
This is Excellent dressing!
Excellent!
I make it regularly and my whole family loves it.
Easy to prepare and keeps well in the refrigerator for about a week.
Another great recipe…thanks Jen!
I have all the ingredients, but no fish sauce:( can I skip?
Actually, the recipe doesn’t call for fish sauce, so you’re in luck! 🙂
A definite hassle free and tasty Caesar dressing. I’m a professional chef and didn’t want to go through the hassle of making real Caesar dressing at home. It is so rich and tasty, a little goes a long way. I initially had the same experience with it tasting too mayonnaise-y, but I adjusted with more lemon juice and Parmeggiano cheese , and that fixed it. This will be part of my repertoire now. YUM!
Very good!
Fabulous dressing and salad! Made this for a friends dinner and everyone loved it and no one suspected the anchovy paste. All I received was rave reviews!
So simple and delicious!
Just curious, can you add the ingredients to the blender instead of whisking?
Sure, Jacqueline, that’s fine. Hope you enjoy. 🙂
This is the best Caesar salad dressing ever. I make it all the time and everyone loves it. Love this site and have made many recipes, all excellent. Thanks😀
Love it!
Another awesome recipe! I could only get a tin of anchovies from an online site, not the paste. I followed Jenn’s recommendation in the comments and completely mashed two anchovies with a fork. It worked perfectly. The dressing was amazing–a hit with all family members–creamy, tasty, but not overwhelming with garlic or anchovies. This will be our go-to from now on! This will be great with the pan-seared salmon, too.
I love this dressing. Better than most restaurants and not hard to make. Have not had bottle dressing for many months since I tried this.
couldn’t agree more☺️👍👍
How much fish sauce would you use for this recipe if you don’t have anchovy paste?
I’d guess you’d need 1 to 2 tsp. I’d start with 1 tsp. and then add more to taste if needed.
I only have tinned anchovies in my pantry. How many filets would you use in lieu of anchovy paste?
PS: I am not squeamish- in fact, I love anchovies!
Hi Amy, I suggest starting out with 2 (but if you want more anchovy flavor, feel free to add more)!
Very simple to make & it was excellent! Thank you
Tastes delicious!
My grandmother’s caesar salad dressing was the best recipe. However, it required raw eggs. This is the closest recipe I have found to hers without the raw eggs and it is delicious while safe to eat! Thank you!
After reading the reviews, I really thought I could make this work without it tasting too much of mayo. I used excellent mayo, and reduced the amount to 1/2 cup to start. It was inedible. I tried adding more lemon, pepper, and garlic to cut through the mayo with no luck. Glad this works for so many, but I’ll be sticking with the previous caesar dressing recipe I had been using.
What recipe you using. Email me plz [email protected]
I have tried several different Caesar dressing recipes and this is the best! I like the mayo base which makes the dressing creamy and not oily. I don’t need to try another Caesar dressing ever again!
Exactly! Too much mayo. Not enough anchovies. Too thick. Who are all these 5 star reviews??? Blech
I loved this recipe. I had to tweak it to cut down on the thickness of the dressing. Added a tad more anchovy, less mayo, and replaced it with olive oil. She clearly states to season it to taste. I was pleased that it didn’t call for raw eggs. This recipe will be in my repertoire from here on out! Thank you for the road map to make it to our personnel preference.
This dressing is so delicious, my entire family loved it! Thank you for another amazingly simple and scrumptious recipe!
Hi Jenn
I have made so many of your recipes (no subs) and they have ALL been delicious….most recently the pecan shortbread cookies. I want to try this Caesar Dressing but I have an aversion to mayonnaise. Can I sub evoo? My Caesar recipe I’ve been using calls for evoo and a raw egg yolk, so also wondering if I would need to use a raw egg with the evoo. No problem with the raw egg. I have told so many people about you! And just made a another bottle of your zesty Italian. So darn tasty! Thank you!
Noreen
Hi Noreen, So glad you like the recipes! There’s no great alternative to the mayo in this without making several other adjustments to the recipe. For the most predictable results, I would suggest looking for a more traditional Caesar recipe. Sorry!
The best caesar sauce ever. Everyone absolutely loved it and we have had a lot of Caesar salads over the years Thank you.
Ever since I found this recipe I have never bought pre-made Caesar salad kits since. My family loves this recipe and we never have leftover salad.
Much, much better than anything I’ve had out of a bottle. Will always use this recipe in future. Thank you!
Can you upgrade the recipe to 340 people?
Wow, that’s a lot of dressing! I’ve never prepared something for that many people. I suspect you could do it but would encourage you double or triple the recipe and make as many batches as you’ll need to get to that number. Good luck!
Easy and awesome… I realized too late that I didn’t have any anchovies, so I substituted Asian fish sauce (made with anchovies) but still really great taste. Thanks for the recipe!
My family’s favourite Caesar salad dressing. So easy to make and delicious. No more store bought for us. Thank you!
Love this recipe however I did see where a lot of people said do 1/2 cup mayo instead of the 1 full cup. I did 1/2 cup mayo because I figured if it wasn’t enough I could always add the other half. Glad I did the 1/2 was great for my taste. I loved it and my husband loves it. It was my first time ever making a creamy dressing. I made this along with the simple grilled chicken and it was a hit. It’s a staple in my food rotation. Thanks again.
Normally, I love recipes from this site. For my palate, this dressing tasted too much of mayonnaise and not enough of anything else. It just didn’t taste like a caesar dressing to me.
This recipe for Caesar Salad Dressing is amazing. Perfectly balanced. Simple, and I will never go back to any of the other versions I have made, and there were many. Excellent.
Made it with the suggested Grilled Chicken with Lemon, Garlic and Herbs.
Perfect. Easy!
Everyone loved it.
Thank you!
Delicious! I added a whole tin of mashed anchovies instead of the paste and doubled the garlic because I prefer strong flavours. Superb, and no worries about having to use uncooked egg. This will be my go to Caesar dressing recipe from now on.
I love caesar salad, and I’m very particular about the dressing. I read many reviews and then made 3 adjustments. I added slightly more garlic and anchovy paste, and just a heaping 1/2 c. mayo. It turned out delicious but, very salty, and I love salt. Next time I will leave the salt out and see how that goes. Overall I am super pleased I found this recipe!! Thank you. 🙂
Freakin phenomenal. Best I ever made
Jenn, I almost wish I’d never found this receipe because it’s become all my husband wants on salad! He doesn’t want to order a Caesar when we go out because he says it can’t be as good as your recipe. Love your site.
🙂
This is my go to caesar dressing recipe. Love it!!!
Love love love this recipe. I was out of anchovy paste but used two anchovy fillets. Not sure if that was enough or should I have used more to achieve the amount of paste called for in the recipe?
Hi Loretta, I’m not sure exactly what the equivalent of paste to anchovy fillets is but two sounds about right (but if you want more anchovy flavor, feel free to add more)!
I did not have any anchovy paste or anchovies but just Thai fish sauce and it turned out very well. Better than I thought in the store.
Top notch. My husband said “this is the only dressing that makes salad worth eating.”
My wife and I truly loved this recipe, it’s our new “go to” solution. Easy to make and clear direction and nicely tangy!
This is my family’s favorite caesar salad dressing! It is soooooooo delicious and so easy and quick to make. Thank you!
Amazing…. I have not found a store-bought caesar dressing that even comes close… and it’s so easy! Thank you!
The recipe was perfect! I was a bit apprehensive because I did cut it in half; sometimes that ruins the whole thing… But it worked out beautifully! The not so garlicky, tangy, salty combination was sublime! Thank you!
Waste of money. It is really Gross. Mine as well of just ate some mayo.
Seriously the best Caesar dressing ever!!!
Jenn,
I owe you great thanks for this great recipe, which I have been making for a number of years – having found you on the internet. My wife is very grateful, and tonight we will do a filet mignon steak caesar salad, where the dressing will be the star.
Best,
Kevin
I’m not a huge fan of Caesar salad, but my wife wanted it for the Valentine’s Day dinner. I figured if I had to make a salad, I wasn’t going to use store-bought. This was a really good dressing!! Just the right balance of flavors. I will definitely make this recipe again.
Oh my goodness! Same here except my husband wanted a salad and I usually make fattoush only because I am never satisfied with any of the store bought Caesar dressings. I thought I’d look one up this time and I am so glad I stumbled upon this one. It was delicious!
I’ve used this as my baseline for Caesar dressing multiple times and it’s always well received. Grating the Parmesan fresh makes a very notable difference! I tend to up the lemon juice, cracked pepper & anchovy and cut the amount of mayonnaise by 1/3 (personal preference- makes the dressing more flavorful which means I can put a little less on my salad to spare a few calories). I’ve been able to keep it in the fridge up to a week and it’s still fresh. Good stuff!
Same here! Upped the lemon, anchovy paste and Worcestershire. Next time will half the mayo! :0)
I absolutely love this ceasar dressing. Tried so many over the years and this is the 100% winner!! Tonight I tried half mayo, half Greek plain yoghurt…just to make it a little healthier. Just as yummy! thanks!
Dang is all I can say! That is the easiest most delicious recipe for salad dressing I have ever made. I followed the directions implicitly except for substituting to anchovy fillets for the anchovy paste. I had the tin of fillets on hand. I put the garlic, lemon juice, wish to shire, and a tiny bit of mayo with the anchovies in my mini. Whipped until smooth and then added the rest of the mayo. Absolutely phenomenal! Thank you so much for this great recipe!
My go to caesar dressing recipe! I use half the mayo. Yum!
I just made this dressing & followed your advice using half the mayo. It is delicious! Thank you.
Lol you ever read the ingredients on a jar of mayonnaise? There’s still raw egg in there…this recipe is revolting. Don’t be lazy and find a real recipe for Caesar dressing, you can even use a food processor or immersion blender to make the process easier
So rude!
All of her recipes are fabulous! Why even bother writing that?!
You are very judgmental considering you are not a “real” caesar dressing lover based on your comments. While this recipe is definitely not a classic caesar dressing, you obviously do not know what goes into one. A real caesar has eggs in it and is never emulsified. Hellmans contains eggs, but they are pastuerized. Hellmans contains very similar ingredients that are used in a “real” caesar dressing, so, using mayo is a short cut. I am not a fan of using mayo preferring the classic dressing with oil and eggs used separately. I have, in a pinch when too lazy to coddle eggs, used a wee bit of mayo, but otherwise mostly oil and lemon juice. So, you may as well give this recipe a chance since you are apparently not making real caesar dressing anyway. You might like it!
That was mean and uncalled for. Sigh. It’s not even safe reading reviews for salad dressing recipes these days.
Seriously
So it’s lazy to use mayo instead? Which has the RAW EGGS necessary for the recipe??? Y’all will find anything to complain about
What is it about the internet that encourages some people to post needless unflatteringly written criticism? When I was raising two daughters I told them on a regular basis to leave a trail of kindness in their dealings with other people. You could easily have worded your comments to allow that trail of kindness to flow.
The best Caesar salad dressing ever!! I’ve made this dressing many times to rave reviews. Our personal preference is to up the anchovy paste, lemon juice and garlic slightly. I’ll never use another recipe. Thanks Jen. 😁
This is a winner!! I think the cheese made the difference. I took it to a party and everyone went crazy over it.
Excellent! Didn’t have anchovy sauce, added 2 tbsp of tahini. Excellent!!!
Awful. The mustard, too much garlic, too salty and the Worcestershire sauce do not give this mess an authentic Caesar taste.
This salad dressing is FABULOUS. Thanks so much, Jenn. Just wondering what bread you’d recommend for croutons and the method you prefer – baked or fried?
Glad you like the dressing! See this recipe for some easy croutons. 🙂
I’ve been using this recipe for years! No other Cesar dressing compares!
I love this dressing. I add olive oil to thin it and a little hot sauce for some zip!
Have searched for a long time a dressing receipe and this is just one!! Thank you!!
My new “go to” Caesar salad recipe! Loved watching your other recipe video’s while I made this dressing. Can’t wait to try some of them! Thank you!
Such a good recipe. It came together quickly and tastes terrific!
I’ve made this dressing a dozen time s and each and every time it gets raves from my family an friends! It really is the best! Thank you for sharing.
Such a simple and delicious dressing–way outdoes anything you’d ever buy pre-made. I used 2 large garlic cloves and didn’t find it overpowering.
My husband (who typically skips the salad) gobbled it up and loved it. We agreed this would be great as a condiment for sandwiches too. YUM!
Love this recipe. I sub half greek yogurt and it is still very creamy.
This is so delicious and a breeze to make. My entire family loved it! I will be making this from now on.
Honestly. Worst Caesar ever. My girlfriend wouldn’t talk to me for 30 minutes after because she didn’t like it. It tasted like straight Mayo. Just gross. Who would put one cup of mayo in something. Me. Cause I thought the recipe was all five stars. Don’t do it. Your girlfriend won’t talk to you for thirty minutes for putting a cup of mayo on a salad.
OMG I LOVE mayo!! lol poor girl!
That’s why you need good mayo I bet you used Walmart brand or some crap
Mike, seems like you may have a bigger problem on your hands than the dressing. Most decent people say thank you when someone makes them dinner – not ignore you for 30 mins because they disliked something. Wishing you luck, dude.
LOVE this recipe. We didn’t use the anchovie paste, so I ended up nearly doubling the lemon juice and Worcestershire. We taste tested it vs. store bought with our very picky 8 year old and hands down he loved the homemade. Will never use another Caesar version again!
I like caesar dressing but I am not a fan of mustard. Will it ruin the recipe if I skip the mustard. Or is there another option.
Thank you
Totally fine to skip it, Kathleen – it will still be delicious. 🙂
Great recipe. Rich, traditional ceasar dressing
Use this all the time, except, I put 5-10 garlic cloves in. Mmmmm garlicky good. Thank you OUAC😍
I started making this dressing about two years ago and it’s a family favorite. I used anchovy’s in oil in a tin and it turned out great. I will never use any other Caesar Dressing. We have also used this dressing as a vegetable dip with artichokes.
I made this last week, to rave reviews. My husband said it was better than restaurant Caesar salads, and never wants the store bought dressing again. I did double the garlic ( watch out nearby friends!). I found the flavour to be rich and complex, and I really liked the use of the anchovy paste – much easier than mashing actual anchovies. The dressing tasted even better after a few dats I the fridge. Used it with chicken for a cheater Caesar wrap. Excellent recipe, am planning to try more of your recipes.
suddenly I became the best chef in the world after making this salad. Delicious !!!!
🙂
I loved the taste but somehow the dressing I made turned into a paste. More like a dip than dressing! Did I do anything wrong? I wonder if others had the same experience. If so how do I make it more “watery?” Thanks
Hi Beth, this dressing is quite thick — almost the consistency of a dip. Feel free to thin it out with some water; just go easy and add a little at a time until you get to the consistency you want. Hope that helps!
Hi Jenn: This Caesar dressing is so delicious that I’ve pretty much made sure that I’m never without the ingredients, it’s the most lucious dressing – ever. I think I’ve made a salad, using Romaine hearts, every day because it’s that good. Wow!
Delicious recipe! Very authentic, will use again and again.
It’s the most delicious Caesar salad dressing recipe and I love how easy/quick it is! I made it using half Greek yogurt and half Mayo this time around and it’s delicious too!
Absolutely spot on! Loved it!
I made a chicken caesar salad using this dressing and brought it to a potluck at work. It was the only dish in the room that was fully empty. I can’t say enough good things about it!
I make a LOT of things homemade and I have to say, this is one of the BEST Caesar salad dressings I have ever had. My store was out of anchovy paste, so I bought Cento anchovies and mashed (almost) the whole can into the recipe. I may have used 1 more garlic clove. The extra anchovies, we chopped up and added to the salad. It was amazing and I have literally been craving salads all week, and for me, that is not a thing. So, THANK YOU! We are low carb and this adds a wonderful, delicious, inexpensive yet gourmet dinner to our menu. Happy New Year, thanks for sharing.
How do I post a picture?
Unfortunately, the blog isn’t set up to receive pictures, but you can share it on Instagram. (Be sure to tag me @onceuponachef!) 🙂
Omg!!!! This recipe is a keeper 👌🏻
Still making the salad dressing, it’s our favorite!!! Thank you 🙂
Made this for Christmas dinner this year and it was absolutely delicious!! My nephew said it was the best caesar salad he ever ate in his life and that made me very happy! I did make my own croutons (easy!!) also. Thank you very much.
Outstanding! My husband and I love Ruth Chris’ caesar salad and this recipe rivals it. Wonderful recipe, as are all of Jenn’s. Thank you.
It was so easy and delicious! Everyone loved it! I am sure that I will be using this recipe often!
This salad dressing is the best! My pickiest eater (10 yo) absolutely loves it. I used canned anchovies, not paste. I freeze left over anchovies and use them as needed. This salad is even better with freshly made croutons. Thank you for sharing!
The Caesar Salad was delicious and easy to prepare in advance. I waited until just before serving it to dress it. It was a hit with everyone in our family.
My first time making homemade cesaer salad dressing and it was a hit! Everyone wanted the recipe so forwarded it on! So easy, tastes amazing and so much better than bottled! Thank you so much!
I love your creamy Caesar dressing. All the different flavors hit just the right notes. The garlic, the anchovy paste, the lemon juice and the cheese! And the simplicity of making it. Next year I’m going to also try some of your cookie recipes! So far thanks for a good recipe website!
I use FF Greek Yogurt instead of mayo. Delicious without the fat!
I skipped the salt too!
This is a delicious dressing! I’ve made this numerous times for dinner parties, and consistently get asked for the recipe and/or receive rave reviews. After following the recipe as written the first time, I’ve made slight modifications for my personal taste, those being a bit more anchovy paste, an extra splash of lemon juice, and parmigiano-reggiano for a bit more zip and savory. Hands down, one cannot go wrong using this recipe!
Thank you so much for this recipe! My daughter has an egg allergy and we have longed for a creamy Caesar dressing to use. I made this with Hellman’s Vegan Mayo (which is pretty close to their original) and was able to make a perfect egg free Caesar salad! This will be a go to recipe for years to come!!
I rarely leave reviews but this dressing is UuuuMazing. My four year old was eating spoonfuls and my 7 year old asks for this all the time too. My husband and I love it as well. My favorite caesar salad I have ever had is from the restaurant Maggiano’s Little Italy. But after making this, their salad just doesn’t cut it anymore. Thank you!!!
I read many of these reviews before I made this dressing. All the 5 star hype was promising. I was very disappointed. I did use excellent quailty mayonaise and followed the recipe as written. It tasted far too much like mayo for me which is not how a Caesar dressing should taste. I ended up tossing it and making a different recipe that only called for 2 TBS of mayo. It tasted much better. To be clear, I have made a few different Caesar dressings, including vegan, and I have never left a poor review like I have today. If you like the taste of mayo in your dressing then proceed on! If not, find a recipe that uses far less than a full cup.
Probably helps to let it sit and actually let the flavors penetrate the mayo
I have been making this dressing for a few years now on special occasions. Easy, tasty and crowd pleasing. Everyone fights over the leftovers.
One thing- please take the salt off the recipe. With the mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce and anchovies there is absolutely no need for extra salt.
Best caesar recipe I’ve made! Sooooo good. My husband and I couldn’t stop eating salad and he doesn’t like salad. Used 4 canned anchovies mashed instead of paste. Will make again and again. 🙂
Thank thank you so much for this recipe!!! I’ve always wanted to try to make a Caesar dressing but was too intimidated and thought it would be too complicated. Well clearly you changed all that for me with this recipe which I followed exactly but had to add more garlic because I love garlic😁 anyhoo it came out Delish!!! Family loved and I will be making again soon!
This was soooo good and so easy to make. I added the entire can of anchovies cuz I love them. This recipe is a real keeper.
I was just in the mood for a Caesar salad, but the dressing really mattered so I began looking for a recipe and I found this ridiculously delicious dressing. I love this recipe – it’s awesome.
Absolutely delicious and incredibly easy to prepare. This will be my go-to recipe from now on.
Omg!!! Was amazing!!! And a real hit at our family dinner… I had to change it up a bit to accommodate for allergies… but still tasted amazing!!! No more store brought dressing from me!!!
Dish ended up being, garlic, dairy, egg, wheat, gluten, soy free…
Excellent! I used 2 cloves roasted garlic since I had it on hand, Sir Kensington’s mayo and added the zest of the whole lemon I squeezed! Super!
Restaurant quality!!!
This recipe has become a staple in my rotation since I first made it about a year ago.
The anchovy paste is a great way to fool the kids (and my wife the first couple of times) that there’s no fish in there… Just gotta be a little stealthy with it…;)
It’s my daughter’s favorite meal now… She actually asked me to make it for her birthday dinner…
LOVE this! Delicious! I have made a similar recipe with sour cream but this time I went with all mayonnaise.
I forgot to buy store bought Ceaser dressing! I was craving a salad, I did get Romaine
Lettuce, and So I found your recipe❤️
Love It! best ever!
I didn’t have any anchovies though,
so didnt need them😊
Absolutely delicious and super easy to follow!!!! Satisfied all of my cravings! 💕
Just like our favourite Caesar salad served at the restaurant. I am a beginner cook and your recipes are well documented and easy to follow. Not to mention tasty.
Thank you for sharing and so glad I found your site amongst the too many choices that are out there.
So glad you’re having success with the recipes, Sue!
Caesar Salad is my favorite and this recipe is an instant favorite. My wife discovered it but I discovered that it is also a great dip for chips and I want to try it with artichokes. I love it so much I started making it.
This recipe exceeded my expectations. I will be making this over and over again.
My last dried up lemon produced only 1T juice so I halved the recipe. I added a tablespoon of water to thin and it was perfect. Next time I’ll omit the salt. Thank you for a great easy recipe. Off to get a bag of lemons!
I am a salad dressing snob-I only want freshly made. This Caesar dressing is everything you want it to be. Creamy and rich with just the right balance of flavors. Not too fussy to put together either. Thanks, this is my new Caesar dressing recipe!
Would love to buy your cookbook! Can you send the link? Thank you!
Hi Danielle, Thanks for inquiring about the cookbook! Just click on the “Buy Now” link on this page to see the different places you can buy it. (It’s also available at most local bookstores.) I hope it becomes an often-used tool in your kitchen! 🙂
This is an incredible dressing! I share it all the time. Homemade croutons are a must. I also add extra lemon juice. I think the thing that I love the most is not one component overtakes another. Perfect!
OMG!! This is the BEST Caesar dressing! I finally had all the ingredients on hand & followed the recipe exactly. Yum!! I could eat the whole bowl with a spoon, it’s that good. I see a lot of salad (and whatever else I can put it on or dip in it) in the future. Thanks Jenn for another terrific recipe !
Best Caesar dressing EVER! I do double the lemon juice-really brings that flavor to life! I also use 1/2 cup olive oil or avocado oil (depending on what I have on hand) and 1/2 cup mayo vs 1 full cup mayo. Soooo good! I make your grilled chicken with lemon zest to go along with this!!
All of Jenn Segal’s recipes are amazing!! I always share them with family and friends! 😊
Ok, WOW, this was delicious! Perhaps the best homemade dressing I’ve ever made! It was a winner with everyone. I have always been a little afraid of anchovy paste but I’m so glad I went outside of my comfort zone. My daughter is coming home from college for Thanksgiving and this is on the menu the first night! Thank you for another amazing recipe!
So, I’ve never made caesar dressing because the thought of smashing anchovies, using the necessary amount, but not the whole tin, and then throwing the rest away always made me feel like it was something I couldn’t and wouldn’t do. But, without anchovies you don’t have caesar dressing. Then came you and anchovy paste!! Who knew?! This opened a whole new world for me. I love Caesar dressing and this recipe is amazing and tastes as good as any I have had in any good restaurant. So, thank you, Jenn, for this. It is wonderful and I expect that this is a recipe I will use for the rest of my life. I’m still bragging about it and you to anyone who will listen! Also, I bought your cookbook. My daughter was home and paged through it. She wants it for her birthday.
So glad you like the dressing and the cookbook (and thrilled that your daughter wants one as well)! 💗
Absolutely wonderful!
AMAZING. I used 1/2 mayo + 1/2 0% greek yogurt and it was still rich & delicious. I also added a dash of olive oil & a little more garlic
This dressing is amazing and so easy! I couldn’t find fresh parmesan-reggiano cheese so I just used regular parmesan in shaker jar increasing amount slightly so I imagine the real deal would send this to another level and will try next time. It will not disappoint!
Excellent! Loved the fact that the recipe uses ingredients I keep in my kitchen, with the exception of anchovy paste. And honestly, I think it is excellent without anchovy paste. Thank you!
This is a terrible recipe; caeser salad dressing does not have mayonnaise in it, unless you want it to taste like mayo straight out of the jar. Waste of time.
@NICE TRY: You have either used some awful (or ridiculously cheap brand of mayo) or you have no palate for food in general. Perhaps follow the directions a little better. I have used this recipe countless times and it produces a high-end restaurant quality dressing without the concerns over raw egg and bacteria. Thanks Jenn.
This would be considered CREAMY caesar salad dressing as I believe the regular is made with olive oil. I searched for the creamy version, this recipe came up, and it is as authentic as it gets! My husband used to make caesar dressing table-side at an expensive Las Vegas restaurant and he absolutely loved this recipe. I bought Hellmann’s mayo (and the anchovy paste) from Amazon, since I live on the west coast and they don’t sell it here, and pre-grated/shredded Parmigiano Reggiano from Wholefoods. I will never buy ceasars dressing in a bottle again!
Deb, not sure where you live on the west coast, but generally, Hellmann’s is Best Foods out here.
Any suggestions for an anchovy substitute for vegetarians?
Thank you!
Hi Julee, Unfortunately, I don’t know a good substitute for anchovy paste. I’d probably just increase the Dijon and Parmesan a bit to add flavor. Hope that helps and that you enjoy!
Capers will do the trick!😊
This was a really excellent Caesar dressing! Perfect for how my family likes it! Thank you!
Absolutely delicious!!!!
Always thought Caesar dressing was too difficult. Saw this recipe and knowing where it came from had to give it a try. Have made it numerous times this summer for lake group gatherings and everyone loves it. It’s now become an every other week thing for the wife and I.
I always meant to make this dressing and glad I finally did! I mixed the full recipe with a box of cooked bowtie pasta and extra Parmesan and voila! excellent pasta salad!
BEST Caesar dressing out there! Thanks Jenn!!
Everybody loved my Caesar salad! What a great recipe, thank you for posting it. I’ve raised the bar for our family dinners and can’t wait to use it again tonight.
It was a hit at a dinner party! Everyone raved!!
This is the best Caesar Salad I have made and so easy!! I have given it to many of my friends as their husbands love it!! Thank you, Jenn, for this and all your other fabulous recipes. Your family is so lucky to have you!!
💗
Easy and delicious.
This is my go to. Love it!!
Delicious!!!
Finally the perfect make-ahead Caesar dressing! (I do sometimes thin it a little before tossing it with freshly washed and dried Romaine.) Thank you!
My family and I love this recipe. Every time I make it they always say I make the best Caesar salad! Thank you
Great dressing easy and my picky family even liked it.
I needed a quick recipe for my salad….this was delicious! I didn’t have to change anything!
What according to you Jen is a good combination of salad leaves in a leafy salad… Like your Italian salad? Or even for a caesar’s? There are limited salad leaves available in India mainly iceberg and Romaine are always available. I Never manage to get the right combination and crunch in my opinion!
Thanks in advance!
Vanita I
I definitely like Romaine for my Caesar salads. For other salads, my favorites are Romaine, arugula, and baby spinach I like them on their own or combined together. 🙂
I don’t think I’ll ever buy Caesar dressing again! I love this. So much more interesting flavours than the bottled stuff in supermarkets.
Jenn,
I recently tried your Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing for a special occasion. I wanted to let you know that it was extremely delicious and got rave reviews from all of my guests.
I will never purchase another bottled Caesar dressing again!!! Plus, I love the fact that I had all of the items in my pantry and it is so simple to make.
Once again, thank you for another great recipe and I will look forward to trying many other recipes in the future.
Sincerely,
Christine Maciejewski
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Loyal E-mail Subscriber
😊
Me too!
I’ve been in search of the best Caesar dressing for months. I originally steered away from this recipe since it did not have eggs and thus not “the OG.” Everything I tried, just didn’t do it for me, so I thought I would give this one a chance. Well, as it turns out, I had wasted my time for the past several months. This is the BEST Caesar dressing and I will NEVER use another recipe! Lesson learned and I look forward to trying many of Jenn’s recipes.
This recipe is delicious. I have been using it for several years. Very easy, too!
This is the best caesar dressing recipe I have ever come across. I put it on a mix of romaine and radicchio with rosemary croutons and extra parmesan.
Okay. I stumbled upon this recipe because I was tired of wasting money on vegan recipes that don’t really translate to the normal version. So I veganized this recipe in hopes it would turn out good and boy oh boy, it did! Here’s what I did, used Hellman’s Vegan Mayo, capers instead of anchovies, vegan Worcestershire sauce, nutritional yeast, a little salt and garlic powder (in addition to the fresh garlic) and about a tablespoon of unsweetened original almond milk to thin it out.
I have missed Panera’s Caesar salad since going vegan and this salad dressing help me hit a spot. It was so delicious with my substitutions, I know the original HAS to be delicious. I am keeping some of this in the fridge moving forward. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
BRAVA!
I absolutely LOVE this.
Everyone that has tasted it has asked me for the recipe. 😊
This is a great dressing recipe! I hate Worcestershire sauce so I was hesitant but I am so pleased with this recipe!
Cannot believe I’ve never made Caesar dressing – anchovy intimidation I guess. This was so easy and so delicious. Thank you for sharing.
I love cesar dressing and like other reviewers I don’t have to look any further. Thank you for such a incredible recipe.
Thank you for this simple & delicious recipe! I made it 2 separate occasions, the first time following your recipe exactly, even using the brand Dijon mustard you recommend, and it is AMAZING!!! The second time, I followed it exactly, only halving the recipe because I’m the only one eating it, and I also cut the mayo in half, substituting the other half with 2% fat Fage Greek yogurt. It tastes almost identical to the full mayo recipe, but cuts the calories to 93 per 2 tbps serving, and only 9.1 grams of total fat. It tastes SUPER decadent without any guilt! Just sharing my tweak in case anyone else is interested, but the original recipe is fantastic!
this is the best dressing EVER! I always get requests for the recipe when I make it, and I refer them to your website. I am making a Caesar Salad for 30 this Saturday, for my Husband’s “Cousins Reunion” . Thanks so much. Cheers, Patti Gaetan
This is the most incredible caesar dressing! I have been making it at the cottage and we put it on everything! Thank you!!
This Caesar dressing is far better than the bottled, so happy I found the recipe. Thank you for sharing. Making a special dinner for my husbands birthday and this is part of the menu.
This has to be the best Cesar dressing I’ve found yet. This is the first one without egg, and I chose to omit the anchovy paste, but it was absolutely amazing. Low calorie and guilt free, I will use this on more than just salad now! Thank you!
I just made this dressing, and I love it. I’m putting into my recipe keeper app now!
Easy and delicious. Thanks! Do you have a recipe for Greek Salad?
Hi Josie, Glad you enjoyed! I don’t have a classic Greek salad on the site but try this salad with feta. You might also like this creamy feta dressing.
Omitted the anchovy paste and added extra garlic. Absolutely the best dressing we’ve ever had!
Hi Jenn, do you think this dressing will work with Greek yogurt instead of the mayo?
Hi Kim, If you want to use Greek yogurt, I’d suggest replacing only half of the mayo with it. You may also need to cut back on the lemon juice as the yogurt will add more tang to the dressing. Please LMK how it turns out if you try it!
This is the best Caesar dressing I ever had. Perfect perfect perfect and so easy to make. Thank you so much for sharing such a perfect recipe!
Quick, easy…..and delicious!
I am going to try the recipe, but I just wanted to make a comment. How do you think real mayonnaise is made? With eggs! I have my own hens & make all my own mayo, using this as a base for heaps of dressings & Caesar was the next one I wanted to make. I had a look at the ingredient list of the brand you use & it contains whole eggs & egg yolks, so if you’re feeding this to your kids & they’re fine, you obviously don’t have to be concerned about those nasty eggs in a dressing! (Since the site asks for it, I will rate it even though I haven’t made it, as I am confident it will be good).
I think she’s concerned because caesar dressing is typically made with raw eggs and most people don’t have the time to pasteurize their own eggs. By using packaged mayo, she’s able to rest easy that her kids aren’t just eating raw eggs from which they can contract salmonella. Because, while you are right there are eggs in packaged mayo, it’s made with pasteurized eggs. But if you have your own hens and you are able to pasteurize your eggs to make your own mayo, more power to you! I’m sure it’s delicious! I’m hoping to be able to do that one day.
Made it without the anchovy paste and I thought it was the best. I cut the recipe in half since I’m the only one who eats it. I can’t say if I would like it with the anchovy.
I thought the same thing about anchovy paste but did buy some and used it in the recipe,happy I did it turned out well. Delicious 😋
This is THE BEST Caesar Salad dressing I have ever had. Every time I make it, I am asked to share the recipe. I have made it multiple times and it never fails to impress. I will never make a different recipe, it is that good. Thank you for sharing.
Fantastic recipe! Always made my own, as I have Celiac and some bottled dressings have wheat gluten in them. But never liked the idea of raw eggs in my dressing, so your recipe rocks! It’s our go-to recipe, great with my homemade g-free croutons!
Tammie
Fantastic! The only thing I reccomend is crushing up the anchovies. I did that the first time and it was amazing. Substituted paste this go around and it wasn’t as flavorful. Who knew this is what ceasar salad is supposed to taste like. Never going back. Thank you!
So so so delicious. And easy! Thank you for making this and inspiring me to never buy bottled dressing again.
Hi Jenn,
Is there a way to modify using flat filet anchovies packed in oil? Thanks!
Sure Amy. I’d drain the oil and mince them. (I’d start with one anchovy, then add more to taste.) Enjoy!
I used 4 very small filets and put everything in the blender. Was delicious
This is an absolutely kick ass dressing!!!
I will never use another one.
Dee fricken licious!
This THE BEST caesar dressing recipe ever! I love caesar salad, but in my opinion all of the bottled store bought dressings are terrible. I found this recipe and I’m obsessed! I make it once a week! Everyone I’ve made it for loves it and asks for the recipe!! Goes great with some fresh made croutons too!
I’m going to be 80 in early August and love to cook and entertain. Love, love this recipe so much I’m making it for family and friends to use. Just made a double batch for a dear friend who is entertaining her daughter’s in-laws and my daughter who begs for it. I did add more anchovy paste and deleted salt.
Kudos to the chef for this oh, so simple but delicious recipe.
Turned out absolutely fantastic! So easy. Never buying a caeser dressing again. I did add a splash of double cream, which gave it a smoother texture. Many thanks
This is the best Ceasar dressing I’ve ever had. Made this recipe numerous times, exactly as the recipe calls for. Family favorite. Unfortunately, I have developed an allergy to soy so I can’t use traditional Hellman’s anymore. I miss this Ceasar dressing so much! I’m going to try it with Hellman’s soy-free mayo and hope that the other ingredients make up for the taste difference. Do you have any suggestions for a substitute like sour cream?
Hi Karla, Glad you like this and sorry to hear about your new allergy! I think you could get away with sour cream but would suggest reducing the lemon juice a bit because sour cream will add some tartness to the dressing. Please LMK how it turns out with the sour cream!
Jenn, what about creme freche or soft cream cheese?
Creme fraiche would work (with a reduction in the lemon juice similar to sour cream), but I wouldn’t recommend cream cheese.
Delicious! I halved the recipe, but boy did you deliver! Just the right combo of lemon, garlic, and anchovies. Thanks!
I really like this recipe a lot. Have made it a few times and it’s always great. Yes the “real” dressing is great but this is easy and simple and you usually always have the ingredients on hand. Using the anchovy paste is best but it’s ok without it too.
Love this easy Caesar dressing…will not buy store bought again…didn’t have anchovy’s so used a few splashes of fish sauce .
WOW ! This recipe just got me promoted from busboy to executive Chef !…amazing recipe ..thank you Jen !…plus its the first time i have eaten a salad in over 30 years
Ooh! Fish sauce! Great idea. 👍
I thought the last Caesar dressing I had was amazing… nope, wrong! This dressing is like absolutely delicious! I didn’t alter the recipe at all, I only eyeballed the measurements other than the mayo. I also couldn’t find anchovy paste, so I used anchovies from a can and chopped them up. I used two. It’s perfect, simply perfect. Thank you for sharing and Happy 4th!
This is, hands down, the best caesar salad dressing out there! Just the right blend of ingredients. I cannot buy store bought caesar dressing anymore after tasting this one. I follow the recipe exactly and it tastes like an upper end restaurant dressing.
I love this! But I do double the garlic….. I love it garlicky! But very simple and easy to mix up- I use my home made avocado oil mayo
Hello! Wondering what lettuce to dressing ratio you use when preparing the salad? Thanks!
Hi Brittany, I usually just eyeball it but I’m guessing 3 to 4 tablespoons per serving (which is about 2 cups of chopped romaine). Hope that helps!
Pls suggest a vegetarian substitute for anchovy paste?
Unfortunately, I know of no good substitute for anchovy paste. I’d probably just increase the Dijon and Parmesan a bit to add flavor.
We all love this recipe. My son-in-law wants a jar for every occasion – he uses it for everything.
Thank you for sharing your recipes. I am an old time cook and have used and enjoyed many of your recipes.
This recipe is fantastic. Right ratio of ingredients. Easy to make. Tastes great. Best recipe out there. No more store bought dressing. This deserves 10 stars **********
Pretty much every recipe we have made from the Once Upon a Chef website has been 5-Star. This might be the one of the best ones. Just trust me on this! 👌
This was good! My husband loved it. (And he almost never eats salads), so thank you for sharing your recipe.
Delicious caesar salad dressing. Easy and quick to make. Made it for company and everyone loved it. This is a definite keeper.
Made this tonight with homemade croutons. Even my family members who don’t really like Caeser salad at restaurants devoured it and said they loved it!
Best ceasar dressing …wondering if i wanted it a little.thinner what anyones suggestion would be.
Glad you like it, Maureen! You could use a little water, milk, or olive oil to thin it a bit – just add a little at a time.
I just made this dressing for the very first time tonight, and boy, was it good. I’ll never buy the bottled kind again!
Amazing Caesar dressing! Best after the flavours meld-24 hours or more! Definitely a new staple in my fridge! ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I did not like this recipe because it tasted too much like mayonnaise.
I love this recipe, its simple and consistently good. I use avocado/olive oil based mayonnaise so the dressing is a bit thick so I thin it with milk which works well. It’s better after a day when the flavors blend more. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe, it has been a savior. I love knowing the ingredients that I’m using are healthful and much less expensive than the prepared dressings at the store.
Still prefer the original recipe. Mayo base is not a very good substitute. Might as well buy ready-made.
Amazing – even the fussiest eater said it was his favorite salad ever!
We loved it. Another easy, delicious homemade dressing to add to our favorites. Thank you for sharing, Jenn!
WOW! We loved this Caesar Dressing recipe! I have tried SO many using oil-based or Greek yogurt-based, and, of course, egg yolk-based. Nothing has come close to this recipe. It was a bit thick for my preference but that’s probably because I hate to measure. We will use the remainder tonight for our Memorial Day event, but I will add a bit of EVOO to thin a tad. This will be my goo-to for Caesar dressing going forward. It can’t be any simpler … it’s everything you have on hand. (BTW: I liked the previous reviewer’s comment of using fish sauce in lieu of anchovy paste – will give it a try.) Thank you Jenn for a fabulous recipe!
This is a FABULOUS recipe! I hesitated at the idea of using mayo for a Caesar dressing, and am just glad I went ahead and tried it. Tweaked it a little, using
2 med/large size garlic cloves, 3 TB Redboat Fish Sauce in place of the anchovies, and omitted the salt called for. It’s a very thick dressing, so, after mixing everything together, I added about 3/4 cup olive oil to make the dressing a bit more “liquified” which worked fine and didn’t dilute the flavor at all. What’s especially wonderful is that it comes out tasting almost like blue cheese dressing! I can’t rave enough about this Caesar Salad Dressing recipe!
Update to my comments of May 24, 2019, shown above – I decided to give the recommended anchovy paste a try (instead of fish sauce), and like it better. Also, since I like a thinner dressing, I added some almond milk to thin the consistency, and cut the olive oil I had originally used to about 1/3-1/2 cup.
Easy peasy lemon squeezy. Came out great but I had to put in real anchovies, I love those little guys.
Excellent Caesar dressing. It tastes as good if not better than high end steakhouses.
Absolutely perfect! I have tried several recipes looking for the perfect Caesar salad dressing recipe including Ina Garten’s but they were all missing something. Yours is perfect and saved my Caesar salad habit. Not only is it delicious but it is super fast to make using my homemade mayo.
Simply awesome!, no need to ever try another recipe
I’ve made this at least 10 times. It’s SO good. I add extra anchovy paste. DELICIOUS!
This is my family’s absolute favorite Caesar dressing – they request it for many of our holiday meals and I gladly make it because it’s so easy and yet so very, very delicious! Bravo!
This dressing is so good that after the family ate all the salad, I ransacked the fridge for more greens and they gobbled up kale, and everything else remotely green. Thank you!!
Tastes like mayonnaise, not Caesar.
This dressing is delish! And so easy. Didn’t have anchovy paste, so added a little extra Worcestershire. Might cut back a tiny bit on the mayo next time, but overall – really yummy!
No chef adds mayonnaise to their caesar.
If they want to do it the hard way and use raw egg yokes, so be it. I have used this recipe for years and like it better than the original.
This is a standard in our house. Love it! I have made it all the traditional ways but this is so easy and tastes great. Heads above the bottled stuff.
Awesome, will never buy store bought again!! Jenn, our whole family love love love your cookbook and website. Can’t thank you enough for all the meals you have served at our table.
❤️
I tried this last night for dinner. I was having spaghetti and meatballs and really wanted to sometime else to go with it but didn’t have any Cesar dressing. I found this recipe and man am I so glad I did! I am never going back to bottled. I used everything I already had on hand so I had to skip the anchovy paste and Worcestershire sauce and substituted light mayo for regular. It was so full of flavor, a little on the thicker side but I think if I had all the ingredients it would have been the perfect consistency.
You all do realize that mayonnaise has raw eggs in it I hope.
Can this recipe be doubled using the same proportions or do they have to be adjusted? Seems like doubling EVERYTHING might be a bit much. I LOVE this recipe!!!
Hi Cindy, You would double everything. 🙂
Really good! But be careful with the mayonnaise, it dominates! i added a lot of more lemon to balance it out, but in future i would start out with 1/2 and maybe add some olive oil. Made some homemade croutons and all together it was delicious. thanks for the easy recipe:)
We tried it without anchovy paste as we had none at home and that was already excellent !! Thanks a lot !
Wow! That was incredibly easy and so tasty. Never buying bottled Caesar dressing again. I didn’t have any lemons but had one of those containers of lime juice so I judged that as a substitute. Will use lemons in the future but the taste was still there with the lime juice. Thanks so much for such an easy recipe that didn’t involve making my own mayonnaise.
Has anyone tried using low fat or fat free mayo in this recipe?
Yes. I use light Hellman’s and it is delicious!
Best. Caesar. Dressing.
This Caesar dressing is so popular in my family that I have to triple the recipe to make it last a couple days. Suddenly everyone wants salads or chicken Caesar wraps every day for lunch & dinner!
It makes a big difference (even though it costs a little extra) to buy a pack of prosciutto, cook it until it’s nice and crisp, then crumble it over the top of each salad with the Parmesan shavings.
Slight tweak: we love it with a couple extra tsp of black pepper added for a little more kick.
I love this Cesar salad dressing. My husband usually orders Cesar salad if it’s on the menu when we are out to dinner. When I saw this I was leary of the anchovy paste but I’m so glad I tried it. It’s wonderful and making my own croutons makes it even better!
Delicious recipe!! My family loves it!! I love the consistency, and the flavor is out of this world!! Everyone always asks for this recipe!!
This was so good and so easy!! I didn’t have fresh lemons so I used bottled. I can’t wait to try with fresh. I prefer my dressing a little thinner so I added buttermilk until it was the consistency I like.
This will be your go to Caesar salad dressing! It’s so easy to make and the flavor is far better than any bottle could pack in. Don’t let the anchovy paste be optional if you can help it, because it helps provide that classic Caesar taste. Just like one other reader mentioned, if it turns out too thick then add a little milk.
Hi,
I made this without anchovies, a good thing, not sure quite how to season to taste otherwise? Not a big fan of ranch. I went to ‘pantry’ (kitchen cabinet) and found that I was fresh out of 1000’s of islands, so I made this, ’cause I could. Headed out for more 1000’s of islands. I also thinned it down with oat milk. 🙂
This is without a doubt THE BEST Caesar salad dressing I’ve tasted!
Quick, easy and tasty. Every time I serve it, I get recipe requests. Our new family favourite.
Thank you Jenn for your fabulous recipes! I’ve tried SO many of them and every one is 5 stars!!!
🙂
Hands down the best caesar dressing that doesn’t use eggs. I’ve tried many, even pioneer woman, and this one blows them out of the water. My 4 yo twins gobbled it up and wanted to dip anything and everything in it. Thank you so much for this recipe.
Thank you! This dressing is delish!
At long last, a delicious (and easy) caeser. Excellent consistency, excellent flavor! Into the bookmarks it goes!
This is literally the best recipe I have ever gotten off-line. Ever. It is my go to recipe for hosting dinners/attending dinners it is my go to recipe for hosting dinners/attending dinners. , And it’s so quick and easy to whip up and lasts for at least a week so we eat it on a regular basis in our home as well. Literally every single person who has ever eaten a salad that I’ve made with this dressing has asked for the recipe and then has added it to their regular rotation as well.
I love Once Upon a Chef recipes! They’re all delicious! This caesar dressing is my new favorite dressing. My husband requests it weekly! I am serving this Caesar salad and Once Upon a Chef’s grilled chicken to guests tomorrow night!
Perfect perfect perfect! I’ve been craving Caesar salads a lot lately and decided it was time to try making a from-scratch dressing.. so glad I did! Wow! Also made some homemade croutons for the salad and couldn’t stop dunking them in the Caesar dressing : ) I topped our dinner salad with your Perfectly Grilled Chicken Breasts, which were also phenomenal. Thank you!
In our high school hospitality class, we have a monthly luncheon in partnership with the health centre for the elders in our community. This month, our contribution to the luncheon was Caesar Salad. To make it extra special, we decided to do homemade dressing, and based on all the great reviews, we picked this recipe to make. It was very easy for our students to make, and we got great feedback from everyone who tried our salad. The only substitution we did was to use pre-grated parmesan cheese, as we were on a budget, but we did buy 1 brick of real parmesan to sprinkle on top of our salad as garnish. Thank you for this great recipe! I plan to make this for my family, and we will definitely use it again at school!
Hi Chelsy, what a nice thing that your class does! Glad to hear the dressing was well received at the luncheon and that you have a new recipe to use at home with your family! 🙂
I’ve never written a recipe review before but HAD TO for this one!!! It was delicious! I didn’t have anchovies or lemons just substituted with fresh orange juice and it was the best I’ve ever made! Thank you for sharing this 🙂
LOVED this dressing!! Ate salad every day last week just to have this! Dreaming of another batch…thank you!
Excellent, thank you! Made some this morning for a salad bringing to a function, I will never buy that stuff in a bottle again. Hope I have enough cause I can’t stop eating it.
Just made this and omg sooooo good! Thank you I’m glad I ran out of the store bought stuff.
Excellent.
I have made & shared this dressing recipe more times then I can count. It’s a true crowd pleaser and so delicious! Only negative is my husband and I can no longer order caesar salad when eating out as it never tastes as good as yours/mine!! Thanks again Jen!
Made this last night. Substituted the store bought mayo for the recipe that Jenn suggested: http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2011/10/two-minute-mayonnaise.html
Mayo recipe is stupid-easy, assuming you have an immersion blender. They aren’t kidding about it taking 2 minutes. Omitted the garlic, since the Caesar salad dressing recipe had its own.
Jenn’s recipe, with the homemade mayo, is superb. You can control the thickness with milk/cream/olive oil.
I use a small amount of water to thin it a little. Does not affect the taste at all.
Perfect!
OMG my family and I really loved this recipe i’m not to keen on the store bought ceasar dressings and i’m not the greatest cook lol i’ve tried a few recipes that were good but this is definitely my go to recipe now!! Thank you so much for such a great recipe and its so easy love it 🙂 🙂
I’ve tried a lot of recipes for Caesar Dressing but this is the LAST one! Perfect!
Amazing dressing! I have never attempted to make my own Caesar dressing, but I will never buy another premade one again! SO simple, and the taste is over the top delicious! Followed directions exactly as written, just adding all the lemon juice, probably closer to 3 tbsp. – large lemon – and it is perfect!
This was exceptional. I didn’t have anchovies or paste so substituted fish sauce. I live in the country so can’t just run to the grocery store. Also used asiago cheese and served the dressing over baby spinach. It was scrumptious. Thanks Jenn for sharing
So freaking good. Never buy bottled dressing again. Yummy stuff 😋😋😍.
I will never in my life buy any Caesar dressing! This was super easy to make and tasted AMAZING! I’m so happy I found this recipe.
OMG YUMMY!!! Thank you for sharing your recipe.
I made this yesterday for a birthday party at work. I followed the directions as written. Although, there’s always an although isn’t there, I couldn’t find anchovy paste. So, I bought canned anchovies. I removed 1 anchovy, smashed it with a fork and added it to the lemon mixture.
it was a hit!
This is THE BEST caesar dressing. Kids love it, adults love it, my friend just asked me for the recipe and so has my mother-in-law. I also make the croutons by cutting pita into triangles, tossing with olive oil and kosher salt, and baking at 400 until very crisp. Crunchy romaine, crispy croutons and super dressing = total crowd pleaser.
It’s rare that I follow a recipe as written without feeling the need to make at least minor changes….this is perfect.
Perfect Caesar recipe. I substitute a quarter to a half tsp garlic powder for the fresh garlic. All my tasters have loved it also. Thank you.
This is a wonderful dressing! I make caesar dressing all the time and the only changes to this that I make are, instead of anchovy paste, I use Thai fish sauce. I always have it in my pantry and I think it makes a great substitute. My other addition is white pepper and I omit the salt.
Easy and delicious! The only way to make this better is homemade mayo or gambling and using raw egg. 5 stars. Thanks for the recipe!
what about egg yoke?
Hi Al, No egg yolk is needed in this recipe.
I make this all the time. love it. thank you.
Hi Jenn,
You are my girl. Literally… my family knows – when I say, oh I got this recipe from my girl… they know who I’m talking about. I have made so many of your recipes I can’t even count. Pre ordered your cookbook and then bought a couple more to have on hand to give as gifts.
Was thinking you might like this sandwich: We re-created from restaurant in Napa – well Yountville, called: R&D Kitchen. (they do everything GREAT). Its their ding ding crispy chicken sandwich.
We use basic hamburger buns/sesame seed. slather both sides with mayo.
then goes on the fried chicken breast, which I pound thin and marinate in buttermilk with salt pepper and some kind of hot sauce (siracha lately), then dredge in a even mix of seasoned breadcrumbs and panko, then a huge heaping of slaw (small cut cabbage and kale with jalapeno and honey mustard)
then a really good slice of tomato and two (not one) slices of baby swiss.
its soo good. we have driven up just to have for lunch.
anyways – keep on what you are doing. LOVE YOU!!
Alicia
Sounds like a delish sandwich – I may just have to try to duplicate it – thanks for thinking to share it with me!
And so glad you enjoy the recipes – thank you for being so supportive! ❤️
Easy & Tasty — winning combination! At the last minute I decided to make a salad with dinner and google led me to this recipe — fortunately I had all ingredients, except the anchovies, on hand so I was able to throw it together. I did substitute part of the mayo with Greek yogurt (half yogurt, half mayo) and a dash of EV olive oil since my husband has some dietary concerns. The dressing retained some of the richness from the mayo and the Greek yogurt had a slight tang and it’s thickness gave it body so the olive oil helped thinned it out. It was yummy and even my picky teenage daughter endorsed the dressing. I will get some anchovies for the pantry so I can do the recipe completely next time.
Delicious!!! Best one I’ve made at home and one of the best I’ve had ever. I whisked in a lil extra virgin olive oil at end to thin the dressing out a lil bit but that’s just my liking.
This recipe rocks! Caesar dressing is my husband’s favorite dressing, and he thought it was amazing too! I halved the recipe and used Duke’s (the BEST) mayo. I also used higher-end already grated parmesan cheese. My husband doesn’t like mayo, and he thought it was a great consistency and flavor. The anchovy paste is key – I found it at Fresh Market for $2.50, and the tube will make many, many batches. Thank you for this!
Fantastic recipie! I have never tasted better! My friends and family can’t get enough!
Absolutely one of the easiest and best tasting caesar dressings that I’ve had the good fortune in finding. Have made it several times and most recently I substituted roasted garlic for the fresh and a must try.
I’m guilty of being that person who changes up the ingredients in a recipe. This is one my go tos that make exactly as written.
I just made this dressing using garlic powder and already grated Parmesan. Washed, rinsed, dried and shredded the romaine.. Then added the dressing and good shave parm. Boom this is way to quick easy and tastes like classic Caesar to me. This is a keeper thanks!
Mmmm such an amazing rich flavour and veryyy easy. Took 5 minutes with maximum reward 🙂 I made this for part of my husband’s birthday dinner. Thank you for posting
Great recipe. If you only have whole anchovies, cook down to soften into a paste. The Garlic and Anchovies are key.
Hi Jenn,
Thank you for letting me contribute my opinion and I hope you have the integrity to publish both good and bad impressions.
How can you call this, “Caesar Salad Dressing”? I’m sorry, but this is Garlic Mayo at best. It is so thick and lack lustre, no wonder your kids dip romaine leaves into this stuff. The only thing correct proportionally is the amount of garlic, otherwise this is yucky!
I’m frustrated that I bothered looking this up when my homemade dressing blows this out of the water! Thank goodness I only made a half portion.
Very disappointed,
Daphne
Funny how tastes are so different. I found this to be the most delicious caesar dressing ever.
This is hands down my favorite Caesar salad dressing recipe ever. It’s always a hit at my house. If you make such a great dressing of your own why bother with any other? This is my go-to. I won’t ever make it any other way again
Was that really necessary? Yuck.
The condescension is thick. Enough integrity? I agree with the others. And yes, it’s incredibly odd you would ever try a different recipe than yours if you already think yours is best. In any event, try offering critiques without getting personal. Otherwise you simply sound like a troll.
Daphne and Martin, if you go back to the recipe with the picture of a dressed caesar salad, you might notice the start of Jenn’s second paragraph which begins with “There are many variations…..” and her fourth paragraph which states, “Unlike traditional Caesar dressings…..”. Do you drive a Chevy and your spouse drive a Ford or do you drive a BMW and your best friend a Mercedes? Can there be room for more than one great car, house, pair of shoes, and even Caesar salad dressing? I think the answer is YES! And thank goodness. This dressing is very tasty, easy to make and a great alternative for people who are leery of using raw eggs. I found it not too garlicky, and not too fishy. It is very flavorful.
I always find reviews helpful that contain constructive criticism, such as too salty, or too bland, overly spicy etc. I have limited bandwidth for reviews that sound like personal attacks on a woman who has transformed the way so many families eat by sharing her time and talents with the rest of us. Daphne, the only constructive words in your rant are that you feel the dressing is too thick and lack lustre. The rest of your review is unnecessarily nasty. Challenging her integrity?? Yeesh.
This recipe is delicious. My go to now.
First of all; very good taste – this is the classic Caesar taste. However, a few tricks can make it better:
1. Make the mayo yourself. Come on, it is seriously just egg yolk and oil. I have a hard time accepting anyone being a “Classic Educated Chef” would not recommend this. And no, Hellmann’s does not taste like mayo. Mayo tastes like mayo.
2. Don’t use anchovy paste. Buy anchovy filets and mash them/grate them. Much better.
3. Do not omit anchovies of the recipe, because of family members being scared of fish or whatever. Anchovies are an essential “spice” in this.
4. Do not thin the mayo. It is supposed to be thick, garlicky, strong and peppery. The romaine salad and croutons and chickens needs something sharp to create an edge to the dish – that’s the purpose of the taste of dressing. It is supposed to be thick, so it sticks to the leaves. If you make it thick and spicy enough, you just need a little.
I give only three stars due to the use of Hellmanns instead of spending 2-3 minutes extra actually making the mayo and at the same time avoiding a million additives.
Martin- I cant decide who is more rude- you or Daphne
I don’t understand why giving an opinion is rude.
The person is being a elitist snob. That is why it’s rude. They are giving themselves a huge pat on the back. You can say that homemade mayo improves the taste without being insulting about it. People need to rate a recipe for what it is. This is a quicker version of classic Caesar dressing.
My thoughts exactly Patricia.
The original dressing did not contain anchovies. It contained worcestershire sauce only. If you are going to be a purist, at least get it right. If people want to omit the anchovies, that is up to them. I am sure that this is great with homemade mayo too, but even with Duke’s it is the best I have ever made or had. It’s way, way above what you can get at most restaurants or out of any bottle. A lot of Ceasar dressing in bottles is loaded with sugar.
The orig recipe was fine, but I agree with you Martin, your tweaks make it even better. Thanks for taking the time to make the excellent suggestions.
Hi Jenn,
I love this recipe, but I wanted to make it for some health-nut guests coming for dinner. Could I substitute 1/2 of the mayonnaise for sour cream? What are my options for tweaking, where the taste won’t be too altered. Love your website and cookbook! You’re my favorite go to chef! 🙂
Hi Sarah, I think you could get away with that but would suggest reducing the lemon juice a bit because sour cream will add some tartness to the dressing. And so glad you like the recipes! ❤️
The health nuts will be amazed by a great salad – don’t substitute.
I would sub full fat Greek yogurt for half the mayo and pull way back on the lemon. You might also need a bit of sugar to balance out the tartness.
Look no further, this is The One!
I’ve made this dressing several times now, enough so that I don’t have to look at it, I know it by heart. It is simply amazing, and I can’t believe how easy it is to make. The hardest part was finding the Anchovie paste at the store.
I was looking for a perfect Caesar Dressing for a long time, thank you for your recipe, mdm.
I love this recipe! I have an egg intolerance so could not eat Caesar salad. Until now. In the recipe, I just substitute the mayonnaise with eggless vegan “mayo”. I can quickly serve up a tasty salad that I too can eat. It’s delicious and easy.
Caesar Salad Dressing is amazing. I love that it is creamy, yet light. Easy to make and delicious!!
I Absolutely loved this dressing! I don’t always add anchovies As it is not something I keep around in the kitchen, but it is perfect with or without.
I use this dressing on chicken ceasar salad and my family loves it! I change it slightly by reducing the mayonaise to 1/2 cup and I add about 1/3 of cup of olive oil to replace the reduced mayonaise. I also omit the anchovy paste at the request of my family!
Delicious! I made it without the anchovy paste (only because it wasn’t available at my local grocery store) and it still turned out great. This is my go-to recipe!
I plan on making this for a dinner party this weekend. I noticed many commented that it is very thick. Which is the best method to thin it? I have seen your response to use a little milk, or lemon juice or olive oil. What do you recommend?
Hi Pamela, any of those (as well as water) would work to thin the dressing – just add a little at a time.
I use cream or half-and-half to thin creamy dressing. It maintains the creaminess better than milk or water.
I will never buy caesar dressing again! This was super easy and it taste glorious. Thank you.
This is my go to recipe for Caesar salad dressing. I’ve made it the traditional way (with eggs) as well tried bottled dressings and restaurant Caesars, but nothing comes close to the deliciousness and ease that this recipe offers. It is quite thick, but that means I just need a small amount for a tasty salad. I take a spoonful, drop it on the romaine, then toss with tongs until the leaves are coated.
I just made this dressing yesterday. Followed directions completely. While the dressing was very tasty, I was disappointed that it was so thick. I ended up thinning it with a very small amount of milk to make it creamier. Any suggestions for a creamier dressing?
Hi Barb, The dressing is a little on the thicker side. You did the right thing by adding some milk. I would just continue to do that (bit by bit) until it gets to your desired consistency.
I left out the anchovy paste because it freaks me out and I was once really put off by a very, very fishy salad Caesar salad. It was still absolutely wonderful! Right after trying it on our salad tonight I said that I would never buy store bought again. Thank you!
Darn.. I only have canned anchovies. Could those be made into a paste?
Definitely. Hope you enjoy!
This is by far the most delicious dressing I have tasted. Followed exactly except no added salt and used grated Romano. Thank you!!
This was absolutely delicious! I cut the recipe in half and I mashed the garlic clove up with my mortar and pestle with kosher salt. Those were the only changes I made. This is a keeper! Thank you!
RIDICULOUSLY scrumptious. Can’t stop eating it.
My husband found this recipe and made it. Delish! One chance for him was no anchovy paste. Still wonderful.
He is just getting into cooking and this was a winner😄
This dressing is AMAZING. Better than restaurant quality. Followed the recipe exactly as stated (which I never do) and it was perfect. I tasted it before I added any salt at the end and it didn’t need it.
Fabulous! Easy, well balanced and elevated. Thank you for sharing!!!
I’ve made this recipe several times. My boys love love it!!! Throw in some grilled chicken breast and homemade croutons to bring it all together!!
We use grilled shrimp, and it is also really good!
Excellent.
My son is a veggie hater, but will eat high-end restaurant Caesar salad like it’s nobody’s business. I’ve been searching for a bottled dressing that fits the bill, to no avail. I then tried a few homemade recipes that were good, but not good enough. Tried this one last night and it got rave reviews! I even forgot the Worcestershire sauce, and it was still awesome!!! The batch I made was very thick, so I thinned it out with a T. or so of water, and it didn’t sacrifice the flavor at all.
Best ever.
This is the only Caesar salad dressing I use. Thank you for sharing!
This is really so good. I didn’t find it too salty at all. I love (extra) tangy dressing, so I just added more lemon juice. You can obviously modify it to suit individual tastes, but the dressing recipe is superb.
My husband is a meat guy, nothing fancy. Only ate iceberg lettuce, which I despise.
ONE time, he tasted my romaine with Caesar dressing, he was hooked. This recipe is beyond good. Thank you Jenn!!!!
It is so delicious! I made the huge mistake of putting everything together and using a mixer, just because of the whole garlic, and it did curdle and the oils are sitting on top and I need to stir a lot before using. It didn’t affect the taste! It’s the best Caesar dressing and I want to eat it with everything! Please excuse my English mistakes.
Amazing! Just right.
Yummy recipe! I do make my own avocado oil mayo and keep this dressing in the fridge for about a week. It’s nice being able to pronounce all of the ingredients in your food.
I’ve made your caesar salad dressing many times and love it. My go to recipe for that salad. Especially the fact that it stores safely in a jar in my fridge.
One quick question though. I find it often when just prepared is quite thick so I must be sure to toss well rather than keep on adding more dressing.
Do have any suggestions ie. adding a tiny bit of milk to allow it to be easier to toss well.
I use the 1cup of mayo…not adding more.
Thanks
Rebecca
Hi Rebecca, Yes, a little milk or even water will do the trick – just add it bit by bit so it doesn’t get too thin.
This is the BEST recipe for Caesar salad. I always have requests to bring this dressing to any party. Sandra.
Delicious! I’ve tried lots of Caesar salad dressings and this one is very tasty. Especially without having raw egg. I’ll use it from now on.
It was delicious on grilled romaine tonight. My husband said it was perfectly spiced. I didn’t have anchovy either but added a few more drops of lemon juice.
Great! Loved it! Thanks!
I MADE THIS DRESSING FOR A PARTY AND DOUBLED THE RECIPIE IT WS TOO SALTY SO I REMADE IT . IT WAS STILL TOO SALTY. I WOULD RECOMMEND VERY LITTLE OR NO SALT AT ALL UNTIL AFTER YOU COMBINE EVERYTHING. AFTER THAT, DELICIOUS AND PERFECT AND GONE!
why are you screaming…
@Rod Lol!!! Made my day!
Interesting. I found it didn’t have enough salt. The dressing needs to taste saltier than you think, as it is the main seasoning and flavor on the salad. Once you add the romaine and crutons, the salt will balance out.
Going to try your Caesar salad dressing, I want to add chicken and pasta noodles(spirals) as well for a picnic, kind of make it more like an entre, any tips on that idea? Thank You, like your site!
Hi Jim, that sounds like a nice way to turn this into a meal! If you find it’s too thick, you could thin it out with a bit of water – just go easy. This chicken is great tossed into the salad.
I plan to make a large bowl of this salad for a group, I plan to use bagged chopped romaine. Maybe two bags, (two heads?) will this recipe cover that?
Yes, Rudy, that should work. Enjoy!
After years of trying many recipes for Caesar Dressing, this is my go-to. Quick, easy, delicious.
Super easy to make and very delicious.
The best caesar dressing we’ve tasted! Thank you 😀
This dressing is super easy and tastes absolutely amazing!!
Really great recipe
This dressing is absolutely delicious! My whole family loved it. Thank you!
Delish dressing 😋
I love this dressing & make it all the time, but mine seems much thicker than yours. Any suggestions?
Hi Fran, Mine is thick too (I dressed the salad in the photo very sparingly, otherwise it would look unappetizing). The dressing should not be too pourable; it should be on the thicker side so that it clings to the leaves once tossed. That said, if you refrigerate the dressing, it will thicken up to a dip consistency. To thin it, you can add a little water. Hope that helps!
Although I had tried multiple recipes for Caesar dressing over the decades, they were either not quite right or took too much work for very little payoff. That is, until I stumbled upon this recipe.
This is now the only recipe we use in our house. It’s bright, vibrant, and perfectly balanced. Best of all, I don’t have to worry about raw eggs. It’s also easy to modify if you have a guest with special tastes or needs. Absolutely perfect!
My favorite Caesar dressing, and my children’s favorite. My family will not use jarred Ceasar dressing after making this. Definitely use fresh Parmesan, it makes a huge difference. We add extra anchovy paste, as we like our dressing more “fishy”.
Loved the simplicity of this delicious caesar dressing. I only used half the called for amount of salt.
Anchovies add so much umami….whether whole or paste. Just like fish sauce, they are off-putting on their own but united with other ingredients, they shine in a very subtle way. Using mayo and not raw egg just seems the way to go. Thanks!
Beautiful sauce!
Easy, fast and tastes great! Thank you
By far the best Ceasar dressing recipe! Thank you!
Not even close to real Ceasar salad dressing. Sorry.
So what’s the definition of real Ceasar dressing?
Completely disagree with Petr. I have never EVER had a Caesar dressing this good from any store or restaurant outside of a 5 star steak restaurant that made the dressing at the table. I’m so grateful to Jenn for pulling this recipe together for us commoners who are unable to frequent 5 star restaurants. My entire family loves this dressing. It is exquisite. Thank you!
Oh, we SO disagree. This dressing is OUTSTANDING!!! We make it often.
This is delicious! I used to make my Ceasar dressing the traditional way, raw egg, evoo, etc., then after thinking it through one day, I thought why not just use some mayo in place of the egg and oil? Its practically the same thing, so after I tried it….wow, the best ceasar dressing ever!! From then on its been the only way I make it!! So much better than any restaurant or store bought dressing, so many want to put vinegar in and that just doesn’t taste right. Anyway, I love Ceasar dressing made this way, it’s perfect! I did make my own mayo, super easy in the blender, and it has a raw egg in it. Those of you thinking you are avoiding it, are not. This is delicious Ceasar dressing, as good as any, and I’ve eaten them at some top shelf restaurants. Thank you.
I made this and it was great. These people saying they left out the anchovies because they don’t like it are killing me. Caesar dressing has anchovies in it. So if you like normal Caesar, you like anchovies in it. You probably just didn’t know they were in there. Don’t omit it. Put it in there or it’s not going to taste like Caesar. Come on people. Great recipe. In my repertoire forever now.
Hi Jenn, I love this recipe. All my family loves it . My only problem is it tends to be a little too thick . Do you have suggestions for thinning it out?
Hi Karen, glad you all like this recipe! You can thin it out with a bit of olive oil and a little lemon juice.
If I have a jar of minced garlic how much do I use..?
You’ll need about 1 tsp. minced garlic. Enjoy!
Delicious!!
I made this recipe for the first time today. I used 4 anchovy filets instead of the anchovy paste, because I had them already. My husband is so amazed that I finally found a delicious homemade caesar salad dressing. No other recipe compares to this one!
I have made this recipe at least a dozen times now and it never fails to impress. Made exactly as written, with no changes, this dressing makes the best ceasar salad I’ve ever had.
Amazing! Subbed in pecorino romano for the parm since that was all we had on hand, and added a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar for some extra zing (perhaps my lemon wasn’t tangy enough). This dressing went great with my favourite kale caesar salad. I am looking forward to using this recipe again very soon!
Can I use Japanese mayo (kewpie) for the dressing and eliminate the lemon juice? Love it is so rich. Kind regards. From England
Hi Jo, I’m not familiar with and have never used Japanese mayo, so I can’t say for sure. I googled it, though, and think it should work if you omit the lemon juice. I’d love to hear how it turns out with this tweak!
Thanks for your reply. It is fabulous and as you suggested less lemon juice used. It is expensive at £5.00 but for a special meal with aged Parmesan as well ….wonderful!. kind regards jo
So glad it turned out nicely – thanks for the follow-up!
Without a doubt, the very best Caesar dressing I have ever made. Anytime I make this for company, it just knocks their socks off. Been using this recipe for years, it’s my best go to.
Seriously ahmazzzzzinnngggg!!! Super easy and hands down better than any restaurant!
I thought this dressing was pretty good…a little thick for my preference but still tasted very goodl
This really is the best caesar dressing that I’ve ever had. It is so easy to make.
I made this today. Turned out great. I’m surprised because it doesn’t have eggs in it…but it’s yummy. Thanks so much 🌺
Best Caesar salad dressing ever. I omit the anchovies just for personal preference but it’s still amazing. I make this for every holiday and everyone raves about it!
Fantastic recipe. Definitely worth making, never using a bottled caesar dressing again! Blows guests away whenever there is caesar salad being served.
This is incredible!
Not a raving fan of Caesar myself, I made this recipe for my husband. I’ve now eaten grilled chicken Caesar for 4 diff meals in 2 days & have already restocked on romaine & parm to make a second batch…Officially converted! Incredible taste profile & balance. Thankful I found your site, Jen!
Thank you for this deliciousness! We make it all the time. So easy and Caesar perfection!
I make this regularly for my family. They all love it! Fresh grated parmesan along with the anchovy paste makes it really authentic!
My son-in-law can’t come for dinner without me making “Jenn’s” dressing!
It is so simple and the best Caesar dressing ever.
Of course the extra always leaves in the jar right out the door home with him!
I must say there isn’t one recipe that isn’t yummy and I’m not a cook!
excellent, but used half the mayo and added a bit of olive oil and vinegar and omitted the anchovies and paste. Thank you!!
How long will this last in the fridge?
Erin, it keeps nicely for about a week.
This is a wonderful caesar salad dressing I have marked “great non-egg caesar dressing.” I have made it for a number of dinner parties and always am asked for the recipe. I follow it as written, but add a dash of hot sauce (I use Frank’s because it isn’t as strong as Tabasco). I used whole anchovies and mashed them a bit. If you don’t like them, just leave that ingredient out, but it does add a depth of flavor that I love. It can be a bit thick and I sometimes add a spurt of half & half, cream or whole milk to thin it a bit. I’ll never go back to another caesar salad dressing. This is the one!
I think many people are missing the obvious that the mayonnaise itself is made from eggs. If it is real mayonnaise it is an emulsion of raw eggs and oil!
This was the first recipe I ever tried from Once Upon a Chef. It’s the Gold Standard when it comes to Caesar dressing. You will never, ever go back to a bottled dressing once you try this. Easy to make … just leave some time for the flavors to meld together before serving. Use the best ingredients for the best flavor — fresh Parm, fresh lemon and Hellman’s mayo. You can skip the anchovy paste, but I wouldn’t recommend it. It’s a major flavor component, and don’t worry it does not overpower the dressing. No fishy flavors swimming around.
This is the best Caesar dressing. It’s frequently requested for family gatherings. I like to add extra lemon juice for a little more tang and to loosen up the dressing a little.
This dressing is my favorite and go to recipe. My family loves it. I have reduced it by half, even a quarter for small salads. Don’t omit the anchovy paste, you’ll barely know that it is there. I am not a fan, however, it just gives the dressing just that something-something! Compliments every time I make it. Try and enjoy!
I make this recipe as is, except for adding more garlic. Everyone loves this dressing and I make sure we’re never without it in the fridge!
The dressing was a little too lemony for our tastes. i did use light hellmans mayo. would that have made a difference in how tart the dressing came out?
I don’t think that would impact the tartness. Next time you could reduce the lemon juice just a touch.
THANKS. will try again tonight. It was still good though.
Based on the other recipes of yours that I’ve made, I trusted this recipe for Caesar dressing for a special dinner. It was such a hit! Served 8 pro golfers prior to a pro-am and they couldn’t get enough of it! I pre-ordered your cookbook and can hardly wait! Your recipes are reliable and no fail. Was introduced to them with your Asian salmon. Thank you so much for all you do!
This recipe is utterly fantastic! My husband is a Caesar SNOB and he loved it.
Thank you, thank you! Cathy
I come back to this recipe time and time again. So delicious and so easy! I will never buy caeser dressing from the store again. Not to mention – anchovy paste has become my secret weapon for a bunch of other recipes as well.
Love it! Picky Husband loves it. I just don’t mention the anchovies to him. A KEEPER!
This is excellent! So happy I found this recipe!
I love this recipe, easy and my favorite caesar dressing. I am always asked if I will share my recipe. I give the credit to Jenn and forward the link.
It’s the best Caesar Salad Dressing! My daughter and my husband love it!!! I will DEFINITELY make this again. Thanks for sharing….
Awesome
Great recipe and very tasty. Only difference I used real anchovies, as I didn’t have the paste.
This is one of the best Caesar salad dressings I’ve EVER had!! I could have eaten it with a spoon! Thank you so much!
Sorry, but this is not as good as the olive oil based, coddled egg Caesar dressing-just not the same.
This recipe is phenomenal. My husband was dipping things in it before I could even get it on the salad. I may use it to make a chicken ceasar wrap also.
This is my “go to”Caesar dressing. We’ve been making this for a long time and have had many people ask us for the recipe. My daughter is going back to school next week and she won’t be home again until late spring. I asked her for a list of meals that she wanted to make sure she had before returning to school. A Caesar salad with sliced grilled chicken was on her list. I follow your recipe for “perfectly grilled chicken breasts with lemon, garlic, and herbs” and slice those thin to put on the salad. It’s always great and is one of my daughter’s most requested meals. Thanks.
This is by far the best Caesar dressing that I’ve ever found for my taste. The only alteration that I make is to use three large cloves of garlic because I like the pungent flavor. I also add milk to thin it out a bit. Excellent recipe!
Hi Jennifer
I love your recipes and tried a few. I made this Caesar dressing yesterday without the anchovy and it still tasted delicious. Yum yum yum. I was wondering is there a way to make it a little bit less thick 😊
Glad you liked it! You can thin it out with a bit of olive oil and a touch more lemon juice.
Wowza! I’ve never made a ceaser dressing before! I will never get store bought again. I used whole anchovies, mashed, and garlic powder because I ran out of fresh. My 16 year old ate it… Need I say more?!
This is an excellent dressing recipe. I am pregnant and was looking for a recipe without raw eggs so this was perfect. I made it exactly as written, and my husband said it was just like Ruth’s Chris, which makes his favorite Caesar salad of all time. High praise indeed. It coated the lettuce perfectly, I wouldn’t change the consistency or anything else. Once I can eat raw eggs again I will try it with homemade mayo because it is so very good, and healthier too.
I have made this many times and it is so very wonderful. This dressing is the reason why I love to serve Caesar Salad when I host a special dinner. And now it has become one of my most requested dishes to bring.
Thank you for creating and sharing this, Jenn!
Giant fan of OUAC and even bigger fan of this Caesar salad! If you love Caesar salad then make it homemade with this recipe!!! Yum!!!
This is absolutely delicious. Super simple to make, too. I’ll never buy bottled Caesar dressing again.
Just wondering how long it stays good in the fridge for?
Hi Brianna, It keeps well for about 5 days.
Thanks to this dressing my kids have started eating salad regularly! I also make them Caesar salad wraps for school and they love it. Thank you Jenn!
I love this recipe! It is so quick and easy I don’t hesitate to make it last minute like I used to with other Ceasar salad dressing recipes. Using the paste means I’ve stopped wasting any of the little canned anchovies and I can make a smaller amount when needed. Occasionally I still use the canned anchovies when I want a stronger anchovy flavor.
This dressing is awesome! I make it all the time. My family is always disappointed when we run out and have to use a different dressing. My son loves to dip his pizza in it.
If you haven’t tried it, you must.
This is the most amazing salad I have ever made & it is requested every time we have a get together or party, neighbours have licked the bowl…don’t change a thing, it’s perfect…Bonita
This is absolutely the best Caesar dressing yet, and I’ve been trying different versions for years. I receive raves every time I serve it, and have passed it on dozens of times. Don’t pass this one up!
Go to caesar salad dressing recipe! So good!
I love this easy to make ceasar salad recipe. It’s always a hit at home and my go to side dish for potlucks. I’m a busy mom of 3 and full time worker, so this is simple, fast and delicious. I add a little bit more lemon like an extra teaspoon and 1/8th cup of water to give it more consistency (a matter of preference). It’s delicious even if you follow it to the T.
Jenn is my favorite go-to for recipes. I have honestly never had a bad recipe. Therefore, while this caesar dressing recipe is unconventional, and some would snub it because of the mayo, I gave it a try. It was fantastic! I make it exactly as written, including the anchovy paste. Don’t skip the paste, as many of us want to do. It adds so much depth and it is not fishy at all. This will be my caesar dressing from now on!
Absolutely OUTSTANDING! My only change is that I make my own mayonnaise for the recipe, which I do with an immersion blender and avocado oil. As I’m on a ketogenic diet, it’s a terrific, healthy, and DELICIOUS option.
Melissa, thank you for sharing your update on how to create this with an immersion blender and avocado oil. I’m starting the Plant Paradox diet next week and was wondering how I could ever make this without conventional mayo. Now I know! Thanks!
This is the ONE !!!! I have finally found a great tasting dressing that is so easy to make. I have gotten rave reviews from everyone I have served it to. Thanks so much for posting this Jennifer !!
Hi! My name is Patricia and I am from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I found your blog while searching for a Caesar salad dressing recipe. I followed yours with just two changes: I did not use anchovies (just because I couldn’t find it nearby) and I used equal parts of mayo (Hellmann’s) and homemade Greek yogurt. I also followed your recipe of the perfectly grilled chicken breasts. In Brazil, limes are much more common than lemons, so I used this green fruit zest. OMG! What a taste! It was such a pleasure to find your blog. Later I will try other recipes. Cordially, Pati.
Very good Caesar dressing recipe. My family loved it.
I just made this but didn’t have anchovies and I’m literally licking the bowl I made it in!! I can’t wait to try it again with anchovies…thanks for the recipe!!
I love this caesar dressing recipe..💚 Soo easy to make & tastes great…
The only thing I do different is that I’m not a big fan of Mayo, so I use 1/4 cup mayo with 3/4 cup of Greek yogurt & also this makes it a bit thinner consistency which I like. Thanks 4 the recipe.
I love this recipe. I added a bit more garlic because I like my caesar dressing very garlicy. So good. Making again for a dinner party of 15 I’m hosting this weekend.
This tastes great but is very thick. How can I thin it out without affecting the flavor?
Hi Judy, You can add a little olive oil and lemon juice. Enjoy!
We LOVE this dressing but I have one question. It is very thick being made with mayonnaise. Is there a way to thin it just a bit without changing the awesome flavor?
Glad you like it, Kelli! You can thin it out with a bit of olive oil and a touch more lemon juice.
Omg. I’ve been scouring restaurants and cookbooks trying to find the perfect Ceasar salad recipe. THIS IS IT. So delicious. It’s especially great with anchovies, or if you don’t have the anchovy paste, chop up a can into pieces (almost like bacon bits) and add them to the salad. I also accidentally added extra dijon mustard–still tasted fabulous.
This is seriously a keeper.
This is a delicious caesar dressing recipe & so easy. Most traditional recipes w/olive oil & egg are difficult to get right. Most of the time it tastes too lemony/not enough – this is just right & you can make it ahead – no measuring for me just eyeball & perfect! Thanks for all of your great recipes – use them often.
This was very, very good! It is thick, but I just toss it with my hands and it coats the lettuce really well! No need to thin!
I’ve made this twice now. Once without the anchovies and once with them. Definitely best with them! My 17 yr old son says it’s the best Caesar dressing he’s ever had.
This is the best Caesar salad dressing I have ever tasted in my life! Thanks for the great recipe!
This is, without a doubt, the best tasting and easiest Caesar dressing I’ve ever made. The seasonings are spot on and dressing reminds me of fancy steakhouse salad I had in Palm Springs. My husband even commented on how good it is. This is a great find and will remain in my recipe box forever. Thanks.
This is a 6 out of 5 recipe! I make Caesar salad often and I have been making it for years. By far this is the most perfect recipe. I like it because it doesn’t have raw eggs in it. It is creamy, it is flavourful, it lasts for ages and it is easy to make. The only thing I have done is throw a few more anchovies in if I have some lying around. Best recipe ever!
Just made this version and hands down the easiest and best ever.
No more store bought for me, as I always have the ingredients needed in my pantry.
Awesome!
This Caesar dressing is delicious. I had to find anchovy paste and it does make the dressing better. Now I keep all the ingredients on hand and it’s a nice “go to” dinner recipe. Add some grilled chicken for a complete meal. Best part is, with all the flavors, a little goes a long way.
Love this recipe! I often use it to bring to pot lucks and always bring home an empty bowl. I have received many compliments for it, from both adults and kids. I also like that I usually have these ingredients in the house and do not have to make a special trip. I finely chop up anchovies when I do not have the paste and may get even more compliments then.
Awesome recipe. I used homemade mayo as a base (immersion blender makes this a breeze, just dump all the ingredients in and blend it up) and quadrupled the anchovies. No need for the whisk though, just combine all ingredients and reach for your trusty immersion blender
We LOVE this dressing and make it all the time. We add a little more garlic and double the anchovy paste. Keeps really well in the refrigerator to use all week!
The best ceaser dressing ever! Anytime i make it for guests they ask for recipe. I love that it doesn’t include raw egg.
I have tried several recepie and this is the best!!!
Jenn, can you do one with olive oil instead of mayo? Thanks
Glad you like it, Celia! I like this version because it’s a bit different with on oil, but I will consider coming up with one that does use oil.
This is my first time making caesar salad dressing and this recipe is phenomenal. Very simple and flavorful. I will never buy caesar dressing again.
Made this dressing for the first time….it came out great!!! All of my 5 guests loved it!!!!
Perfect!
Oh and my one daughter that totally hates anything fishy, and was afraid to try the dressing as it’s written, wanted me to take a spoonful out for her before I added the anchovies, well, I convinced her she would not taste anything fishy, I went ahead and made the dressing as written, and she admitted she COULD NOT TASTE FISHYNESS!!, Yay! She loved it. We had it with a Costco chicken I pulled the meat off of, homemade croutons, and the whole family loved it. Try it you won’t regret it. 🙂
I’ve made it multiple times. I just started cooking this year and recipe is easy to follow and delicious. Thank you for sharing!
Incredible! Best Caeser dressing I’ve ever had.
What if it taste too salty and doesn’t taste anchovy enough how to correct
Hi Tammy, If it tastes too salty, you can always add a little more mayo to round it out.
Will be my go to ceaser from now on, may add a little less anchovy paste next time and a touch more Worcestershire. Wish I could find some real Parmigiano-Reggiano though, had to use just plain parm. Still better than any store bought though, it has a real “power punch” of intense flavor
I used to think I had the perfect Caesar Dressing recipe until I found this one!
It’s wonderful!
This dressing is better than any that I have ever bought!!
Best homemade Caesar dressing ever! I added half the salt, a touch more pepper and less Parmesan to the dressing itself as I liked the consistency better and Parmesan is salty. First few times I used extra Worcestershire in lieu of anchovies and it was fine! Now I’m using anchovy paste too and it’s just as delicious! Thank you for this wonderful recipe.
I would like to try this recipe but would like to know if there is any alternate for Anchovy paste.
Hi Madhuri, you can use chopped anchovies (you’d need about 2), or Worcestershire sauce.
I use Thai fish sauce, maybe a teaspoon or two, and it is magnificent. May want to taste-test the salt you add, though, as fish sauce is super salty. My toddlers will eat KALE because of this dressing. Winner.
Hi Jenn,
LOVE this dressing!! My kids even ate it…anchovy paste and all! I love that it does not have the raw egg and so easy to make. By far the best Caesar dressing!
I made this with toasted capers and some shaved parmesan on top and it was delicious! Best caesar salad recipe!
Love this dressing and only use it now. Also just shared your Chipotle-Honey dressing and salad with a friend. Think she will be using your site very soon.
I just discovered this site this week and I have made the cashew chicken and the Caesar Salad Dressing. The cashew chicken was wonderful (a keeper recipe) and the Caesar Salad Dressing was equally great. It is similar to the Cooks Country recipe that I had been using but without the vinegar or oil. This is my new go to recipe. I’m browsing for my next recipe.
Best Caesar dressing I have ever tried and made.
Amazing, best ever.
Delish!
This was sensational and so easy to make – definitely a keeper! Thanks so much for the recipe.
Hi, I have Locatelli Romano on hand. may I substitute or would it ruin the recipe
Hi Mary, I think it will work – it will be a little different but still very good :).
The absolute best Caesar dressing that I have ever had. I want to put it on everything!
I made this tonight and it was delicious. I used low fat mayo and low fat buttermilk instead of all mayo. I microplaned the garlic and it blended nicely. My family ate 3 heads of romaine lettuce. I cut the grated Parmesan cheese and added shaved Parm on top. Really, really good.
Can I freeze for 2 weeks?
Hi Amy, due to the mayo in this, I don’t think it will freeze well- sorry!
Made this tonight for dinner. Delicious!!!
OMG! This is so good! I made it last night to add a salad option to our BBQ. This is going to become a staple in our house.
Look at all those positive reviews! This is a real winner. I am a purest and usually like to make a dressing like this the old fashioned way with egg and oil. Why bother! The mayo completly replaces the need for those and tastes even better. I love not having raw egg in there too. I used real whole white anchovies (4-5) and minced them into a paste. I only used 3/4 cup of mayo instead of a cup and i may reduce the mayo even more next time since I like the powerfull burst of flavors. The more mayo added, the more creamy and less bite the dressing will have. Superb recipe just the way it is! i would give it 5+ stars if i could. Taste like Jacobs Steakhouse Toronto ON homemade ceasar dressing with is served table side for $25…
this is a great dressing for romaine.
can i use this for a pasta salad?
do i need to increase liquid ingredents
Sure, I think this would be delicious tossed into a pasta salad! If you find it’s too thick for that, you could thin it out with a bit of olive oil and/or a touch more lemon juice.
i love this recipe! But it’s so thick we’ve been using it as a dip…was looking for a way to thin it out so it could be poured – would adding more olive oil do that without messing with the favors? thanks!
That ought to work, Karen. But you may also want to try letting it come to room temp before thinning it out. It’s much thicker when cold. Hope that helps and so glad you like the dressing!
FANTASTIC!
I was always too lazy to make my own Caesar dressing and concerned about the eggs that normally get added. I went to toss up a salad and realized that I had no store bought dressing in the fridge. I whipped this up in no time! Tastes great! My husband didn’t even notice the difference. Thanks for this fantastic recipe.
I’ve probably made this dressing 5 or 6 times and it’s my favorite dressing. I often have all the ingredients already on hand. I mince the garlic and mix everything else in the food processor so it’s really simple and easy. I actually prefer this dressing to any restaurant-style Caesar out there. I like to add red bell pepper and and sometimes salmon or chicken but I make the recipe exactly as the recipe is written – it is perfect as is.
This recipe was perfection. I didn’t have anchovy paste so I chopped up 4 anchovies. It was better than any Caesar salad we ever got in a restaurant! Not too salty either.
Could you give me the nutritional values if I use Helmann’s low fat Mayo. I am on weight watchers and this mayo has no point value. Thanks very much. Love this dressing. Keep in fridge all the time.
Hi Donna, I use a program called Edamam to calculate nutritional information for my recipes. I tried entering this recipe using low-fat mayo and for some reason, it didn’t recognize the ingredient/update the calculations. So sorry I can’t be more helpful!!
Donna, I am a weight watcher as well and found two different counts for Your mayo. One was 0 points for a tablespoon and other was 1 point for a tablespoon. Either way, I think it’s a winner.
This is far the best Caesar salad dressing that I’ve ever had. It has become a weekly ritual in my home in having it available since we’re salad loving people. And I like the fact that it’s homemade using fresh ingredients without having all the store bought inferior ingredients, which are just not healthy for you. Plus, I make everything by scratch, that way I know what’s going into my food without guessing. So far I have given this recipe to a few friends who also enjoy homemade salad dressings, and it’s been a big “Hit” with them too. Thank you Jen, this is a “Keeper” for sure!
Beast Caesar dressing flavor I’ve found. Beats the “famous restaurant” dressing by miles.
Best Caesar dressing I’ve ever had! So full of exactly all the right flavors. My search is over!
I haven’t tried this recipe yet but I love anchovies. Could you tell me how I can make the recipe using real anchovies instead of anchovy paste?
Hi Amy, I just peeked online and it looks like 1 anchovy fillet = 1/2 teaspoon anchovy paste, so you’d need 2 anchovies here. Hope you enjoy!
This is a forever after recipe 🙂 just love the dressing, it’s perfect. Thanks 🙂
Wow! Delicious, thank you for the recipe!!! I don’t think I’ll ever buy store bought Caesar again!!!
Great dressing! I always add a bit more lemon and also lemon zest. If you don’t have anchovies on hand, a good couple dashes of Worcestershire will also work.
This is the one! I don’t have to try any other recipes for ceasar dressing, this is simply the best! And the whole family agrees. My daughter could eat it as is if I would let her. Thank you!
I love this recipe! Simple and easy to make. It is a huge hit when I make it for family and friends.
We love this dressing!! Now.. here’s the question… it is fairly thick, so how can I make it thinner without ruining the flavor? Maybe this has been answered somewhere in the 539 reviews, but I didn’t find it. thank you
Wendy
Hi Wendy, Glad you like it! You could thin it out with a bit of olive oil and/or a touch more lemon juice.
Just add a little water to the dressing until it is the consistency you want. Doesn’t change the flavor at all.
I just made this recipe and used everything as instructed, except I used real anchovies because I didn’t have paste. The taste is pretty good but like another reviewer said, the taste of mayo is very pronounced (and I only used 3/4 of a cup because I ran out). I added a little more lemon juice and Worcestershire. Did anyone else think it’s too thick? I will continue to fiddle with it and try it again but next time with less mayonnaise.
How would some buttermilk taste in it to thin it down??
Hi Joanne, I’ve never tried buttermilk here but I think it would work. You could also trt a touch of water, lemon juice or olive oil.
This is amazingly delicious. My wife hates anything “mayonaisey”…she loved this so much she had to have me print the recipe so she could make more! Very important to use real Reggiano Parmesan. You can taste it and the anchovy character that make it so authentic. Thanks!
Very Poor Recipe. Two things, any recipe that says ” hold your nose and put it in” speaking of anchovy paste, has no place in the culinary road. Secondly, any caeser dressing recipe that includes mayo…is lazy and just plain wrong. This recipe is a complete fail.
Paul
Just in case you misunderstood she was saying hold your nose because you might not like the strong fish smell and second and creamy Caesar dressing has mayo in it. If you are a purest make your own mayo but don’t judge it till you have made it! Sheesh!!
Wow . Awww . Then buy the chemical reproduction at your market ! Or make your own mayo . Hellmans makes organic now ?
Best Caesar dressing by far….I have made it many times and each time I taste it I have the same delicious response. I also
use it on chicken and roast beef as well as a dipping sauce for veggies.
Love this and I’m picky about my Caesar dressings!
Excellent Caesar dressing, very authentic. If you go to Caesar’s in Tijuana this is pretty much what they make right at your table!
This may be my new favorite salad dressing! Big flavor, and easy to whip up. The anchovy paste and parm-regg cheese put it over the top. I can see using this as a dip for steamed artichokes.
So fast, easy, creamy and delicious! I may have licked the bowl… mmm best tip: use fresh lemon juice and garlic- yes! Oh I substituted fish sauce for anchovy paste and it was still good!
How long will this keep? Loved the recipe.
Glad you liked it! It’ll keep well in the fridge for about a week.
So Awesome !! Love this dressing!! Family loved it to! So easy and delicious! Thank you!
Really loved this dressing. I added an extra tbsp of lemon juice because I love that tart flavor. Used it for a kale caesar – perfect!
LOVE this ceaser dressing! It has a wonderful amount of garlic and taste. This is by far the best recipe I’ve had!
This is the best Caesar dressing I’ve ever had! Zippy, creamy just FLAT OUT delicious! Husband and kids said it was awesome!
My best friends husband asked me to make a Caesar salad for her 50th Surprise Bday party. I usually use Briannes bottled dressing when I make it. Not this time! Everyone absolutely LOVED it! I also made a chicken Caesar wrap YUM-O! Thanks for sharing, I’m never buying bottled again!!
Very good, but I would recommend not adding the 1/4 tsp salt without tasting it first. I think between the anchovy paste, Worcestershire sauce and parm it was plenty salty without adding more. That’s just my taste. I loved the tang from the lemon juice, but there again I might start with 1 tbs first, then add more to your liking. I have tried a lot of recipes for Caesar Dressing and so far this has been the best, and my husband agrees.
I forgot add in my comment that I did add a little olive oil, probably 1/4 cup or less as recommended in another comment.
How do you make home made croutons?
Hi Cary, I have a recipe for homemade croutons here. Hope you enjoy!
Easy and perfect for a home made salad. I did not have the anchovie paste on hand, and the dressing was just wonderful. Fast too!
Cheers and thanks!
This is the best Caesar dressing that I have ever tasted. Every bite is eaten by my guests when I make it. I have made this a least 6 times and it has become my favorite recipe bar none. Spectacular!
A heart felt Thank You!
I have been wanting to make a good homemade caesar dressing for a while, but doubted it would ever taste good..
But then I found this recipe!! It is super simple and tastes AMAZING! I will be using this recipe for years to come! Thank you!
I made this and everyone at the dinner table commented on how good it was. Now that I know how easy it is to make, I will never purchase store bought dressing again.
I should keep making this; it would save me a fortune in Cardini’s.
This is waaay to mayonnaisey!
Predominant taste and not enough anchovy paste. Not good!
Mix in a bit of olive oil to the mayo, Marylynn. That works well. And, put a tad bit more anchovy paste (or, some true anchovies when serving!) You’re being a tad bit harsh here, dear lady. Not sure why. This recipe is definitely a good starting point for many who wish to create a good Caesar dressing.
Marylynn,
As with most recipes you might need to adjust to your taste so I’d love to see what you say if you use less mayo and more anchovy paste. Like other say too you can add a little Olive oil too. Try it again with some adjustments I bet you will love it!
This Caesar dressing is the bomb. It is probably the best homemade Caesar I have ever made. 5 Stars definitely.
I like very much the ingredents in this Ceasar dressing – never knew it contained Mayonnaise (love Hellman’s) or anchovies – Buying fresh ingredents tomorrow and definantly gonna try this!! THANKS
This will become your go-to Caesar dressing! It’s quick to make, and the taste is smooth and rich for the perfect Caesar salad.
I did find it a bit thick, but by adding a little bit of water (and I do mean teaspoon by teaspoon) it was perfect. It’s become a staple in our kitchen, as we are huge Caesar salad lovers, so I make it once a week as it never lasts long. It’s a fabulous dressing on other dishes as well (my grandson loves it on poached eggs).
Thanks, Jenn!
Love, love, love this dressing! Don’t really care that much for fish, let alone something like anchovies, but the anchovies, (I use paste), and the real Parm. Reg. cheese really makes the awesomeness happen! I have made it using the cheap cheese and it’s not the same. And you don’t taste the fish flavor at all, it just adds a great and irreplaceable depth. I usually make a double batch just as it is. Don’t know how long it would stay fresh as it doesn’t stick around our house long enough to find out. Have made many of your recipes these past few months. Thanks so much for sharing your talent.
This is my go-to recipe for Caesar Salad dressing. It’s easy and perfect. I love adding chicken to the salad, as well. Thanks.
So yum and so easy! I’m with your kiddos..I crave this delish dressing!
Quick, simple and delicious! We prefer veganaise (we like it better than mayonnaise) and it’s still just as good. My in-laws liked it so much, they used the recipe to host a dinner party!
O M G! Yes, this is the best. Had trouble not eating it with a large spoon. I did double the anchovies, lemon and garlic. The first day, it was ok. The next day, sheer heaven.
Thanks for sharing the most delicious Caesar salad dressing recipe I have tasted. I was most impressed with the ease of making it coupled with the creamy texture and full flavor of ingredients. You were kind to share this, thanks again for adding to a delightful dinner tonight.
Such a simple, wonderful recipe! I had a can of anchovies in my pantry which I used instead of the paste, and it worked out beautifully. I simply made the dressing in my cuisinart instead of a mixing bowl. I use to use a raw egg yolk for my Caesar dressing, and it would only be safe to eat for one day. Thank goodness I found this recipe, which will stay fresh in my fridge for over a week (if it lasts that long!). The balance of the anchovy, garlic, and lemon is perfect. Since I used canned anchovies, I omitted the salt, and it’s just right. If you’re trying your hand at making a Caesar dressing for the first time, I highly recommend this recipe.
Thank you for your post.
Cesar Salad Dressing recipe is velvety, tasty and keeps in a sealed container in the fridge for two weeks instead of the recommended one.
The tip on using Anchovy paste instead of actual anchovy and the inclusion of good mayonnaise in place of eggs and oil is obvious, now.
Also makes a delicious crudite dip.
My family loves this dressing. I follow the recipe directions exactly, but omit the salt because we feel there is enough in the anchovy paste and cheese for our tastes. I use the same quality ingredients recommended in the recipe.
Loved this dressing! Really tasted like restaurant style and so much better than anything I tried from grocery stores. My stomach is not tolerant of fresh garlic so I had to omit 🙁 but it was really good anyway. Thanks!
Hello Jennifer, your caesar recipe is really nice. Really simple but awesomely tasty. Thanks and greetings from Germany.
Hi there! I’ve lived abroad about 7 years now, and got married couple years ago. Made this for the wife and it was a sensation. Until now, she didn’t believe raw lettuce could be safe, much less delicious, to eat. A big thanks to you for helping me show there is more to ‘American food’ than hamburgers and pizza. My tweak is cooking the minced garlic in olive oil for about ~30 seconds on which mellows the garlic and adds a pleasant texture.
This recipe is wonderful. I will never buy caesar dressing in the store again. Thank you!
Oh I did add a couple tsp of water to thin it out and I used the anchovy paste (and would not omit).
I made this two nights ago. My youngest daughter, who loves caesar salad, proclaimed that it “tastes just like it’s from a restaurant” and brought some to school to let her friend taste it because she was so happy with it. I LOVE the taste and you cannot omit the anchovy paste. I don’t need to buy store bought again. This recipe is amazing and thank you!!
I loved this recipe! I’m generally not a mayo fan but I’m not a raw egg fan even more. I used the organic roasted garlic mayo from Hellmans which is a little more mellow and it turned out great. I would totally make this again, so easy.
I voted to make the grilled chicken caesar salad for a big family birthday party tomorrow, I’ve NEVER made homemade Caesar dressing before but after seeing the 5 ⭐️ rating and reading reviews I figured I’d give it a try. I had to run out & get romaine anyway at my local Italian store and they had the anchovy paste! I just finished and it is fantastic! I have to stop eating it otherwise I won’t have enough for tomorrow!
How do I save this recipe? Thanks!
?
Hi Brenda, so glad you like the dressing! You can save any recipe by going through these steps:
-Click on the Print button immediately under the name of the recipe
-Select the Print function from your browser menu
-You’ll then see a dialogue box with the various print options. Look for the drop-down menu in the bottom left corner of the box. It should say PDF.
-Click on the drop-down and select “Save as PDF”
-Save it on your computer. (You can create a folder specifically for recipes if that will make it easier for you to find them.)
You could also use this app which helps to store/organize recipes. Hope that helps!
This is so helpful! Thanks!
Recipe Gallery is an AWESOME app! When I go to the grocery store and decide to make something on the spur of the moment, I know exactly what I meed!
I don’t usually comment but this is just so easy and delicious! I eyeball it & make homemade croutons. .the Caesar dressings at the store are so full of nasty GMO and chemicals Easy ingredients to keep on hand. I crave this !! Thanks !
I have made it three times now but tonight I used Hellmann’s mayonnaise with olive oil and it was even better! It was perfect…not too thin and not too thick. I stopped ordering cesar dressing out because it usually doesn’t taste good and the bottled dressings are full of artificial ingredients. Thank you!
could you add olive oil to thin it?
Sure Butch, that should work.
Wow, great Caesar recipe! I didn’t realize it could work so well with mayonnaise.
It was just a bit thicker than I wished, so I added 1 T oat milk to my half batch (that’s 2 T to the original recipe). Then I needed another dash of Worcestershire.
Hey, did you know you can grow your own windowsill romaine? Just lop off the bottom 1.5″ of the head you buy in the market and place In a ramekin of water on the windowsill. I just had some of mine with Jenn’s lovely Caesar.
Really fantastic! Thanks, Jenn, for this incredibly tasty recipe/blog!
The BEST caesar salad dressing recipe online. Period.
Thank you!
Absolutely delicious!!! I was apprehensive about a fishy taste, instead I found myself looking for things to dip into this dressing! It was simple, delicious and inexpensive. Thank you for transforming my meal, I look forward to your other recipes!
Love this! I have been looking and looking for this recipe. I made the mistake of using a fancy “craft” mayo – I think it’s probably even better with Hellman’s. Love this, love this site!
My teenage grandson loves Caesar salad and I wanted him to try a homemade one. That dressing is better than any Caesar dressing I’ve ever had. It was a hit with everyone. So flavourful and yummy. Thank you for sharing it.
Really liked this recipe and my dressing came out as a nice thick dollop rather than thin and drippy – which was perfect! I just added everything into a small grinder in one go. Once mixed, I did a quick taste, added a tiny bit more Dijon and bam – DONE! Minimal effort, minimal washing up, maximum authentic taste! Better than any bottled stuff 🙂
And I didn’t use anchovies as I don’t like them and still tasted great!
Excellent. Two thumbs up from our entire family. I do use the filets. I’m a anchovy eater. Yum . Thanks so much for posting and sharing.
Delicious !!! we all loved this recipe and I agree no need for bottled dressing ever again !
It did taste strong at first but when it goes on the romaine it is delicious !
Another winner !!
I have made this twice with anchovy filets and it was a big hit both times. So very easy to put everything in the food processor and just mix. My daughter loves this dressing (I have not told her it contains anchovies) and requested this the second time. Thank you for sharing such an easy and delicious recipe! This is the 2nd recipe I have made from your site and loved them both. Will definitely be checking back for more recipes.
Made without mustard (as I have a friend who’s allergic to it) and it still is delicious.
agree, agree, never a bottle again. use mashed anchovies instead but still wonderful. you’ve saved me, us!
LOVE..LOVE..LOVE IT!! Made it 3 nights in a row….and super easy! Keepin it forever!
Mayo is Made with EGGS !!!!
Yes, it does, but the eggs are not raw. Hope you enjoy the dressing if you try it!
I made this caesar dressing for supper with roasted chicken. It is absolutely delicious and so easy to make. I used anchovy filets (2) because I could not find the paste. I put everything in the food processor and it came out great.
Made your Caesar dressing recipe tonight!
All I can say is YUM! My whole family loved it!
Thanks for a quick, easy and very tasty recipe! It’s a keeper!
Has anyone made this without the anchovies? I detest the lil buggers, & saw a gal on tv last night that said you can omit it if you want, but idk how much it would change the flavor?? My daughter absolutely loves caesar salad, so would love to try this…but not sure I can bring myself to use anchovies, lol
Put the anchovies in a mortar and pesto to mash them completely. Then make your dressing in a blender, and you won’t taste any fish. I don’t like anything fishy and this process does the trick. I love Caesar salad.
Super and easy. Being a garlic freak, I added 2 more cloves. I used a food processor, and it blended the olive oil perfectly. After about a week, the oil started to separate, but I was able to whisk it back together.
I also used Pecorino cheese to give it an extra sharp bite.
I just made this for a panko crusted calamari topped caesar salad and the dressing was fabulous!! Thank you!!
I only want to say….Delicious!
I followed the recipe exactly and the dressing was delicious! I received many complements when served at a party. Next time I will try the advice of another post and double the lemon and garlic. Thanks
I love thos recipe! Thank you for posting it. My only problem is please stop saying tuna fish! We all know tuna is a fish. Nobody ever says salmon fish or halibut fish, it has become a bad habit that people never think about. What if we all went around saying beef cow or pig pork. Its redundant. By the way, I make your recipe at least once a week!
This is my favorite Cesar dressing recipe. I don’t even buy Cesar dressing in the store anymore because store bought is not as good! When I make this, I actually double most of the ingredients other than the mayo (lemon juice, anchovies, seasonings, and garlic) because I like the dressing to be really flavorful.
This was the first recipe I made from your site and I was hooked after that! I was looking for a recipe that didn’t use raw egg since I had just found out I was pregnant. All I changed was that I reduced the mayo to about a half cup and with my immersion blender drizzled about a 1-4 to a 1/3 cup of olive oil otherwise the recipe was great!
Perfect and delish thank you so much!
Wonderful recipe – realized as I was serving it that I had forgotten the anchovy paste! Too late, so we had our salads with anchovy-less dressing. Know what? It was delicious. I didn’t mention it to our guests and didn’t call it Caesar salad – simply a nice romaine salad with a great creamy dressing. I do look forward to tasting the dressing as Jenn intended with anchovy paste, but this was still a very nice dressing.
just made it . WOW . easy and fantastic tast. I use a little more lemon and made fresh anchovy past using one small can of anchovies
is there a substitute for the anchovy paste,
Hi Smitha, There’s no real substitute for anchovy paste, but Worcestershire sauce would work, or you could just increase the Dijon and Parmesan a bit to add flavor.
thank you. will try it
Very easy to make, quick and flavourful
It is awesome, easy, and delicious. Way better than a lot of restaurants
Great recipe. On weight watchers so instead of 1 cup mayo, I used 1/2 cup 0% Fage yogurt and 1/2 cup mayo. Still delicious and much more point friendly at 1.5 points/tablespoon. A little goes a long way.
Amazingly Delicious and simple recipe!!!
Made it several times, we like with a little extra spoon of anchovy paste.
Invest in good mayonnaise, Organic Trader Joes Mayo by far beats all Hellmans in the world. And invest in good quality Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese ( don’t use shredded in the store cheese), work that muscle. Fantastic recipe, my picky Italian husband wants to have it everyday :))
I could not find Italian anchovy paste so I used Moroccan. Anchovy pastes seem to differ in strength of flavor. Totally agree with Katherine that a little more anchovy paste may make it perfect. You can add a little more if needed at the end. Great dressing.
I never leave reviews because I am frankly just too lazy. But this dressing was incredible. I could eat it with a spoon (actually did). No more bottled ever. A keeper in my permanent files!
This dressing is perfect. I’m a big garlic fan and this dressing brought a lot of bold flavours to a classic dish, while keeping it creamy and smooth. Caesar salad is often overlooked as an over-used side that ends up being bland – happy to say that with this recipe, that won’t be the case in my kitchen anymore!
I stopped ordering Caesar salad in restaurants because they are either too soggy, too tangy, too bland etc. The first time I made this salad I used pecorino romano cheese, put all the ingredients in a blender and it was very good but a little strong and rather thick. I made it tonight and used a good quality parmigiano reggiano, added a drop of water and whisked the ingredients. It was excellent! A perfect dressing for Caesar salad with grilled chicken! I have made at least five of your recipes and so far we’ve enjoyed them very much! Thanks Jenn
I was skeptical because this didn’t see like a classic recipe for dressing, but I made it last night for a dinner party and it was FABULOUSLY delicious. Thank you. I’m a believer. I love that I didn’t have to deal with anchovy fillets and egg yolks with young women (as guests) that may or may not be pregnant. This is a much safer way to prepare the dressing.
This recipe is so delicious that I will not buy bottled dressing again. The dressing tastes so fresh and it is easy to make.
I just made this recipe!!! So easy, to perfect! Made my whole life smile!
The BEST dressing!
Wow! what a tasty Caesar dressing this is. I followed the ingredients exactly, only using the flat anchovies in the tin rather than the paste in the tube. The fillets are so soft it is a snap to chop them into a paste with a knife on the cutting board. I had a large organic romaine head of lettuce and used it all with the dressing. We had it with Jenn’s cedar plank salmon and some fried potatoes. It was all good, but the salad went so fast I had to make a second batch. No reason to buy bottled dressing in the store. Home made is so superior and Jenn’s recipe is easy.
This dressing is the best Caesar I’ve ever had or made (and it’s so simple to make)! I’m so happy that I stumbled on your site a while ago. Every recipe of yours that I have made has been excellent. Can’t wait for your cookbook!
Hi! I’d like to know how far in advance w you can make this recipe (or how long it will keep after preparing). Thanks!
Hi Darcie, It’ll keep well in the fridge for about a week. Enjoy!
I love, love, love this dressing! I had everything, including the anchovies paste. Ive tried at least a dozen recipes for Caesar Salad Dressing and this one is the very best. Thanks!
This was perfect! Delicious and so easy!
I got so tired of paying $4 for a little bottle of refrigerated ceasar salad dressing. This recipe is PERFECT. Entire family loves it, and it’s every bit as good as expensive refrigerated, if not better, because it’s really fresh. I made double the recipe because I can see us running out quickly. Thank you! Looking forward to trying more recipes.
Delicious. We’re making chicken Cesar wraps tonight. It’s just perfect.
Excellent recipe!!!
Oh yes, I love this recipe. I love anchovies but they will just go on the salad plate so that I won’t be concerned about the dressing spoiling pretty quickly. We dress our salads very modestly so I want this to last a while.
I am planning on making your Caesar Salad dressing. It looks great! Do you have a recipe for the salad?
Thanks,
Jill
Hi Jill, The dressing is the perfect with plain ol’ romaine. The dressing is enough for about 10 medium salads, so you may not use it all at once!
This is a delicious Ceaser dressing. I substitute fish sauce in place of the anchovy paste and salt.
Wow! Hard to beat this recipe…the picture of our salad (unlike yours) is swimming in this luscious dressing!
Best ceasar dressing ever! I made my own mayonnaise beforehand and this was better than Renee’s ceasar dressing. So fast and easy too.
I have to say I am an avid home cook, I generally don’t use recipes because I have spent my life cooking but I want to say I found your website looking for homemade buttermilk ranch. SO GOOD ! I just made your tomato and basil recipe last night and my 11 year old loved it. I am making your Caesar tonight and your double chocolate pavlova. You have great recipes. Thanks 🙂
Very very good!!
What a fantastic recipe. I didn’t have any anchovy paste so I just used an anchovy fillet from a tin, chopped up small. I’ve never made my own Caesar dressing before but from now on I’ll be making it all the time! My family loved it – such a great easy twist on a classic recipe! Thanks so much for posting it!
Made the Caesar dressing exactly as written. My husband is a huge anchovy fan and he loved it! (although the flavors a blend beautifully and the anchovy does not stand out) Told him the sweet story about your kids taking out the ingredients so you would make the dressing. Husband’s question: What are those kids going to do when they go away to college and have to eat cafeteria food!?! ?
How much romaine lettuce will I need to get for this recipe, of 1 1/3 cups dressing? Thanks, Debi
The dressing is the perfect amount for about 10 medium salads (about 2 cups of romaine per serving). Hope you enjoy!
One of the best recipes I have ever been given, if not the best. This salad dressing is at least 5 times as good as any other salad dressing I’ve tasted. LOVE it! Well done Jenn! It deserves a 7 out of 5.
This is my first time making Caesar Dressing, and I must say I will never buy store bought again. Absolutely fantastic. Thank you!!!!
I would have given this recipe 5 stars, but I did make a few modifications. After reading some of the other reviews and knowing my general dislike of mayonnaise, I added about 2/3 of a cup vs the 1 cup called for in the recipe. I also added a whole lemon’s worth of juice (probably 4-5 tablespoons) to thin it a bit and just because I love lemon and had the other half of the unused lemon sitting out. All of the other ingredients seemed spot on.
When you review a recipe with changes, you’re not reviewing the recipe but your changes!
This is a great recipe! I used Hellman’s mayo with Olive Oil- tastes great for almost 75% less fat. It is MUCH better than any light mayo- life’s too short:) Today I massaged it into Tuscan Kale and let it sit for about 20 min to soften the fibers in the kale- just like the restaurants!
This has to be a record for number of five stars for one recipe. Nice job.
WOW this is the best dressing. I made this for Easter. My whole family went crazy for it. When leaving our sons house my granddaughter said: Nana can you make me a whole bunch of that dressing? They were dipping carrots & celery into a bowl of it. Only change I made was I used whole anchovies as I could not find the paste. I also shaved fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese over it. It is wonderful. Thanks for all your great recipes.
How many anchovy fillets did you substitute for the 1 tsp of anchovy paste?
Excellent, first time making homemade Caesar dressing and this recipe is a keeper. I added extra garlic and doubled the anchovy paste and lemon. I also used Just Mayo brand, a vegan substitute that doesn’t have eggs in it. Tastes better than Mayo, really. The dressing was awesome. My guests loved it so much they took home a few servings each. Thank you!
This by far the best Caesar recipe ever. If I ask some one “what can I bring?” this is it. It’s now a staple at all our holiday dinners. I follow the recipe exactly.
Made this last night and it was great! I can a can of anchovy filets so I used a mortar and pestle to pound that up with the gloves of garlic. This is a great recipe!
I started making this dressing about a year ago and my wife loves it so much she has a salad everyday. This is so much better than any bottled Ceaser’s dressing and very easy to make. We don’t use any bottled dressings anymore.
This is the best no-egg ceasar dressing recipe I’ve ever found. Just the right amount of everything. Most importantly my kids love it!!
WAY too much mayo. I’d use closer to a fourth or half cup, and then double up on the lemon and dijon.
Actually, Rachel, I, too, was turned off by the massive amounts of mayo, not just in this recipe, but in most salad dressings. This recipe is so good, though, I did some adjustments to make it to my liking. I substituted Vegan Grapeseed Veganaisse for Mayo. The grapeseed version is the only version of Veganaisse that I can tolerate, BUT, I am not a vegan. I followed the rest of the recipe exactly as it is..hmmm…okay, a added maybe a touch more anchovie paste and a touch more dijon. I like to get a little zing in the old gullet, and the dressing is perfect. I”ve made a fresh batch in my house every week for the past 6-7 months. It is that good.
Hello Jenn,
How much romaine, croutons and shaved parmesan do I put with your Caesar salad dressing, which serves 10 starter salads. That is the number of people coming to dinner.
Many thanks,
Carol
The dressing is the perfect amount for about 10 medium salads (about 2 cups of romaine per serving). In terms of the croutons, for 10 salads, I would suggest either buying a bag of croutons or you could double this recipe for homemade croutons. For the cheese, just purchase a wedge of fresh parm and put that on to taste. Enjoy!
Since I have been on an elimination diet, I have been making more recipes and needed a good caesar dressing. I made this without the anchovy paste, and used Veganaise (I can’t have eggs) instead of mayo. It is better than any restaurant version…and my family didn’t even know they got the vegan mayo. They loved it! Thank you!!!!
Possibly the best Caesar dressing I have ever made. Followed the recipe exactly and it was perfection….I’ve made it twice now in less than a month…..with this recipe I’d prefer to make my own dressing instead of buying pre-made…
This is the best caesar salad dressing recipe that I have come across! I’ve been using it for quite a while now and it is my go to recipe for sure!! I have also shared it with many others. It is just the perfect blend of ingredients! Thanks for sharing it here!
I thought this recipe was very good. I like the creamy cesar, not the egg and oil based ones. I added a bit more parmesean reggiano, thinned it with red wine vinegar and olive oil, bit more garlic and dijon mustard. I put the dijon mustard, garlic, W sauce, anchovies and all other liquids into the food processor and blended it. Whipped it into the mayo and thinned it with the above stated oil and red wine vinegar and a bit more lemon .
Easy to make and delicious. I used Fish Sauce (contains fermented anchovy extract) instead of the anchovy paste and salt.
How much fish sauce did you use?
This is the first time I’ve made a Caesar Salad that was not from scratch. I chose this dressing due to the raves. I made it and left it in the fridge for several hours so the flavors could blend. Have to tell you i am VERY unimpressed. I would not make this again. guess I’m back to scratch
Same. I found it had a lot of mayo and had a strong taste of garlic. I would never use this recipe again.
So easy and delicious. The first ceasar dressing I made from scratch, but no need to look further. I left out the anchovy paste. Thinned it, as others suggested, with olive oil and lemon juice. So tasty!
Thanks for the heads up, my concern is she said it doesn’t use raw eggs so you don’t have to worry, really? What does she think mayonnaise is made from?
I honestly can’t rate it because I haven’t made or tasted it, I just responded about the raw egg issue
I made this tonight and it was delicious! Perfect! Exactly what I was looking for in a Caesar Dressing! I followed the directions to a “T” and now it goes in my “favorites” Recipe Pile. Thank you!!!!
Totally wonderful. I used two flat anchovies in place of the paste, and it was perfect. Thanks so much!
I’ve been trying a couple recipes for Ceasars and this one was was definitely the best. Purchasing the anchovy paste made making it WAY easier because I just hated opening the smelly canned ones and mincing them; it almost grossed me out to the point of not wanting to put them in! It really scared me to see how mayonaise goes in there so I decided to go for 3/4 instead and it was still so delicious. I also added a bit of olive oil and extra lemons juice to make it less thick! I’m excited to serve this one next time we have friends over
This recipe is awesome. It’s easy to make and tastes great. Love it.
What can I use to thin it out a little?
What is the best way to make fall off the bone pork ribs
Hi Roy, Readers love this recipe for ribs and the meat really does fall off the bone!
Marvelous. Best recipe ever.
I made this recipe last night and it was delicious!!! It caused my 5 year old to do something he’s never done before after eating the one dish that calls for daily negotiating…salad. He asked for seconds! This will certainly be my go to recipe moving forward!!! The whole family enjoyed…I think I’ll use the leftover dressing for a salad now! Thanks so much for sharing.
Ohh, I forgot to mention that I too cut the mayo back to 1/2 cup and used Vegenaise. Still excellent!
Hello Jenn,
I have never tried the hellman mayo. Would the dressing taste very different if it is replaced with a basic recipe of homemade mayo ?
Patricia, Homemade mayo should work just fine!
Best Dressing Ever!! I couldn’t find the anchovy paste so I substituted with capers. Delicious!
My 13 year old daughter fancies herself a Caesar salad expert and she just went bananas over this dressing (of course, I didn’t tell her there is anchovy paste in it). Says it’s the best she’s ever had – and I totally agree! I doubled the garlic, because that’s just how we roll. Fan-freakin-tastic!!
Omg……the best dressing ever. My husband has celiac and I have to be so careful what he eats. Love this, thank you 🙂
This is SO good, that I make it all of the time! It’s super easy, and delicious! I’ve been asked for the recipe every time I serve it. Add homemade garlic Parmesan cheese croutons and it can’t be beat! Yummmmm
best caesar salad dressing I have ever tasted. Thank you!!!!
This caesar salad dressing recipe saved the day, thx!
I am curious, has anyone tried making this with Hellmann’s Olive Oil Mayo? How did it taste?
That’s the kind I used. Delicious!!!
I made this recipe for the first time on Christmas Eve and brought it to our big Italian Family dinner. I cannot tell you how much EVERYONE loved it! My Italian mother whom I adore, but never compliments many food things because she is a very picky eater, grabbed my arm and squeezed it gently during dinner and said to me it was the best tasting Caesar salad she has EVER tasted. She asked me to send the recipe. I will remember that moment forever. I gave you all the credit, Once Upon a Chef. I told all the family ladies about your website. I also got rave reviews on your coconut macaroons as well! Thank you for making me look good!
Thank you, Faith! I’m so happy everyone enjoyed it, especially your mom 🙂
This is the best dressing I’ve ever tasted! Will not be purchasing store bought ever again. Doubled up the amount of garlic and Dijon mustard and it came out perfect!
I love this dressing!! I have made this many times, everyone loves it!! Thank you!!
I love this recipe. The dressing is just so tasty! I have started a tradition of making it for our Italian dinner on Christmas Eve. Last year I cut the salt in half and this year I left it out completely. With all the sodium in the other ingredients you just don’t need it. And yes a little extra lemon and a dash of olive oil thins it out perfectly. Happy Holidays!
Hi Jenn!
Can I mince anchovy fillets in the food processor with the rest of the ingredients? Can’t find anchovy paste where I live!
Yes Yussra, you can definitely definitely do that. Hope you enjoy!
Yes Yussara, you can definitely do that. Hope you enjoy!
Hi Jenn! I have always eaten Ceasar salad in restaurants and really wanted to try the dressing at home. And I found your blog🤩 The dressing is soooooo simple and soooo yumm(slurp!) Me and my son went on tasting it and forgot to leave any for the salad🤣 I could not find anchovy or dijon mustard. I used the American mustard instead. Thank you so much for sharing😘
LOL — So glad you enjoyed it!
This has become a staple recipe in our home. We are a family of 9, and EVERYONE likes this dressing! The first time I made this, I was in a hurry to get to a potluck, so I had to work with what was in the pantry. I was missing the anchovy paste and Worcestershire sauce, but it was excellent anyway. Many people asked for the recipe. I do think good quality mayo makes a difference, though.
I love this recipes but I do it with 1/2 the mayo. Thins it, makes it more flavorful, and less of a splurge health-wise.
Wow! This dressing was excellent and a hit at our Christmas party. I did add a bit more lemon juice (about 1 tsp.) to thin it a bit (with the added side benefit of punching up the flavor some too). Also added an extra small clove of garlic. It can hardly be too garlicky, can it?!?
My entire family absolutely loved this dressing, and my sister, who is a foodie, said it was the best Caesar she’s ever had. Making it again tonight!
Definitely a keeper recipe. After trying this easy, delicious, flavorful recipe I will never buy bottled Caesar dressing again. I had canned anchovies, so I read online that 1 teaspoon of anchovy paste is equivalent to 1 anchovy and it came out perfect. Thanks again! Can’t wait to try out your other recipes!
I will NEVER buy Caesar dressing again!!! Why would I, when this recipe is so easy and so good! Thank you!!!
THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT I SAID!!
I have been trying different Caesar Salad Dressings for a long time. I found this one about two months ago and have made it numerous times. It is amazing and so easy. My son who I can never get to eat his salad goes back for seconds and even thirds on this one. I highly recommend it.
This was amazing. Made it w anchiove fillets I chopped then crushed w knife to make a paste. I grilled the lettuce too. Yummy
This was delicious! My first attempt at making Ceaser Salad Dressing. I was afraid of the anchovy paste. :). It just provides a little bite to the dressing. Nothing to be afraid of!
I really enjoyed this recipe! I thought the dressing tasted exactly how it does at a restaurant. I followed the recipe exactly. Highly recommend it. Thanks!
Just tried this dressing, tonight. It was a huge hit. 🙂 This does have a thick consistency, but if you want to thin it down, you can use milk (very little, it doesn’t take much) Definitely a keeper.
Excellent recipe, the family loved it!
My whole family LOVES this recipe! Thanks for a simple delicious dressing. It really is the best!
I’m a huge fan of cooks illustrated and go to them constantly for recipes. I thought I’d find a favorite Caesar salad recipe from them. Though their multiple recipes were good, they weren’t quite what I was looking for. I went back to google and searched and tried others til I found this one. One word describes it: AMAZING!! It is delicious, garlicky, and oh so yummy. My 3 year old asks for it! It’s just the perfect one and my family and extended family agree that this is it! Thank you Jenn for sharing!
Can you recommend croutons for this recipe? I plan to make this this w^e for 9 guests.
You can use the croutons from this recipe:
https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/broccoli-cheese-soup-homemade-croutons.html
Enjoy!
This was awesome. I like a lot of flavor and this had it. One of the best ceasar dressing I have had. Made it with shrimp scampi with fresh herbs and gluten free garlic Parmesan bread. A couple fresh cloves of garlic in softened butter broil and adds little Parmesan cheese to the top right at the end of baking. Quick and yummy dinner family loved it.
So delicious! I am pregnant, and feeling really finicky about food. It needs to be healthy, of course, but also has to really taste great. I feel so empowered to have a perfect recipe for one of my favorite salads. Now, I can just whip up the recipe whenever. Thanks for sharing!!
How long is this good for?
Hi Kathleen, It keeps well in the fridge for about a week.
P.S. I made a double batch, immediately froze half, and the frozen batch was perfect when we thawed and used it a few weeks later.
I am incredibly picky about caesar dressing and this is the best homemade dressing I’ve ever had! It has the perfect amount of everything in it. Thank you!
I was just wondering why raw eggs would be a health concern to small kids but Hellmann’s Mayo which is full of GMO’s is a safe substitute? Eggs raw or cooked shouldn’t be a health concern as long as they are from a reputable source….the use of antibiotics on large scale chicken farms has actually increased the incidence of S. Enteritis on these farms – it kills of the natural microflora that usually compete with S. enteritis – leaving the area prime for salmonella. So common sense tells me that our risk of getting S enteritis from an organic farmed egg – is going to be factors below the average risk.
Really? Some people lol … I loved it. Hellmans is definitely quality mayo and the one I prefer. Thanks for a great recipe!
5 stars,,( should be 10) this recipe is fabulous,,in Mexico no anchovy paste, I used a can and it was not fishy…I had been making our old recipe for years ..Yours is better, tastier and faster ! Now I have to rewrite this new family recipe, promise to give you all the credit!
I absolutely love the dressing as is, however my husband thinks it’s a little too thick. Wondering what you might use to thin it out a bit?
Hi Lauren, You could thin it out with a bit of olive oil and a touch more lemon juice.
My son loves Caesar salad whenever we eat out so I thought I would try it at home. He loved it!
I made this Sunday for a bridal shower and everyone LOVED it. Many went back for seconds and a I had several people ask me for the recipe. And it’s so easy to make! 🙂
I am going to make this for my friends bridal shower on Sunday. I am excited after reading all the reviews! I have never made my own dressing before. Will it be okay if I put the dressing on the romaine the night before or should I wait until just before the shower? Thanks!
Hi Heather, Definitely wait to toss the salad with the dressing until right before serving, otherwise the lettuce will get soggy. Hope everyone enjoys it!
I keep coming back to this dressing!! Its amazing, easy and delicious. This is a staple in our house. It gets the kids really interested in salad!
no olive oil?
That’s right — no olive oil 🙂
This Ceasar dressing is amazing! Truly, the best I have had. Try it….you will not be disappointed. ?
This is hands down my favorite recipe I’ve found on the internet. It got me hooked on Once Upon a Chef and has me searching here for recipes when looking for different dishes. I can’t rave enough. The kids love it, my picky husband loves it, and it is the easiest dressing to whip up!
This is a delicious dressing. So easy too. I bought the anchovy paste which was super handy and now I have a little tube of the paste to use in future recipes. Thank you for this great recipe!
This was my first attempt at made-from-scratch Caesar dressing and it BLEW MY FAMILY AWAY. Absolutely delicious! This will be my only recipe for Caesar dressing from now on. Who knew even kids would like something made with anchovy paste, but they’re scarfing it down!
Just made this for dinner. It was delicious! Everyone had seconds. This will be made often. Yum!
OK to use a blender instead of whisking? Havent tried this yet so not sure of difference
Hi Bonnie, Yes that’s fine. Enjoy 🙂
How thick should this delicious dressing be? To be served with a spoon or poured? It’s for the brunch the day after my daughter’s wedding here in Austria, so that’s this coming Sunday, if you could possibly get back to me before then!
Many thanks!
Meredith
Hi Meredith, It’s quite thick, almost the consistency of a dip, so I would serve it with a spoon. Enjoy, and congrats on your daughter’s wedding!
I mean I was getting tired of just putting olive oil, vinegar and black pepper on my salads. I wasn’t really enjoying them. I had a craving for a Caesar salad and looked online and saw that this recipe had five stars with 319 reviews. So after work, I went to the store to get my ingredients. I spent about an hour in the big W trying to look for anchovy paste, asking workers if they had it and I was disappointed. I wondered then if I should ditch the anchovy paste in the ingredients. I checked my phone really quickly and saw that people found that Caesar salad dressing was not the same without anchovy paste. So I decided to buy tin anchovies in olive oil and salt and chopped these finely to give a paste-like consistency. It absolutely worked!!! The only other change was using one garlic clove as I am not a big fan of garlic but I mean this was the best salad dressing I ever had in my life. My friend was first mad that I was not spending time with him after work and was in the kitchen making salad dressing but when he tasted it, he apologized and loved it. 🙂 Thanks so much Jenn, I’ll be following your recipes from now on!! I wish there was a 6 star option!!
I appreciate this semi-homemade caesar dressing recipe. No more egg on my hands. Thanks!
This sounds incredible ~ am making for a friend tomorrow night w/ grilled chicken on top. Can you give the calorie, fat content? Many thanks ~~
Hi Marilyn, I have updated the recipe to include nutritional data — you will find it right underneath the recipe. Hope you and your friend enjoyed it 🙂
how long will this dressing keep in the refrigerator?
It keeps for about a week.
What a fantastic recipe. I have made this twice now and it is delicious. I only added one clove of garlic and it was lovely. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Hi Jenn…
Finally, tried this dressing and it is FAB. My friends and I all love Caesar salad at the best of times. Printed it twice so I can make it again and again at home and at the trailer.
I made my own croutons by making them out of “fried bread” (bread and just enough of good quality olive oil; popped this into a frying pan – 5 minutes later – the best). Maybe it’s the “Old Brit” heritage coming out in me. But they are great.
You are on the right road with 312 reviews on one recipe – this has to be a record.
Sharon
Streetsville, Ontario
This really is the best dressing ever! Every time I make this dressing, people always ask for the recipe. I agree with a few of the other reviewers below, use the real ingredients. I tried using just lemon juice from a bottle one time, and it still tasted great but not quite as wonderful. I also recommend squeezing more lemon juice and sprinkled fresh cracked pepper over the salad just before serving. Perfection!
THE BEST DRESSING EVER!!
Fantastic ..best dressing ever
My girlfriend said this is the best she ever had. Coming from a world traveler-vegetarian wow! I sliced baguettes ,topped them off with mozzarella and toasted one side only (bottom still soft while top is browned). Cut into quarters then drizzle EVOO. She kept asking whats the special occasion? Thanks
Amazing!!! I don’t use Mayonnaise I used veg anise and a little of buttermilk. It comes amazing. Thank you!!!
Made this and it was very tasty! But instead of using anchovy paste I use real anchovy from the jar with olive oil, I chopped three pieces finely and blend it in with the mixtures. Yummy
Any recommendation for those allergic to fish? I cannot have the anchovy paste or Worcestershire sauce because of my allergy and I have been missing caesar salad for years!
Hi Scott, You could add soy sauce instead of the Worcestershire. But I know of no good substitute for anchovy paste. I’d probably just increase the Dijon and Parmesan a bit to add flavor.
I have made this recipe exactly as it is many times and it is amazing!! I had a recipe that used anchovy fillets and raw egg, which tasted great but it would gross me out to see the egg in my salad and I would end up wasting the unused anchovy. Im so greatful to find this recipe, which I always have these ingredients on hand so its a great last minute meal that always pleases and impresses:-)
Hello.
This recipe says it makes 1 1/3 cups of dressing. How many people would that feed? A salad for 10? I am feeding 200, and will have another salad, meat and buns etc, so wondering how much dressing I should make. I was thinking of multiplying this by 20 and purchasing 20 heads of romaine for 200 people.
Hi Deanna, 1-1/3 cups is enough for about 10 medium salads (about 2 cups of romaine per serving).
This dressing is fantastic! We will be eating way more Caesar salad from now on just because this dressing is so darn delicious! So glad I found it! Thanks!
This is the BEST Caesar Salad Dressing EVER! I’ve been on the lookout for the perfect caesar dressing for a while now and I was so glad to find this one! Make sure that you use “real ingredients” as indicated in the recipe…don’t use lemon juice out of a bottle, use a real lemon…don’t use the powdered parmesan, go for the real stuff…if you follow the recipe, you will NOT be disappointed! I will never buy caesar dressing again – it is super easy to make! I should mention that I never leave reviews on recipes but I just had to for this! Trust me – you will LOVE it!
Hi Chantal,
I never leave reviews either. However, after reading your review and all the others I’m going to make this dressing tonight for my sister’s birthday dinner on Tuesday. Caesar salad is her favorite and if this turns out as outstanding as you and everyone else claims it to be, I’ll be back to write a review also. Hope if I make it tonight ahead of time that it’ll be outrageous on Tuesday. Thanks for your input and I’ll let you know.
Michele
Great dressing
The best ever Caesar salad dressing recipe! I follow it verbatim. My husband loves it. All my friends who have tasted it have asked me for the recipe and have wowed their own friends and relatives with it. Awesome! I use all organic ingredients, except for the Hellman’s mayo. For the Worcestershire sauce, I use The Wizard’s Sauces, Organic Gluten-Free Vegan Worcestershire Sauce. I’m not a vegan, but I do like that it’s organic and it tastes just as good as – if not actually better than – the Lea & Perrins. Thank you for sharing this amazing recipe!
Great recipe and thank you. I had all ingredients on hand and did not have to go back to the store Saved the page on my phone for future reference.
Whoops – I just wrote a review about the Caesar dressing and said I made 1/2 recipe. I didn’t, that was something else! I made the whole recipe. How long will it keep in the refrigerator?
Hi Lynn, It will keep about a week.
I made the Caesar dressing last night and it was perfect. (1/2 recipe) I did use 1 anchovy fillet in the dressing instead of the anchovy paste since my husband also wanted them on his salad. I also added a couple of teaspoons of red wine vinegar. It was fast, easy and delicious. My husband loves a good Caesar salad and he pronounced this version “Perfect”. Thank you!
I am looking forward to trying this recipe. The classic recipe is homemade mayonaise though. Oil and egg equal mayonaise. I have never used regular mayonnaise, so i thought i would try this recipe.
I’m not a huge mayonnaise fan, but I loved this dressing. I used the Hellman’s olive oil mayo, and it was great!
Absolutely LOVED this version of a Caesar Dressing! I love making homemade dressing and my hubby said it was the best so far!..and OIL FREE! Love!
Just a FYI – Mayo is the emulsification of oil and eggs, so this is not oil free.
Turned out perfect the first time I made it. Thank you for sharing this recipe. I love it.
Heaven! Absolutely the right balance of garlic, parmesan and sweetness! My son who orders Ceasar salad everywhere thought this was “THE BOMB”!
Best ever!
a total waste of otherwise good ingredients. I can’t fathom why people seem to like this recipe so much. It tastes exactly like what you’d expect it to, like you dumped a bunch of mayonnaise on your salad. There is no avoiding the distinctive mayonnaise flavor, and this is from someone who really likes mayonnaise. Only in the Midwest would a dressing like this be anything other then a joke. If you want Caesar dressing, that actually tastes like Caesar dressing, make anything other than this recipe.
You must be quite the miserable person to be so angry about a recipe. If you don’t like it, then move on and find another one. Find a hobby while you’re at it.
There must be something wrong with your taste buds fella. If you followed the recjpe, the mayo disappears in the background. The anchovy and dijon shines through.
Tim, Tim, Tim:
I take you for an internet troll. As such, you are miserable. You failed to misspell “caesar,” although it was a nice touch to fail to capitalize the first word of the first sentence in your post.
I have made this salad at least ten times this spring and it is by far the best caesar’s salad recipe out there. We use about six to eight minced anchovies preserved in oil instead of the anchovie paste. It is heaven. Jenn, you’re the best!
Wow, Tim…you’re just a plain mean troll … Penny spotted you a mile away… Buy your bottled stuff & keep it moving…(P.S. hope you read these) I’m going to enjoy this tonite! 🙂
After years of making egg and olive oil Caesar, my wife happened to ask for a creamier dressing. Used your recipe, but added 2 TBS red wine vinegar and used a full tin of anchovies. Put all the ingredients in a 4 cup chopper blender. Just got a big thumbs up from the Mrs. !
I remember when I searched for a delicious caesar salad recipe in autumn (after my last summer holiday). When I made this dressing I was amazed of the outcome – and it really was simple and fast. Combined with romaine lettuce, grana padano, chicken with herbs and fried pitta bread, this is without a doubt the best caesar dressing I have tasted. I have made this dressing a number of times since October, changing the salad, bread and meat, but never the dressing as it really is the best part of the salad, just as it is. I can highly recommend Jenn’s recipe for this dressing to anyone.
This was the best cesar dressing my husband and I ever had! I couldn’t stop “testing” it, and after dinner had some more dressing as dessert…wonderful!
How many whole, tinned anchovies instead of the paste? My household loves them and always keeps them on hand for pizzas on the smoker-griller.
Hi, I’d say 1-2.
I once had no anchovy paste on hand and used 2 filets from a can instead. It came out perfect!
I have been using your receipe for Caesar Salad Dressing for the past year. It is the best dressing ever! I can’t go to any barbeque, family function or work related pot luck without it being requested. Everyone loves it.
First time trying this recipe and it came out perfect! Super creamy and a lot of flavor. My mother and I were surprised with how well it came out. Very delicious!
How many times do you recommend multiplying this recipe to ensure enough dressing for 14 salads? I’m interested in using this recipe for a lunch gathering as a main course with grilled chicken.
Hi Devi, 1-1/3 cups is enough for 10 medium salads (about 2 cups of romaine per serving). So I would multiply the dressing by 2 — better safe than sorry and I don’t think you’ll mind having extra 🙂
Brought home a Caesar salad but forgot the dressing from my work. Made this recipe instead and was great ! Thank you.
Made this tonight and I couldn’t believe how good the dressing was! So quick and tasty. I’ve added ths site to my go to quick but good meals! Thank you!
Hi Jenn…..
Asked this question ages ago. I was wondering if you had an opportunity to think about making “homemade” mayo yet. I know all my friends say it’s easy – but I have never made mayo before and I would like to incorporate homemade mayo into your/my recipes. My family is in full tilt with salad eating now that the warm weather is here.
Thanks
Hi Sharon, Sorry, not yet but I will try to get to it soon! Meanwhile, you might try this recipe from Serious Eats (Kenji’s recipes are always great): http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2011/10/two-minute-mayonnaise.html
I love this recipe. I don’t use the anchovie paste and I only use yellow mustard and it still tastes great. My hubby loves it!
I halved this recipe and it was delicious. The perfect ratio between the spiciness of the anchovy paste and the dijon. Grilled 2 thin-cut chicken breasts for the top. I did leave out the parmesan cheese in the dressing, but I add it in shavings for the top of my salad to save on my WW points. I also used light mayo. I mixed the dressing in the salad mix to make sure it was all coated.
Even at half the recipe, I have dressing left, as it’s just my husband and me.
Served with Trader Joe’s Red Pepper Soup. OMG, that stuff is restaurant quality.
Are you serious?!! I make “real” dressing all of the time. Tonight I had guests and was in a rush. Found this recipe and let me tell you. AMAZING!! My guests could not believe I took the time to make such great homemade Caesar dressing. Will NEVER go back. Thank you for making life so much easier and making me look like the star!
I’ll never buy the bottled stuff anymore! I’m currently on a weight loss plan so I made a couple of changes. I substituted the mayo for 1/2 cup light mayo and 1/2 cup 0% Greek yoghurt. I wasn’t sure how this would alter the taste or texture of the recipe but it is absolutely amazing, I can finally enjoy caesar salad again!
I just made your “homemade caesar salad dressing”, and I am just amazed at how wonderful this tastes. I will not be buying any caesar dressing from the store again, this is the absolute best I have ever tasted. We are having cedar plank grilled salmon on top of the caesar salad for dinner tonight. I cant wait, Thank you so much for such!!!!
Thank you for sharing your recipe. I’ve never made Caesar dressing before and this version is foolproof. It was quick, easy and yielded delicious results.
Can I use real anchovies and mash them up? How many? Thank you. I will be doubling this recipe.
Hi Annette, Yes, that’s fine. Not sure how many you’ll need; you’ll have to mash them up and measure the same amount as called for in the recipe. Hope you enjoy!
Made this for diner to be paired with Salmon Croquette. Turned out so good that the salad outshone the main dish.
this is a terrific recipe, It is beating my favorite R…’s dressing.
Loved it quick and easy.
Hey presto and its done.
Best ceasar dressing and so easy!
Absolutely amazing! Jeanette. I love it
This is an absolutely amazing caesar dressing!! I didn’t make any changes and it’s definitely restaurant quality!! Thank you for sharing this!
I love this recipe!! I used to make a similar one a little more from scratch but then I’d get lazy and then of course there is the egg thing…
This is so easy and my husband begs for it, it’s so good.
I also love the picture of ingredients. I have the recipe copied down but when I’m almost brain dead, the pic of what goes in it makes it seem Do-able. Thanks so much for this!
What to use in Homemade Caesar salad dressing in place of anchovy paste?
Hi Janette, There’s really no substitute for anchovy paste — you can just leave it out.
Thanks for that!
Google ‘anchovy substitutes’. Here’s a link that has a few suggestions: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/444509
How long will this keep in refrigerator
Hi Mary, About a week.
This is THE BEST Caesar dressing I’ve ever had including fine dining Caesar dressings. I didn’t change a thing when I made it. The only thing I did upon tasting it was to make an immediate second batch because I knew the dressing would disappear quickly, and it has!!! Thank you for this recipe and many others.
This is so delicious I can’t believe I used to buy the Lighthouse Caesar dressing weekly. I have a son who is allergic to dairy. I double the recipe and put half in a different container without the parmesan. Then I add the parmesan to the remainder for the rest of us. He says it is delicious even without theparmesan. Also to be lazy sometimes I used really good parmesan from Costco – already shredded. It is good that way also.
Thank you for the recipe it was delicious
I alternate Anchovy paste by caned one
We enjoyed it
I had a couple of recipes for really good Caesar Salad Dressing, but my computer went belly up so I lost them. 🙁
I looked around and my Google-fu led me to this place. The recipe seemed way too easy, but I was in a hurry, so what the heck.
WOWZERS! Quick has met Easy who have met Delicious and melded into about the best Caesar Salad dressing ever. Wonderful job and thank you for sharing.
OMG! This is, without a doubt, the absolute best Caesar dressing I have ever had. And, it is so easy to make! I get requests from friends and family to make this all the time. We use it not only as a salad dressing, but also as a dip for veggie trays! Excellent!
This has become my go to recipe for Caesar salad dressing! My family and friends love it every time I make it! And sometimes when I want to go a little easier on the calorie content, I substitute half of the mayo for Greek yogurt. If I don’t have anchovy paste, I just add a dash or two more of Worcestershire.
Great dressing.
Can you add anchovies to dressing?
Hi Sheila, Sure, it’s fine to add anchovies.
Excellent Caesar dressing!
I love that this recipe uses mayonnaise. For years, I have made ceasar salad dressing with eggs and oil. I hate mixing those two together because sometimes it works and sometimes it does not. Mayonnaise is so much easier.
I love Caesar salad and always wanted to learn how to make home made dressing. I am so glad I stumbled upon your website and this recipe is a keeper. Love love love it! My kids love it and I made it in two different occasions already and it’s a hit!
Thank you for sharing.
I’ve made lots of homemade caesar dressing (including from egg yolks) and this recipe is just spot-on for flavor and texture. The mayo makes it quicker and the flavors blend together beautifully.
Absolutely delicious. I have tried several different recipes but this beats them all.
Anchovies paste not available in our small town. What cam I substitute with?
Hi Yvonne, What about anchovies?
We dont have anchovy paste here too but substituted with fish sauce and it works a treat. Delicious dressing by the way, Jenn.
Delicious! I didn’t have enough mayo on hand so I also added olive oil. The olive oil made it easier to pour. I will definitely make this again and again. Thanks for the recipe.
Amazingly yummy.
Loved it – made it today for the first time – easy and delicious. Definite keeper
Excellent dressing. I am used to using an egg yolk in my Caesar dressing but this was very good. It’s a keeper!
Excellent! I love Caesar salads but have always chickened out b/c of the raw egg aspect…but when I saw your recipe was very excited and of course ~ did not disappoint! I am not anchovy person but have complete trust in you now Jenn & bought another tube of paste and the dressing is absolutely perfect! For all who are skeptical…try it first before eliminating it. Thank you once again 😉
Seriously? “While most authentic Caesar dressings are olive oil-based vinaigrettes thickened with raw eggs, this one has a mayonnaise base, which means no raw eggs so you don’t have to worry about giving it to your kids.”
What is mayonnaise again, if not an olive oil-based vinaigrette thickened with raw eggs? A bit sad to find this on a “food” blog.
Commercial mayonnaise is made with pasteurized eggs — the eggs are heated in a water bath to destroy all bacteria and viruses. Most eggs that we buy at the grocery store are not pasteurized.
COMPLETELY TRUE!! I’m pregnant, en searching for a recipe without raw eggs, i’m going to try this tonight! Thanks a lot!!
I tested this recipe in advance for a party I am having this weekend. Wouldn’t change a thing. Everybody loved it.
Recipe calls for 1/2 cup grated parmesean cheese. But the photo looks as though there are small slices of parmesean on the top. Do you recommend that in addition ti the grated cheese which is mixed in, some slices be added on top as well?
My husband almost always order Caesar salad when we’re out for lunch, so I’m looking forward to trying your recipe as a surprise.
Many thanks.
Hi Lynn, Yes, absolutely. Hope you enjoy!
I am pregnant and have been craving ceasar salad non stop! This recipe is amazing and has hit the spot! Since I stumbled on it I think I have made it 4 or 5 times in the past few weeks. I am not feeling anchovies these days so I just add extra Worcestershire since it has anchovy in it as well. Thank you!
This recipe turned out great. It has great flavor and is super simple to make. The only thing I added to this recipe was about a tablespoon or so of milk which helped make it more liquidy. Initially it comes out pretty thick, so I wanted to thin mine out to make it easier to pour. Other than that, this recipe was fantastic…also, I am not big on any fishy flavor and I can honestly say it does not have that taste whatsoever, so if you are hesitant to try this because the anchovies just know it is not noticeable. Thanks for sharing.
Do I need to make this ahead so the flavors meld together?
G – It’s not necessary to make ahead; will be delicious immediately 🙂
You say you make this with mayo so don’t worry, but isn’t mayo just oil and raw egg? I don’t understand your reasoning.
Hi Lisa, Commercial mayonnaise is made with pasteurized eggs — the eggs are heated in a water bath to destroy all bacteria and viruses. Most eggs that we buy at the grocery store are not pasteurized.
I’m in the UK. Do you have a weight for ‘a cup’, please?
I usually buy caesar dressing and am keen to make my own. I grow my own lettuce and make my own croutons 🙂
Thanks
Hi Jane, I believe 1 cup of mayonnaise is about 8 ounces.
Hi Jenn
I made this yesterday and will never again buy ready made caesar dressing – even though I always used to buy fresh! It was delicious, as expected. I didn’t have anchovy paste and so used one anchovy from tinned anchovies in olive oil (I halved the recipe). Many thanks 🙂
This Ceasar dressing is outstanding! Husband liked it so I will be making this again, but trying to half the recipe.
How long will this keep in the fridge? Week?
Nevermind! Just saw your reply below! Thanks:) made it Friday night-eating what’s left tonight!! Yum!
Fantastic! Even my 78 year old Italian mother sheepishly said she preferred it to her “traditional” (with the raw egg) caesar dressing! Compares to Flemings Caesar dressing…just add pan seared prosciutto and done!
I’m living in Germany at the moment, just entering the common (I’m told) time where the honeymoon of living overseas is over and everything is just wrong for a bit! I love to cook and the food here is awesome, but some stuff I miss so much! I would run a marathon if there were real fresh jalepenos at the other end. Considering actually swimming the channel for some decent cheddar. And last night I. Just. Wanted. Caesar. Salad. Salad dressing isn’t a big thing over here in general, and it’s only the rare specialty shop where you can find a suspiciously watery bottle labeled “American Caesar.”
So I made your recipe last night and I just about cried because it was perfect and delicious and for a second I felt home 🙂
Would it be okay if I linked to you in my blog?
Thanks again! Yum!
So glad you enjoyed it, Elizabeth! It’s fine to share/link.
Jenn once again, Thank you for another amazing recipe. I had an invitation to a prime rib dinner. My friend requested I make a salad for this special celebration. The pressure was on! I immediately referred to you for help. I went with your Caesar Salad. Without question it was a GREAT addition to the meal. I appreciate your additional input concerning the portions to allow for a large group. There were nine guests and your estimations were on the money. (2 cups of Roman per person) I used the full recipe to dress the salad and also took you advice in using Whole Foods in house croutons.
Glad it worked out, Carol!
Best dressing of all time, have made it repeatedly and the whole family adores it.
THIS IS THE BEST CAESAR DRESSING EVER EVERYONE ENJOYED IT. I WILL BE MAKING THIS FROM NOW ON. THANKS FOR ALL THOSE WHO SENT SUGGESTIONS.
Excellent taste and enjoyed by all. Makes enough for at least 2 salads. Keeps well in fridge.
Excellent recipe! I got tired of the store dressings and wanted something fresher tasting. The dressing was a big hit. The only change I made was to cut the salt in half.
Can I make this Caesar dressing a couple days ahead? What about leftovers?
Hi Andrea, Yes, that’s fine; it keeps well for about a week.
Caeser salad is never my favorite, but my son loves it. I’d like to try your recipe, but I have never used anchovy paste. Is there a substitute for it?
Hi Frieda, There really is no substitute for it here; I recommend trying it 🙂
Thanks! I made it and we all loved it! It’s always possible to learn to use a new ingredient.
In your picture the dressing looks thin, my dressing tastes good but is very thick. I followed it exactly and it’s thick like a heavy yogurt. It certainly won’t pour. Any suggestions?
Hi Rita, It is a thick dressing — you don’t want it too thin or it won’t coat the greens — but you can thin it with a little water if necessary. You might also try leaving out at room temperature for a bit; the colder it is, the thicker it is.
I’ve made this recipe twice. The first time I followed the recipe exactly, except I used a low-fat olive oil mayonnaise (Kraft). I found the result a little bland with too much cheese flavor, and slightly too sour.
The second time I used 1/2 the parmesan and lemon juice and doubled all the rest of the ingredients except the mayo and salt. The result the second time was great – tasty and savory without any excess tartness. – plus lower fat! Grate more parmesan on the salad if desired.
I loved this dressing , i love salads but ceasar salad is my favorite , i just finished a bowl of salad with this dressing and LOVED IT , i even added a little bit of bacon and its was great , my sis hates salad but as soon as she tasted this dressing with the salad she wanted me to make her one ,
This is the first caesar salad I ever made… It was fantastic. No reason to ever try another!
Each year we pick a country and plan a menu from that place. I have printed your (Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing) can you tell me what is in the actual salad apart from the dressing. Want to get it exactly as you have it.
I read the reviews this should be great.
Thank you, Yolanda
Hi Yolanda, The only ingredients in the salad are romaine lettuce and croutons. You can use store bought croutons or make your own; I like the fresh ones from Whole Foods.
Excellent dressing. I had always made an olive oil/egg dressing with mixed results. This is my new go to Caesar dressing. Thank you!
Whenever I want to make a salad your website is the first site I check for a recipe. My husband loved this recipe. Would not change anything!
I agree with you Jenn about the amount I would need to make. My calculations also come to 5 times your recipe to cover enough dressing over the romaine. Now I may have to experiment with the romaine to see if I have enough for my crowd. I’m not even sure of the difference between a head of Romaine vs. a heart! Thanks so much, Jenn…
Your recipe makes 1 1/3 cups of dressing. I am having a crowd over to my home and will be making it for the first time. My question is: how many heads of romaine do I need per 1 1/3 cups of dressing? And how many heads of Romaine do I need as a side for 50 people?
I’m excited to try the recipe; thank you. I hope I receive a prompt answer.
Hi Linda, It’s hard to say exactly but I would say 1-1/3 cups is enough for about 10 medium salads (about 2 cups of romaine per serving). One large head (not heart) of romaine equals about 10 cups of torn lettuce, which should serve 4-5, which means you would need about 10 heads for 50 people. Of course, it depends on the size of head of lettuce but this should give you a general idea. And I’m guessing you would need to multiply the dressing recipe by 5. Hope that helps!
Thanks Jenn for your very prompt answer. I’m making this tomorrow and will let you know the responses of my guests. I just checked what I have for Romaine…and it’s 12 HEARTS, not heads. Does this change your previous advice as to amounts?
Hi Linda, A heart of romaine should serve about 2 people.
I just buy pre-cut hearts of romaine lettuce in a bag. I have determined that 1 preparation of this recipe is enough for 2 bags of lettuce. If you prefer the dressing coating to be very light, this could extend to 3 or 4 bags.
I also double the garlic, but that’s personal preference. If you’re not sure, just make the recipe as stated, then taste it. It’s very easy to just mince and add more garlic until it’s the way you like it. Leftover dressing refrigerates very well.
I have to tell you, I ADORE Caesar salad but I am a Caesar snob. If I want it at a restaurant, I have to sample the dressing first. If it’s too tangy, too sweet, too blah, I won’t order it. There is one restaurant in my area that gets the dressing absolutely perfect, with the right zip, the right spice. It’s the Caesar standard to which I compare all others. I can’t even accurately put into words the pure JOY I feel at having discovered your recipe. I was not hopeful it was going to please me, it was the FIRST Caesar recipe I ever attempted, and it COMPLETELY NAILED IT!!! I may add an extra clove of garlic or two, and I absolutely add a few dashes of cayenne pepper, but oh-my-wow, this is perfection. Thank you so much for sharing it with us!
Jenn there is no way I could thank you enough for all your wonderful recipes! I was not at all a fan of the kitchen. In fact I hated cooking. It’s not that Im a bad cook, but it was getting boring around here. However the past several weeks I’ve been cooking at least 2 of your recipes a week and you have brought a whole new meaning to cooking for my family! I am enjoying the kitchen like never before and the food has been amazing. I feel like a chef (feel being the key word there) ! Thank you for getting me out of the rut of the same old boring recipes and trying all these great, savory and wonderful foods! This Caesar dressing is my next project. Thanks again.
This recipe is AMAZING! I added ONE little extra hit of Worcestershire sauce just for a little more kick, but the compliments went through the roof! Thank you!
If you want fine dining restaurant style Caesar Dressing this recipe is it! My family is loves it. Thank you for the recipe!
This recipe is EXCELLENT! Thank you! I definitely agree with you about using quality ingredients. In fact, I try to use organic whenever possible. We are garlic lovers so I added about four cloves and minimal salt, just to taste. Yummy! Great suggestion using anchovy paste as well. Not sure how I would have fared with whole fillets…
Favorite Caesar recipe ever! Prepared exactly as shown.
My husband loves Caeser salad, and I have tried so many recipes for the right dressing. This is the best one, so delicious 🙂 Thank you so much! I know subscribe to your recipes.
5 stars! I substituted half the mayo for olive oil. I also added a few more garlic cloves. I put all the ingredients in a food processor.
I put the dressing over romaine, tomato, red onion, and bacon crumbles. Amazing.
I typically don’t comment on recipes I have tried but I have made dozens of Caesar dressing recipes and all have been lacking in some way or did not have the traditional Caesar taste. This is delicious! I have thrown away all of the other recipes I’ve saved just in case.
Have made this 3 times now and it is the best tasting cesar dressing I have ever eaten. My only comment is that I do cut back on the salt a little
Forgot the STARS
This is the best Dressing ever!!!! My family
and friends told me that its the best dressing they ever had!!!
Thank you:)
First off I would like to say thank you for such a simple and delicious recipe! It was a huge hit! I have a lot left over – I was wondering how long it will keep for?
Thanks!
Hi Genevieve, It will keep very well in the fridge for about a week.
this was a great Caesar recipe although I did not use mayo – I used egg (which you make less dangerous by putting the egg in shell in boiling water for about a minute), olive oil, and tarragon vinegar. Otherwise, followed the recipe and it is quite tasty. My college aged son LOVES it and wants the recipe! Great idea about the anchovy paste.
1. curious to know: How many eggs did you use in place of the mayonnaise?
2. Approx. how many servings of salad will this dressing make?
This was a really good reciepe. I made it with Blackened Halibut and Grilled Romain. Delicious! It was almost perfect as is, but rather than using Anchovy paste, I minced canned Anchovies and “To taste”, I added a 3rd garlic bulb, more than doubled the lemon and a bit extra black pepper. Hint fella’s: Maybe not for a first date, though they would be impressed. Besides the garlic breath, the raw garlic leaves you a bit gassy. It mellows out day 2 once its had time to meld though.
So simple, so good. Best caesar salad I’ve ever had.
Can you use pecorino romano cheese instead of the parmesan? I picked up the wrong one at the cheese deli. Thanks!
Hi Elizabeth, Absolutely, that will work just fine 🙂
Thanks for your prompt reply! Making tonight.
WOWZERS!!! This is by far my favorite Caesar dressing. I will never have store bought again. It’s quick, easy and a friend and family favorite which is always requested. It’s done in less then 5 minutes! Thanks for sharing this recipe and telling us where to find the anchovy paste. 🙂
Awsome I loved it. I also added a table spoon of capers. To die for.
Jen, this recipe gets 5 stars! Quick, easy, delish!! I’ll go look for your grilled chicken for my Grilled Chicken Caesar salad now! Thanks for sharing! Laura
I have tried many recipes, and yours is by far the best Iʻve tasted. I added lemon zest for a tangier flavor, but even my daughter, who hates anchovies, LOVES this dressing. Mahalo nui loa!
I find that after the Caesar dressing is refrigerated it becomes more think than I would like. Do you have a suggestion to thin the dressing without changing the taste?
Hi Don, Unfortunately, there’s no way to thin it out without changing the taste. Your best bet is to let it sit out at room temperature for a bit to get it back to the consistency you like.
Excellent Caesar Salad Dressing recipe!!!!!!!!
Delicious my family and friends fell in love with this recipe. I added a little more lemon, just my own personal preference. The second time I made it double the batch & bottled for my family. We are hooked 🙂
Oh my, that’s good. Quick and easy too.
This recipe is delicious. I was looking for one for a long time and this one is the best. I was wondering if you could tell me how long this keeps in the refrigerator?
Hi Mary, It keeps well for at least a week, if not longer. Glad you like it!
Do you have the nutritional information for this? It looks delicious! I will be trying it regardless, but just curious about the calories, carbs, etc.
Hi Megan, Sorry, I am not able to provide nutritional info for my recipes at this time. I know there are sites out there that allow you to plug in ingredients for nutritional data. Here’s one: