As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
This healthy Caesar salad with homemade sourdough croutons is a lightened up, tasty twist on the original! Creamy, tangy, and irresistibly flavorful, this recipe swaps out the mayo and raw eggs for a homemade Greek yogurt dressing, cutting down on calories without skimping on taste. Upgrade your salad game with every delicious bite—it’s a quick and easy recipe you’ll want to make all the time!
Caesar Salad Recipe Like it? Save for later!
Ultimate Caesar Salad with Homemade Croutons
Caesar salad is a classic for a reason! The traditional Caesar salad dressing is such a blend of flavors: creamy, tangy, umami, and salty. It wakes up even the most humdrum piece of lettuce! All that flavor usually comes with a hefty caloric punch thanks to mayo, eggs, and lots of oil.
This healthy caesar salad with Greek yogurt Caesar dressing has the same iconic flavor, but with way less fat and much lower calories! It’s truly the best low fat Caesar salad you’ll ever try, and makes it way easier to fit your favorite salad into a healthier lifestyle.
Why We Love This Healthy Caesar Salad Recipe
Completely from scratch: Every single part of this healthier Caesar salad is completely homemade, including the creamy dressing and homemade sourdough croutons! This makes it easy to avoid any unnecessary thickeners, preservatives, gums, and more without compromising on flavor one bit!
Incredible flavor: First of all, if you’ve only ever made caesar salad with bottled dressing from the store, you’re in for a treat! This homemade dressing has so much more flavor. From the real Parmesan cheese to the lemon juice and freshly cracked black pepper, you’ll never want to bother with the store-bought stuff again!
So easy to make: This caesar salad without egg is seriously simple to prepare! The homemade Caesar dressing is shaken together in a jar, then drizzled over the salad. The homemade sourdough croutons require a few more steps, but they’re still pretty simple. You’ll be amazed at how easy it is to make homemade caesar salad from scratch any time, and you can easily make a larger batch to serve all week long!
Ingredient Notes
For the salad and dressing
Greek yogurt: To make this low calorie caesar salad, it’s important to use plain, low-fat or fat free Greek yogurt.
Anchovy paste: It’s tempting to skip this, but the anchovies add a salty, brininess that is essential to any classic caesar salad.
Garlic: A little freshly minced garlic adds a punch of flavor.
Fresh lemon juice: The lemon balances every other component. Fresh is best!
Worcestershire sauce: This adds a deep umami flavor.
Extra virgin olive oil: For a creamy, rich texture.
Parmigiano Reggiano cheese: Use some of the grated parmesan for the dressing and the rest to toss over the salad.
Salt & freshly cracked black pepper
Romaine lettuce: Rinse and chop the lettuce into bite-sized pieces.
For the homemade croutons
Rustic sourdough bread: Use either storebought or homemade bread. Feel free to use whole wheat sourdough for extra fiber.
Olive oil: This will saturate the bread to get that crunchy texture.
Seasonings: Season well with a mixture of garlic powder, fresh or dried parsley, salt & black pepper.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Homemade Croutons
1. Preheat oven to 375℉. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, or directly on the prepared sheet pan, toss the bread cubes with the olive oil and seasonings. Spread evenly in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 12-16 minutes, or until croutons are brown and crispy, flipping halfway through. Cool before serving.
Step 2: Mix up the Dressing
Add all of the dressing ingredients to a jar with a tight fitting lid, reserving 2 tablespoons of the parmesan cheese for sprinkling on the salad before serving. Shake vigorously.
Step 3: Assemble Salad and Serve!
When ready to serve, place the lettuce in a large mixing bowl. Spoon about half of the dressing onto the lettuce and toss gently until even coated. Top with the croutons and more parmesan cheese. Serve immediately with the reserved dressing.
Keep scrolling to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!
Expert Tips
Feel free to make extra dressing! The leftovers will last for approximately 4-5 days in the fridge, so you can serve it throughout the week.
For a really creamy dressing, blend the dressing with an immersion blender or food processor. It will break down the cheese and make it really luscious and smooth.
Feel free to make your croutons with your favorite type of bread. Stale bread is best!
I typically only sprinkle a few croutons onto each serving, so the croutons probably make closer to 8 servings (the nutritional information is based on 6 servings). You can use any extra croutons for other salads as well.
Recipe FAQs
Is caesar salad healthy?
That really depends on your definition of healthy! Caesar salad can certainly be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet, but it’s generally very high in fat and calories. Fortunately, this healthier version reduces the fat content while adding a little extra protein to make it less of a calorie bomb. Serve it with some protein and extra fiber to make it even more nourishing!
How do you make caesar salad dressing healthy?
Caesar salad is generally high in fats thanks to eggs, mayo, and a fair amount of oil. These fats are not necessarily bad for you, but the extra calories can add up especially if you pair them with high-carb foods like bread, pasta, and pizza. This version uses low fat Greek yogurt for a tangy, creamy flavor while also adding a little extra protein. It makes the entire dish much lower in fat and calories, so you can enjoy it more often!
Storage Guidelines
Once tossed, the salad is best when eaten within 1-2 hours. The croutons can sit out at room temperature, but the lettuce and dressing should be refrigerated and used within 3-4 days.
For meal prep, add the salad and croutons to an airtight container and store the dressing separately. Dress the salad right before serving for the best results.
Caesar Salad Add Ins
Caesar is a perfect side dish for a wide variety of meals, but you can easily make it a complete meal on its own!
To make low carb: The romaine and dressing are already pretty low carb on their own, but the croutons definitely aren’t! Look for baked parmesan chips at the store for a little crunch. You can also use a low-carb yogurt to reduce the carbs in the healthy caesar dressing.
Switch up the greens: Romaine is the traditional choice, but you can also make a kale Caesar salad with baby kale. Feel free to add other leafy greens as well like arugula or spinach!
Make healthy chicken caesar wraps: Spread out the dressed salad with pieces of diced chicken on a high fiber tortilla, and wrap like a burrito. Great for a quick lunch!
Doctor the dressing: There are some slight changes that can completely change the flavor of the dressing. Feel free to add a little Dijon mustard for an extra bite. You can even blend an avocado into the dressing to replace some of the olive oil! Pecorino romano and asiago are also great alternatives for parmesan.
Did you make this recipe? Scroll down to leave a star rating and review!
Course Appetizer, Side Dish
Healthy Caesar Salad Recipe with Homemade Croutons
Servings 6side salads
This healthy Caesar salad recipe is a tasty twist on the original! Creamy, tangy, and irresistibly flavorful, this recipe swaps out the mayo and raw eggs for a homemade Greek yogurt dressing, cutting down on calories without skimping on taste. Upgrade your salad game with every delicious bite—it’s a quick and easy recipe you’ll want to make all the time!
Preheat oven to 375℉. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, or directly on the prepared sheet pan, toss the bread cubes with the olive oil and seasonings. Spread evenly on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 12-16 minutes, or until croutons are brown and crispy, flipping halfway through. Cool before serving.
Add all of the dressing ingredients to a jar with a tight fitting lid, reserving 2 tablespoons of the parmesan cheese for sprinkling on the salad before serving. Shake vigorously. Place in the refrigerator to chill. Keep lettuce in the refrigerator until ready to assemble.
When ready to serve, place the lettuce in a large mixing bowl. Spoon about half of the dressing onto the lettuce and toss gently until even coated. Top with the croutons and reserved parmesan cheese. Serve immediately with the reserved dressing.
Notes
For easy meal prep, make extra dressing! The leftovers will last for approximately 4-5 days in the fridge, so you can serve it throughout the week.
For a really creamy dressing, blend the dressing with an immersion blender or food processor. It will break down the cheese and make it really luscious and smooth.
Feel free to make your croutons with your favorite type of bread. Stale bread is best!
I typically only sprinkle a few croutons onto each serving, so the croutons probably make closer to 8 servings (the nutritional information is based on 6 servings). You can use any extra croutons for other salads as well.
A food-loving Dietitian, recipe developer, food photographer and fitness fanatic. I’m on a mission to make healthy eating simple, fun and delicious! Here you’ll find a collection of easy and healthy recipes perfect for the whole family!
Leave a Reply