Chicken Caesar Salad

A Chicken Caesar Salad is a delicious, high protein meal packed full of fresh lettuce and romaine topped with zesty grilled chicken and smothered in Caesar dressing. It can be consumed as dinner or lunch dish, is perfect as a side dish or as a main course. Here is an actual, real recipe that encompasses the particulars of how to prepare Chicken Caesar Salad and the many possible alterations one is able to make in order to craft the ideal Chicken Caesar Salad.

How to Make Chicken Caesar Salad

Variations for Chicken Caesar Salad:

Variations for Chicken Caesar Salad:
• Grilled Shrimp Caesar Salad: Replace the chicken for prepared grilled shrimp to make it more seafood influenced.
• Vegetarian Caesar Salad: To make it vegetarian serve the chicken with grilled tofu or chickpeas instead of the chicken.
• Add Bacon: In for a smoky, crispy that you need you can try to add crumbled bacon or even pancetta.
• Lighter Version: Offer him fat free cooking by using Neos instead of mayonnaise.

Tips for the Perfect Chicken Caesar Salad

• Grilled vs. Pan-Seared Chicken: Both ways produce tasty outcomes, however grilling produces a rather smoky taste while pan searing makes the chicken tender and slightly burnt on the outside.
• Homemade Croutons: You can even make homemade croutons; they cut a loaf of bread into cubes, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with garlic powder, and seasoning, then bake to crispy.
• Creamy or Lighter Dressing: It’s possible to control the level of creaminess of the dressing to a level that will suite your taste. If you want the recipe to be a little less heavy on the calories, just use less mayonnaise here or replace it with Greek yogurt.

This vibrant, refreshing Caesar salad with homemade crunchy croutons and tender grilled chicken has been my go-to dish lately. While it’s great that the weather is finally warming up enough to use the grill, I’ll still use a grill pan for these chicken breasts when snow hits in April here in Chicago.

packaged croutons or dressing could , still; nothing is as delicious as making them at home. Served immediately with freshly baked and slightly garlic-tasting croutons and a really delicious and freshly made dressing which is not too heavy, not too creamy makes the difference.

Furthermore, I haven’t used the egg yolks or anchovies in this recipe, but if you would like to, you can include them. If you don’t like white meat, use chicken thighs instead. The best part? All the ingredients can be prepared before hand making this a quick and effortless meal for those crowded week nights.

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR SUCCESS

• Use an instant-read thermometer for your results to be accurate.. The internal temperature of the chicken should be good for you to know whether it has been cooked or not and this should read 165 °F.
  • Let your meat rest. Finally let the chicken to stand for roughly 5 minutes before you proceed to serve it. It also percolates the juices and makes it sound like a succulent piece of meat on the outside as well.• You never uses store bought croutons.ate results. The chicken’s internal temperature should reach 165°F to ensure it’s fully cooked.
  • Let your meat rest. Allow the chicken to rest for at least 5 minutes before serving. This helps the juices redistribute, making the meat more flavorful and juicy.
  • Homemade croutons make all the difference. Although it is realistic to buy croutons at the store, homemade ones are crunchy and crispy, for which the salad gains an extra gourmet.
  • Swap the protein. So if chicken is not your cup of tea, you can grill the shrimps and have it with the vegetables or you can use any protein ingredient of your choice and prepare the same vegetable sauté.• Adding of dressing should be done at the final stages.accurate results. The chicken’s internal temperature should reach 165°F to ensure it’s fully cooked.
  • Let your meat rest. Allow the chicken to rest for at least 5 minutes before serving. This helps the juices redistribute, making the meat more flavorful and juicy.
  • Homemade croutons make all the difference. While store-bought croutons are convenient, homemade croutons are crispy, crunchy, and perfectly seasoned, adding a special touch to the salad.
  • Swap the protein. If chicken isn’t your preference, try sautéed shrimp or any other protein you like to customize the dish to your taste.
  • Add the dressing just before serving. Lastly to make the salad look appetizing the dressing should be mixed at the time of eating and not before to prevent the lettuce from going soggy.

Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Chicken Caesar Salad

Recipe by barunkhatua

0.0 from 0 votes

Course: Chicken Recipes, Dinner, Healthy Recipes, Low-Calorie Dinners, Meals, Non-Vegetarian Recipes, Quick u0026amp; Easy, Quick u0026amp; Easy Meals

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

2

hours 

20

minutes

Cooking time

10

minutes

Calories

550

kcal

Total time

2

hours 

30

minutes

Truly the BEST Caesar salad ever! Packed with crispy, perfectly seasoned croutons, juicy grilled chicken, and a simple yet flavorful homemade dressing.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons Extra-virgin olive oil (for croutons)

• 2 tablespoons Fresh parsley, chopped

• 1 clove Garlic, grated (for croutons)

• To taste – Kosher salt and black pepper

• 4 cups Ciabatta bread, cubed

• FOR THE CHICKEN

• 3 tablespoons Extra-virgin olive oil (for chicken)

• 2 tablespoons Lemon juice, freshly squeezed

• 2 teaspoons Lemon zest

• 1 clove Garlic, grated (for chicken)

• 1.5 pounds Boneless, skinless chicken breasts

• 1/4 cup Mayonnaise

• FOR THE DRESSING

• 1/4 cup Buttermilk

• 3 tablespoons Parmesan, freshly grated (for dressing)

• 1 clove Garlic, grated (for dressing)

• 1 tablespoon Lemon juice, freshly squeezed (for dressing)

• 1.5 teaspoons Dijon mustard

• 1.5 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

• 2 heads Romaine lettuce, chopped

• 1/4 cup Parmesan, freshly grated (for salad)

• EQUIPMENT

• Baking Sheet

• Cast Iron Grill Pan

Directions

• FOR THE CROUTONS
• 1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. In a small bowl, shake together olive oil, parsley and garlic. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  3. tLay the ciabatta bread cubes in a single layer on a sheet of aluminum foil. Combine with olive oil mixture and toss bread with coating.
  4. Bake for 13-15 minutes or until browned. Let cool.
• FOR THE CHICKEN
• 1. Combine olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a small mixing bowl.
  2. Marinate place as chicken and the marinade in a large Ziploc bag or bowl, well covering the chicken completely. Allow marinating for a minimum of 2 hours turning every now and then.
  3. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
  4. Remove the chicken from the marinade and grill for about 4-5 minutes on each side or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165F.
  5. Allow chicken to rest for about 5 minutes before dicing into bite-sized pieces.
• FOR THE DRESSING
• 1. In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, buttermilk, Parmesan, garlic, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce.
  2. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• FOR THE SALAD
• 1. In a great bowl combine chopped romaine, grilled chicken, and croutons.
  2. Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss to combine.
  3. Top with freshly grated Parmesan and serve immediately.
  Enjoy your fresh and flavorful Chicken Caesar Salad!

Notes

• How to prepare croutons, season the chicken, prepare the dressing, toss the salad, customize it according to your choice, and store it properly.
  Croutons:
  1. Use yesterday’s bread-it makes the best croutons, crunchiest and most flavored. Ciabatta would be a great choice, but sourdough or rustic bread are alternate replacements.
  2. Make sure to coat all sides of your cubes in the olive oil mixture to make perfect seasoning possible.
  Chicken:
  1. Marinate the chicken for at least 2 hours to really get flavor into it; marinate overnight for even greater results.
  2. Use a meat thermometer: 165°F (74°C) internal for juiciness.
  3. For more flavor, grill over charcoal or add a bit of smoked paprika to the marinade.
  Dressing:
  1. It uses fresh grated Parmesan cheese to hit that richness and dessert authenticity, like magic.
  2. Adjustment of the consistency of dressing can be made by adding a little water or buttermilk if required.
  3. Leftover dressing can be kept in an airtight container and stored in the refrigerator for a maximum of 3 days.
  Salad:
  1. Assemble the salad just before serving so it remains fresh and does not wilt.
  2. For a twist, add toppings like cherry tomatoes, crispy bacon, or slices of avocado.
  Personalization:
  1. You can use other proteins, like shrimp, salmon, or tofu, instead of chicken.
  2. Croutons can be made gluten-free by using gluten-free bread.
  Storage:
  Leftover salad should be stored separately. Croutons should go into an airtight container, while chicken goes into the refrigerator for 3 days maximum.