This is the BEST Creamy Caesar Salad Dressing you’ll ever taste! We use a secret ingredient to make our dressing stand out from the rest! When you serve this caesar salad, people are going to be asking for the recipe. It’s creamy, tangy, garlicky and only takes 5 minutes to make!
Creamy Caesar Dressing Recipe
Although we do buy lots of store bought products, salad dressing usually isn’t one of them. I’m telling you, we’ve gone through so many and most just aren’t good. There are, of course some exceptions to the rule, we have our standards that we always have on hand in the fridge.
Homemade salad dressing like this Creamy Caesar Dressing just tastes SO much better than store bought. Every single time. And because it only takes 5 minutes to whisk together, it’s really a no brainer.
This dressing also keeps for a good week in the refrigerator, so go ahead and make a double batch if you need to. It’s going to be gone in a flash!
Ingredients For Creamy Caesar Dressing
The ingredients for our creamy Caesar dressing are pretty much what you’d expect, except for one ingredient that makes it better than the rest. A splash of balsamic vinegar give this dressing another level of tanginess and a depth of flavor that you can’t quite put your finger on.
I can promise you that everyone you make this dressing for is going to be asking you for the recipe!
- Mayonnaise: Regular, full fat mayo is what makes this dressing taste the best.
- Balsamic Vinegar: A tablespoon of balsamic vinegar balances out the rich, creamy feel of the dressing and adds a distinct flavor.
- Anchovy Paste: Anchovy paste can usually be found by the olive oils and vinegars at the grocery store. It comes in a tube like you see below and lasts a really long time in the refrigerator.
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Parmesan Cheese: Use a good quality parmesan cheese, one that’s flavorful and nutty. Preferable not packaged in a can.
- Dijon Mustard
- Fresh Lemon Juice: Adds acidity and flavor, also balances out the creaminess.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic works best.
- Milk: A couple of tablespoons of milk to thin out the dressing.
How To Make Homemade Creamy Caesar Dressing
It couldn’t be easier to make this homemade Caesar dressing. Which is another reason why you should make it from scratch. All you have to do is add all the ingredients to a bowl and whisk together until smooth.
Taste the dressing to see if the flavors are to your liking before drizzling it over your salad. You might want more lemon juice, you might want more garlic…it’s totally up to you. We often add more fresh black pepper, and then more fresh black pepper.
What Makes This Homemade Dressing So Good?
A few simple ingredients is all you need to make this dressing, with one ingredient that we think kicks up the flavor. Whenever you’re making a recipe like a homemade salad dressing that only has a few ingredients, you have to make sure all your ingredients are good quality.
So don’t buy that can of parmesan cheese for this recipe, get the good stuff in your produce department. Or better yet, grab a block of good parmesan cheese in the cheese section and grate it yourself.
And don’t forget to taste and adjust the flavors to your liking. Tasting the dressing before you toss the salad allows you to adjust the seasonings if needed. Don’t forget to add shaved parmesan cheese on top for even more flavor!
What Can I Add To This Caesar Salad Recipe?
To turn this Caesar Salad into a meal, if a meal for you requires a protein, there are many ingredients that you can add!
- Chicken: Use leftover chicken or grill up some of our favorite marinated chicken to add to this Caesar salad.
- Steak: If you’re lucky enough to have leftover grilled steak, steak goes perfectly with this creamy Caesar dressing!
- Shrimp: Grilled or roasted shrimp, even spicy buffalo shrimp will add a delicious flavor to this salad.
- Bacon: Because, bacon.
- Chick peas, other vegetables, white beans, pickled onions, avocado, etc: If you’re still looking to add some heartiness to this Caesar salad but keep it vegetarian, these are all good choices.
Others Ways To Use Caesar Salad Dressing
Not only does this dressing make an unbelievable Caesar Salad, it’s also delicious used in so many different ways. Slather it on a sandwich or wrap, use it in a pasta salad or as a dip for veggies!
We use this dressing in recipes like our Chicken Caesar Salad Bruschetta which is so tasty for appetizers or even a light lunch. It’s also delicious used as a dip for chicken wings, especially our Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings or these Crispy Baked Chicken Wings.
What Dinner Recipes Go With Caesar Salad?
- Dan’s Famous Whiskey Steak
- Our Favorite Meatloaf
- Classic Lasagna Recipe
- Beef Stuffed Shells
- Ultimate Chicken Marsala
Creamy Caesar Dressing
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 1/2 cups 1x
Our Creamy Caesar Dressing beats any store bought salad dressing and it is SO easy to make just 5 minutes and this homemade dressing is done!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, plus more for topping
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1–2 tablespoons of lemon juice (we recommend that you start with one and then add more after tasting)
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1–2 teaspoons anchovy paste (we use 2)
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 3/4 –1 teaspoon kosher salt (we use 1 teaspoon)
- Fresh ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a bowl and whisk until smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.
- Store in a covered container for up to a week in the refrigerator.
Recipe Notes
Store: Store the dressing in an air tight container for up to 1 week in the refrigerator. Whisk again before using.
- Category: Marinades & Sauces
- Method: Stir
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: homemade caesar dressing, homemade salad dressing, caesar dressing recipe, how to make caesar dressing, dressing recipes
We make this dressing all the time, going to try this on Thanksgiving this year!
★★★★★
This is THE BEST Caesar Dressing ever! I love Caesar Salad and can never replicate the dressing to my satisfaction. This one does it! Thank you!
★★★★★
Thanks so much Debra, we make this all the time!
Allergic to mustard. What can I use as a substitute or just leave out????
Just leave it out.
I admit, I was skeptical about trying a recipe with so few reviews. I’m so glad I did. Gotta start somewhere, right!
I love this recipe!!
★★★★★
Would you use a white balsamic or dark? Also, is fresh garlic ok or is the paste better to use? Thanks
You can use either, we use regular (dark) balsamic vinegar. Also either garlic will work great, we also use both!