Chicken Caesar Salad is an easy favorite dinner or lunch. Juicy seasoned chicken breasts served over a crisp salad with a quick caesar dressing.
This is the perfect meal sized salad and full of flavor. Serve with garlic toast.
A Hearty Salad
- Make the dressing well ahead of time (up to 4 days) for a quick meal.
- Pre-washed lettuce is a time saver.
- Swap out seasoned chicken in the recipe below for either rotisserie or grilled chicken if desired.
- Tuck into a wrap for a handheld meal!
Ingredients
CHICKEN Fresh chicken breasts are pan-fried in this recipe. We season with our homemade cajun seasoning or try this easy blackened chicken recipe!
ROMAINE Loads of fresh crisp romaine lettuce, homemade croutons, and Parmesan are standard. Of course, kale makes a great caesar salad too. While it’s not typical, I sometimes slice fresh mushrooms into this salad!
DRESSING Use your favorite caesar dressing, I’ve kept it simple with a shortcut dressing. Lots of flavor with little prep.
ADDITIONS I add heaps of croutons (really my fave part of a salad). Other great additions include crispy capers (pan fry in a touch of olive oil), bacon or bacon bits. Grilled shrimp or even jammy eggs (easy to make in the air fryer).
How to Make Chicken Caesar Salad
- Season & pan-fry chicken in a skillet per recipe below then bake in the oven.
- Whisk dressing ingredients in a small bowl.
- Cut romaine into bite-sized pieces & add croutons, Parmesan cheese, & chicken. Toss & serve!
Tips & Tricks
- Chicken can be grilled instead of baked, place seasoned breasts on a medium heated grill and cook for about 12 minutes on each side.
- The best time to assemble a chicken Caesar salad is right before it’s being served. This ensures that the lettuce is at its maximum crispiness, and the chicken is still moist and juicy. Make sure the chicken is cool before adding to lettuce.
- TO MAKE AHEAD: Wash the lettuce, combine the dressing and measure the rest of the ingredients.
More Caesar Inspiration
- Caesar Salad – classic perfection
- Caesar Pasta Salad
- Caesar Chicken Pasta
- Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad
- Kale Caesar Salad
Did you love this Chicken Caesar Salad? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!
Chicken Caesar Salad
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 2 tablespoons Cajun Seasoning or to taste
- 8 cups romaine lettuce washed, dried
- 1 ½ cups croutons
- ¾ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon anchovy paste
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 cloves garlic minced
Instructions
- Combine all dressing ingredients and set aside.
- Combine the chicken breasts and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a small bowl. Season with cajun spice, making sure to cover all of the chicken.
- Heat up a large pan with remaining olive oil, add the chicken once hot and cook on each side ensuring that a dark crust is forming, "blackening" the chicken.
- Cook until chicken has reached 165°F internally or place in the oven to finish them.
- Once cooled, cut chicken breasts into slices.
- In a large bowl, cut romaine lettuce into bite size pieces. Add croutons, parmesan cheese, and prepared chicken. Top with dressing and toss.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Chicken, Dinner, Lunch, Salad
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
Since making this a few months ago it has become one of our favourite meals. We love it!
So happy to hear that, Dolores!
Delicious! I used Best Foods lite mayo which cut the calories significantly but still had great flavor and texture. I added a Tbs of water because it was thicker than I wanted. This is definitely a keeper.
So happy you liked it Kathy, and thanks for leaving a comment!
Can I make the dressing the night before?
That should work well!
Hi
Can I use chicken thighs instead? I don’t like white meat. If so, how long to fry in the pan please?
thanks
It will depend on whether you are using boneless or bone-in chicken thighs. You will want to cook until chicken has reached 165°F. Enjoy Will!
Rally excllent
I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe Kareem!
Can I marinate the chicken in the seasoning overnight?
Sure you can!
I would just like to thank you for all the delicious recipes I have gotten from your website!
THANK YOU, THANK YOU
You are very welcome Judi! So happy we can share them with you :)
I forgot to mention, I have made several of your recipes and I’ve never been disappointed.
You’ve made my day!
Delicious! I have loved every single recipe you have – never have to alter the recipient. They are perfect :). Very talented and thanks for teaching me how to cook!
I made this recipe and it was excellent. I added a bit more garlic and cut the chicken into cubes and mixed everything together. Thanks for a great recipe
You’re welcome Karen! I’m so happy that you love the salad!