This creamy Caesar salad dressing uses simple pantry staples like mayo, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, fresh garlic, and parmesan cheese to create a delicious, restaurant-quality dressing in just minutes. Perfect for whipping up on busy weeknights or when you don't feel like cooking!
There’s something about a classic Caesar salad that feels like pure comfort—crisp romaine lettuce, crunchy homemade croutons, and that rich, umami-packed creamy Caesar dressing that clings to every bite. If you’ve been relying on store-bought mayonnaise-based Caesar dressings, let me show you how easy it is to make an easy homemade Caesar dressing recipe that’s even better!
Whether you prefer a store-bought mayo or a homemade mayonnaise, this easy Caesar dressing is packed with bold flavors and is perfect for drizzling over your favorite salad greens, as a pizza sauce, or as a dip.
Let’s dive into this homemade dressing that will have you tossing out your bottled versions for good!
Why You’ll Love This Homemade Caesar Dressing
✔ Rich, Creamy, and Flavorful – Thanks to anchovy paste, raw garlic, and Worcestershire sauce this dressing is bursting with umami flavor.
✔ Better than Store-Bought – You control the quality of ingredients.
✔ Quick + Easy Recipe – Made in under 3 minutes using a bowl and whisk or fork!
✔ Customizable – Use whole anchovies for a bolder anchovy flavor or try fish sauce as a substitute. Use mashed capers if you're not an anchovy fan like I do in this Caesar dressing without anchovies.
✔ Perfect for a Medically Restrictive Diet – You control the ingredients to fit your personal consumption needs.
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Ingredients You'll Need for this Quick and Easy Caesar Salad Dressing
- good quality mayonnaise (best foods, hellman's or dukes.)
- fresh garlic (grated on a microplane or minced)
- anchovy paste (or 1 anchovy fillet, mashed). If you don't like anchovies you can use ½ teaspoon of mashed capers instead.
- fresh lemon juice bottled works too!
- Dijon mustard smooth, like Grey Poupon
- Worcestershire sauce
- finely grated parmesan cheese
- olive oil (preferably extra-virgin olive oil)
- freshly cracked black pepper
- milk (or water)
How to Make Creamy Caesar Dressing
- Place all ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.
- Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Store in an airtight container or mason jar for up to 1 week.
How to Use This Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing
- Toss with crisp romaine lettuce, Parmesan cheese, and croutons for a classic Caesar salad.
- Drizzle over grilled chicken or roasted vegetables.
- Use as a dip for raw veggies.
- Spread on sandwiches for a rich flavor boost.
- Use as a sauce for pizza or a quick weeknight chicken Caesar flatbread pizza.
- Make a chopped chicken Caesar wrap for a quick lunch or light dinner.
Storage Tips
- Store in a mason jar or an airtight container in the fridge.
- Use within 7 days.
Recipe
Homemade Creamy Mayo Caesar Dressing (Quick + Easy!)
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*Easily adjust serving size to your liking by clicking the number under servings or with the boxes below in the ingredients section.
Ingredients
- ½ cup good quality mayonnaise such as Hellman's Best Foods or Dukes
- 1 teaspoon smooth Dijon mustard Grey Poupon or similar
- ¼ teaspoon anchovy paste or 1 mashed anchovy. Replace with ½ teaspoon of capers if preferred.
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespooon milk plus more to thin if needed
- 1 small clove fresh garlic grated with a microplane or minced
- 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese preferably freshly grated on a microplane
- couple cracks freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin
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Instructions
- In a bowl, whisk together the first seven ingredients until smooth. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, black pepper, and olive oil until combined. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
- Store in a mason jar or an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days.
Lenord Croft
what is milk plus?
what is a couple cracks
Suzie J.
Hi Lenord, There is no milk plus ingredient. It's milk with notes indicating 'plus more to thin as needed' next to the ingredient. A couple cracks refers to about 2 grinds of freshly cracked black pepper. Of course you can always use a small pinch of ground black pepper if that's what you have. There's no set amount, so you can adjust to taste. Hopefully, this helps! Suzie