Easy Caesar Salad Without Anchovies

This Caesar Salad is made without anchovies and you won’t believe how easy it is! Crisp romaine lettuce, croutons and fresh Parmesan cheese are all topped with a creamy homemade dressing that comes together in minutes. The easy homemade Caesar dressing recipe doesn’t include raw eggs, anchovies….or the need for a food processor! Whip this salad up on busy weeknights as a side for pasta dishes or top it with grilled chicken and make it a main dish!

Once you make this homemade Caesar salad, you will be craving it all the time! The dressing is made with simple ingredients and it’s perfectly balanced…not too garlicky, not too much acid, not too much mayo! And no food processor is required! Just whisk together the dressing ingredients and enjoy!

I did LOTS of testing on this dressing to get it just right and balanced and my family says it’s the BEST Caesar salad dressing! ….and they a tough critics, let me tell you!

This salad pairs perfectly with any pasta dish as well as soups and stews! If you want another quick and easy salad recipe, try this Spinach and Arugula Salad that comes together in 5 minutes!

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE

• This Caesar dressing contains no anchovies or raw eggs, but still has amazing flavor!
• The creamy Caesar dressing is a cinch to whip up–no food processor required!
• Add some grilled chicken and it’s a perfect light lunch or dinner.

RECIPE INGREDIENTS

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this easy Caesar Salad Without Anchovies:

INGREDIENT NOTES

Mayo: The easy Caesar dressing has a mayonnaise base, and I highly recommend REAL mayo vs. reduced fat.

Parmesan cheese: Finely grated Parmesan is what is used in the dressing. I also like shaving off strips of parmesan for the top of the salad.

HOW TO MAKE CAESAR SALAD WITHOUT ANCHOVIES: STEP BY STEP

Here are some quick visual instructions. Remember that full instructions with exact ingredients will be in the recipe card below!

Step 1: Whisk together all ingredients for the creamy dressing.

Step 2: In a large bowl, add romaine, croutons and Parmesan shavings (or grated/shredded Parmesan). Top with the dressing, toss and serve right away with lots of freshly ground black pepper.

RECIPE TIPS & TRICKS

• I like to refrigerate the dressing for an hour or more before serving. It’s not necessary, but I think it tastes better chilled. It also allows for all the flavors to marry.

• Use a vegetable peeler to shave fresh Parmesan cheese right over the top of the salad.

• Double or triple this recipe and take it to pot lucks and parties. It’s the EASIEST side dish and everyone will think you’re a hero for making homemade dressing!

⭐️ CONFIDENCE TIP ⭐️
If you have an extra few minutes, make this salad extra special and whip up your own homemade croutons! I love this super easy skillet recipe from Ina Garten. I think you’ll be surprised how easy it is!

HOW TO STORE

• Storage: Once the salad is tossed with the dressing, it doesn’t stay good for more than a hour or so. However, you can easily make the dressing ahead of time. The dressing will stay fresh in the fridge for up to a week in a airtight container or jar.

ADDITIONS AND SUBSTITUTIONS

Here are few additions you can try:

Tomatoes: I LOVE cherry tomatoes in my Caesar salad!

Olives: I have also seen some Caesar salads with olives, but it’s not traditional.

Here are a few substitutions you can make:

Greek Yogurt or Light Sour Cream: You can substitute both of these for the mayo if you insist on lightening things up, BUT you won’t get the same rich creamy taste if you don’t use mayo.

Worcestershire Sauce: Although this recipe does not include anchovies, Worcestershire sauce typically has some form of anchovies in it. If you have an allergy, you can substitute soy sauce for the Worcestershire sauce. It won’t be the exact same, but the soy sauce will give the dressing that deep, savory flavor it needs. 

Lettuce: Romaine is traditional and holds up well with the creamy Caesar salad dressing. However, sometimes I like adding in a little iceberg lettuce, too….for extra crunch!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS