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This delicious and filling Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad features my healthy caesar salad dressing, crunchy sourdough croutons, and juicy chicken breasts. Enjoy it as a filling lunch or side dish to serve with your other Italian-inspired favorites.
Nothing quite hits the spot like a Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad. I love a salmon caesar salad and even caesar salad pizza but more often than not, the classic version loaded with juicy chicken and crunchy croutons is all I need.
Think of this chicken caesar salad recipe as an upgraded caesar salad. Instead of settling for store-bought dressings and croutons, whose flavors tend to fall flat, I layered my healthy caesar salad dressing, homemade sourdough croutons, freshly grated parmesan, and grilled boneless chicken breasts over beds of fresh romaine lettuce.
Still easy to make and always a hit, this salad is the best compliment to other Italian-inspired comfort foods, like sun-dried tomato pasta and kale pesto pizza!
Recipe features
- It’s an upgraded caesar salad thanks to the creamy homemade dressing and fresh sourdough croutons.
- Enjoy it as a filling and flavor-packed lunch or a delicious side dish with dinner.
- It’s easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser!
Ingredients
Sourdough bread – I love making homemade croutons with sourdough bread because they’re always extra crunchy and have lots of flavor! If you don’t have sourdough, use another hearty or crusty bread.
Chicken breasts – Boneless skinless chicken breasts are my go-to for a nice, light protein. You could also use boneless chicken thighs, but they’ll take slightly longer to grill.
Romaine lettuce – Because it wouldn’t be a classic caesar salad without romaine lettuce. Feel free to use kale, iceberg, or butter lettuce as a substitute.
Parmesan cheese – Freshly grated parmesan cheese from the block is the perfect finishing touch on a homemade caesar salad.
Homemade caesar dressing – I dressed the chicken caesar salads in my homemade healthy caesar dressing. It’s easy to make with classic caesar dressing ingredients, like anchovy paste, lemon juice, garlic, and parmesan cheese, but I swapped the heavy mayo or egg yolk base for Greek yogurt. It adds a light and tangy twist, plus a boost of protein!
Instructions
Step 1: Make the dressing. Begin by making my healthy caesar salad dressing. It’s incredibly flavorful and easy to make with 9 ingredients!
Step 2: Toast the croutons. Lay the sourdough chunks on a baking sheet and place them under the broiler until they’re slightly golden and crunchy.
Step 3: Prepare the chicken. Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness using a meat mallet or rolling pin. Season both sides with salt and ground black pepper.
Step 4: Grill. Grill the chicken breasts on a grill pan over medium-high heat until cooked through. Set the breasts aside to rest before slicing.
Step 5: Assemble and serve. Add the romaine lettuce to a bowl, then toss it with the caesar dressing. Serve the lettuce in bowls, then top with the chicken, croutons, parmesan, and extra dressing. Enjoy!
Tips and FAQs
- You can speed up this recipe with store-bought dressing and/or croutons but you’ll miss out on some serious flavors and freshness!
Tip
Need some more topping ideas? Add crispy fried onions, a squeeze of lemon juice, green or black olives, crispy bacon, or hard-boiled eggs.
Variations
- Instead of chicken, top your salad with grilled steak, shrimp, or tofu “steaks”.
- Add other seasonings – Rub the chicken with more herbs and seasonings for extra flavor. Paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, thyme, oregano, rosemary, and red pepper flakes all pair well.
- If you don’t have sourdough – Make the croutons from a baguette or an Italian loaf instead. Basically, any bread that has a nice, hearty crust will work perfectly!
Serving suggestions
There’s something about a chicken caesar salad and a bowl of tomato soup or a grilled cheese on the side. It’s the perfect light lunch!
If you’re serving the chicken caesar as a side dish, pair it with more Italian-inspired meals, like lasagna, tomato risotto, or eggplant parmesan. It’s also delicious next to classic comfort foods, like mushroom stroganoff and pot roast.
Can you air fry the chicken breasts instead?
Sure. Lay the seasoned chicken breasts in the air fryer and cook for about 4 to 5 minutes per side at 380ºF. Check out my air fryer chicken breast recipe for more tips!
What about on an outdoor grill?
Absolutely! This is a grilled chicken recipe, after all. Preheat the outdoor grill between 375ºF and 400ºF, then lay the chicken on the grates and close the lid. The breasts should take between 6 to 8 minutes to cook per side.
How do you know the chicken is done grilling?
Once the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF, it’s safe to eat! Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness or cut into the chicken to ensure the juices are running clear and are no longer pink.
How do you keep chicken juicy?
Overcooking is the best way to dry out chicken breasts. So, to lock in the moisture, transfer the cooked chicken breasts to a cutting board and cover them in a loose tent of aluminum foil for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing.
Do you have to tenderize the chicken?
Yes, I highly recommend taking the time to tenderize the chicken. Once it’s pounded to an even thickness, the chicken not only cooks faster but also tastes more tender and juicy.
Storage
Refrigerator: It’s best to eat the grilled chicken caesar salad when it’s fresh but if you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 1 or 2 days. You can also store some of the ingredients separately (like the chicken and dressing) to help them last longer.
Reheat: Quickly reheat the leftover chicken in a pan on the stove over medium heat or in the microwave before layering it on the salad. You could also eat it cold if you’d like!
More delicious salad recipes
If you made this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and star rating below. Thanks!
Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad
This delicious and filling Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad features my healthy caesar salad dressing, crunchy sourdough croutons, and juicy chicken breasts. Enjoy it as a filling lunch or side dish to serve with your other Italian-inspired favorites.
Servings:
Instructions
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If you haven’t already, make the homemade caesar dressing.
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Next, turn your broiler to HIGH. Cut the bread into cubes and place them on a baking sheet. Broil for 3 minutes, then remove them, flip them over and broil for 2-3 more minutes until the bread is slightly golden.
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Meanwhile, heat a grill pan (or nonstick skillet) over medium heat. Place the chicken onto a cutting board, place a piece of plastic wrap over top and pound the chicken to be even thickness. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
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Spray the pan with nonstick spray, then add the chicken smooth side down and cook for 6 minutes. Flip over and cook for 2-4 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Transfer chicken to a cutting board and slice.
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Place lettuce into a large bowl, then drizzle the caesar dressing overtop and toss to combine.
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Assemble the salad: distribute the lettuce into 2 bowls, then top with the chicken and croutons. Sprinkle with the parmesan cheese, drizzle with extra dressing and enjoy!
Notes
*Calories are per serving and are an estimation.
Nutrition
Serving: 1g | Calories: 663kcal | Carbohydrates: 236g | Protein: 103g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 162mg | Sodium: 3434mg | Potassium: 1386mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 203IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 451mg | Iron: 19mg
