Romaine Caesar Bowl (Printable)

Fresh romaine with creamy Caesar dressing, crispy croutons, and protein for a hearty meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salad

01 - 2 large heads romaine lettuce, washed, dried, and chopped
02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1/2 cup shaved Parmesan cheese

→ Croutons

04 - 3 cups day-old bread, cubed
05 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
06 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
07 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Protein

09 - 2 grilled chicken breasts, sliced (or 1 can chickpeas, drained and roasted, or 8 ounces grilled shrimp)

→ Caesar Dressing

10 - 1/4 cup mayonnaise
11 - 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
12 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
13 - 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
14 - 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
15 - 1 garlic clove, minced
16 - 2 anchovy fillets, finely minced
17 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
18 - Salt and black pepper to taste

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Toss bread cubes with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Spread on a baking sheet and bake for 8 to 10 minutes until golden and crisp. Cool completely before use.
02 - In a bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, minced garlic, anchovy fillets, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper until smooth and well combined.
03 - Choose one preparation method: grill chicken breasts until cooked through and slice into strips; or toss drained chickpeas with olive oil, salt, and pepper, then roast at 400°F for 20 minutes; or grill shrimp until just cooked through.
04 - In a large bowl, toss chopped romaine lettuce with half of the Caesar dressing. Add cherry tomatoes and shaved Parmesan cheese, mixing gently to combine.
05 - Top the salad with prepared croutons, cooked protein of choice, and drizzle with remaining dressing. Serve immediately while croutons remain crisp.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You control the dressing, so it's never watered down or overly fishy, just crisp, creamy, and exactly what you want.
  • Homemade croutons stay crunchy way longer than store-bought ones, and they make the whole kitchen smell incredible while baking.
  • It's flexible enough to work whether you're vegetarian, feeding a crowd, or just throwing together dinner for one.
02 -
  • Don't dress the entire salad with all the dressing at once, or it will wilt and get soggy within minutes; always hold back about a quarter of it to drizzle on top just before serving.
  • The dressing tastes better the next day after the flavors have gotten to know each other, but the croutons need to go in fresh or they'll soften up.
03 -
  • Chill your salad bowl in the freezer for five minutes before assembling so the lettuce stays crisp longer and the dressing doesn't immediately warm it up.
  • Don't throw away that last bit of dressing clinging to the bottom of the bowl; it's perfect for dipping bread, drizzling over roasted vegetables, or eating with a spoon when you think nobody's looking.
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