Easy Caesar Dressing
This easy Caesar dressing recipe yields classic Caesar flavor. This simple mayonnaise-based recipe is ready in 5 minutes (anchovy-free!).
Updated by Kathryne Taylor on August 27, 2024
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This Caesar dressing really hits the spot. You know I love vinaigrettes, but sometimes only a creamy dressing will do. I’ve been feeling sentimental lately and decided to satisfy my craving for the classic Caesar salad.
This Caesar salad dressing requires just a few pantry ingredients. Stir them together while you bake up some croutons, and you’re ready to enjoy top-notch restaurant-quality Caesar salads at home.
Compared to other Caesar dressing recipes, this dressing is remarkably simple to make. We’ll start with a base of mayonnaise, which is easier than emulsifying oil and egg, not to mention foolproof.
This Caesar dressing is anchovy-free, which makes it suitable for vegetarians like me and anyone with a shellfish allergy. (Technically, anchovies are fish, but they are likely to cause reactions in those with shellfish allergies.) It will also appeal to anyone who is sensitive to anchovy flavor. This dressing offers bold, classic Caesar flavor, without the anchovies!
Watch How to Make Caesar Dressing
Caesar Salad Dressing Ingredients
To make this Caesar dressing, we’ll simply stir together the following:
Mayonnaise
Some Caesar dressing recipes call for oil and egg yolk, which turn into mayonnaise during the process of making the recipe. We’re taking the easy route and starting with store-bought mayonnaise. You’ll find an array of mayonnaise options at well-stocked grocery stores these days—I prefer organic options made with olive or avocado oil.
Garlic
Just one clove of garlic will do the trick. Use a garlic press or mince it finely by hand.
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is one of several tangy ingredients in this dressing, so we only need a couple of teaspoons (one lemon will be more than plenty).
Dijon Mustard
Dijon mustard lends some key flavoring to Caesar dressing. You probably won’t discern it in the final product, but it makes a big difference.
Worcestershire Sauce
Just a small amount of Worcestershire sauce makes this Caesar dressing taste complete! Worcestershire sauce offers loads of rich umami flavor that makes this dressing taste complex and irresistible. In the absence of anchovies, Worcestershire sauce is absolutely key.
Anchovy/dietary note: If you are vegetarian or allergic to shellfish, choose your Worcestershire sauce carefully. Traditional Worcestershire sauce contains anchovies, but several brands make anchovy-free Worcestershires (Wizard’s, Annie’s and Whole Foods 365 come to mind). Also note that these sauces typically introduce soy, if that is relevant to you.
Parmesan Cheese
Parmesan ups the ante with additional salty, umami flavor and a rich, cheesy texture. Finely grated Parmesan is best here. Vegetarians, try Whole Foods 365 or BelGioioso brands of Parmesan, which are truly vegetarian (most Parmesans contain animal rennet).
Salt, Pepper & Water
Since several of the ingredients in this recipe are already salty, we won’t add much additional salt. We will, however, load up this dressing with black pepper, to taste! Lastly, we’ll thin the dressing with a tablespoon of water so it reaches a drizzly consistency.
Looking for a dairy free/vegan variation of this dressing? You will love the Tahini Kale Caesar Salad with Whole-Grain Croutons in my cookbook, Love Real Food (page 72). The tahini-based dressing is vegan as written and remarkably Caesar-like! You’ll find a nutritional yeast substitute for the Parmesan garnish in the recipe notes.
More Salad Dressings to Try
Here are just a few of my favorite salad dressings:
Please let me know how your Caesar dressing turns out in the comments! I love hearing from you.
Easy Caesar Dressing
This easy Caesar dressing recipe yields classic Caesar flavor. This simple mayonnaise-based recipe is anchovy-free as long as you choose your Worcestershire sauce carefully (see recipe note). Recipe yields about ¾ cup, enough for 6 side salads (use 10 ounces romaine lettuce).
Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 medium garlic clove, minced
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice, to taste
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce*, to taste
- ⅛ teaspoon fine salt
- ⅓ cup (1 ounce) finely grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon water
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a liquid measuring cup or bowl, combine the mayonnaise, garlic, lemon juice, Dijon, and Worcestershire sauce, and salt. Stir to combine.
- Stir in the Parmesan, followed by the water. Season generously with black pepper, to taste. I usually think the dressing tastes just right, but if you’d prefer a more bold dressing, add another ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, or for more zippy dressing, add up to 1 teaspoon additional lemon juice. Serve as desired.
Notes
Storage suggestions: Leftover dressing will keep well in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 5 days.
*Worcestershire note: To ensure that this salad dressing is vegetarian/fish-free, choose your Worcestershire sauce carefully, as most contain anchovies. I like Annie’s, The Wizards or Whole Foods 365 brands (note that some anchovy-free Worcestershire sauces contain soy).
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. See our full nutrition disclosure here.
Loved it thanks! Keeps well
This stole the show at dinner! I made it with your crouton recipe. Amazing!!
easy! delicious! made it in a mason jar- thanks for k the recipe!
DELICIOUS!! It is so perfect. I will never buy dressing again. I made this twice before coming to leave a review. I felt I had to let everyone know how delicious and easy it is!! Thanks!!
Made this and loved it! So much better than any store bought. Family loved it as well!
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I just made this tonight to put on cold chicken wraps. Delicious!!
Can the leftover dressing be frozen?
I’m not sure how that would change the consistency once thawed. If you try it, let me know!
Anchovy is not a shellfish so people with such allergies need not be concerned. I like your recipe and did add a couple of anchovies for that special “je ne sais quoi
Yum! Prefect.
FYI- Assuming you and most of your readers are probably using Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce (the most popular brand on the market), that would make this dressing actually not vegetarian/vegan. Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce is made from fermented anchovies, and has been since 1837. There are some other brands that do not contain anchovies or fish products, but authentic Worcestershire is made from fermented/aged anchovies. Just thought you should be aware……
Kate points out the vegetarian brands we all know and love
This dressing was great – we didnt really think it was caesar though …. super easy and good. Not sure what i did different, maybe??
Hi Laura, You can always try to think out with some water.
Love this recipe. It’s my go to for making Caesar salad dressing. Never buy store made
Ok , my sister and I are HUGE Caesar dressing connoisseur’s. We have tried and tested about 13 different recipes. Hands down your recipe won! It is officially the family go to recipe… Thanks Cookie and Kate :)
Love this simple recipe. I had everything on hand. Thank you
You’re welcome, Denise!
Amazing! Thank you! I didn’t have actual anchovies but I did have fish sauce, first ingredient is anchovies, it’s so good. And I like that I can amp up the garlic if I want. Also had minced garlic in a jar not fresh, but it worked great. Never buying expensive Caesar dressing again. I make my own mayonnaise too, so this works out so well.
This is the BEST dressing…easy & tasty. I’m now asked to prepare Caesar salad for every family & church event where salad is expected. This dressing along with my homemade croutons is always a hit. THANKS for sharing!
Great recipe. I used half Greek yoghurt and half Mayo and added more lemon juice and black pepper. I can’t buy readymade Caesar salad dressing in Austria so this is wonderful. Will definitely use again. I will also try swapping out the Parmesan for avocado for a green goddess. Thanks for a great basic creamy dressing
The best Cesar dressing! Thank you!
You’re welcome, Jen!
excellent, everyone loved it, thank you!
With the cost of salad dressings…this was a pleasant find!
Thank you!
You’re welcome, Trudy!
Made the Caesar salad dressing today in order to make chicken Caesar wraps for lunch. Super easy and so tasty! Added the dressing to some chopped romaine lettuce and croutons. Wish I had had some BIG wraps but the small tortillas tasted good too!
Great to hear, Debbe!
Ok, so , Im not a big salad person….but had a bag of fresh spinach to start using up.
I made this recipe, for my spinach salad….did nothing different except a light sprinkle of black truffle salt. Oh and didnt add water…Im a saucy gal :) .
Wow so damn good!!!
Mashed spuds and Salisbury steak went to the wayside….lol…not normal for me!!
Thank you for this great dressing!!!! Its not just for Caesar salad!!!
Forgot to rate this yummy dressing!!!
Thank you, Carrie!