Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad is the most flavorful and fun version of the classic salad recipe. Add juicy grilled chicken and grill up the romaine lettuce for more texture. The creamy, homemade caesar dressing tops it all off perfectly. Serve it as a main, side, or appetizer!
Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad
This grilled chicken Caesar salad is a recipe you’ll love having in your rotation. It’s easy, packed with flavor, and you’ll be making it again and again.
This version of the classic Caesar salad adds grilled chicken and grilled romaine to create something new. Grilling adds so much more flavor and texture to this salad. You’ll love it!
It still has a tasty, creamy dressing and crunchy croutons to top it off too. This grilled Caesar salad with chicken makes a great main dish for a healthy summer lunch. Or just dress up your starter before dinner!
Why You’ll Love this Grilled Caesar Salad Recipe:
- Classic but Better!: Take a classic salad recipe and make it better! There’s so much more texture and flavor in this version.
- Juicy Grilled Chicken: Adding grilled chicken to a caesar salad means you can make this a whole meal, or at least a more hearty starter.
- Easy to Make: This salad is still so simple to make, and the extra step of grilling makes all the difference!
Make chicken caesar salad on the grill to accompany all your favorite summertime dishes! It pairs well with the fanciest dishes, as well as the more casual ones.
Ingredients
The usual caesar salad has 3 main parts (lettuce, dressing, croutons), but we’re adding a couple extra things (and some cooking) here to create the most delicious version of this dish you’ll ever try!
- Letter: Use hearts of romaine lettuce, and grill it!
- Chicken: Grilled chicken adds protein to make a fuller meal.
- Dressing room: The creamy caesar salad dressing is filled with anchovy, egg, garlic, and more. It’s packed with flavor!
- Croutons: You can make homemade croutons, or just buy some at the store.
How to Make Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad
Be sure to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!
- Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat.
- Brush the romaine with olive oil and place on the grill. Cook until slightly charred.
- Combine chicken ingredients in a large bowl, tossing to combine. Then grill until fully cooked. Rest for 5 minutes, then cut into slices.
- Add all dressing ingredients to a blender and mix on high speed until smooth and emulsified. The dressing will be thick and creamy.
- Serve each romaine heart topped with grilled chicken, shaved parmesan, Caesar dressing, and croutons.
Grilling Chicken for Caesar Salad
Not only are we adding chicken to this caesar salad, but we’re grilling it first! This gives you juicy, flavorful, well-textured chicken.
You can do this on your outdoor grill, or use a grill pan to make it indoors. Toss it up with some oil and Italian seasoning, then grill to cook. It should only need 5 minutes per side, then let it rest.
I like to cut it into thin slices to serve with the salad, but you could also cut it into cubes, dice it, or shred it.
Although this isn’t traditionally the lightest salad (mostly due to the dressing), it’s still a pretty healthy recipe overall. A mix of lettuce and grilled chicken means you’ll have protein and nutrients, so it’s great for a light lunch.
This is best if prepared and eaten fresh. But you can make the dressing ahead of time and keep it in the fridge. The chicken can be grilled ahead of time as well, then reheated or served cold.
It’s a mix of egg yolks, anchovies, garlic, lemon juice, dijon mustard, oil, parmesan, salt and pepper. It’s super creamy, savory, and flavorful.
Serving Suggestions
I love how versatile this grilled chicken caesar salad is! I make it all the time, because it works as a starter before dinner, a side dish, or even as a meal on its own. Serve it as a simple lunch with soup or bread!
As an app or side, it pairs well with the fanciest of dinners, or the more casual dishes. Try it with your favorite pasta recipes, burgers, or sandwiches.
Recipe Tips and Notes
- Use an outdoor grill, or a grill pan to cook indoors.
- Use organic / free range chicken that has been raised without antibiotics.
- If you don’t have a blender to make the dressing, chop up the ingredients as finely as you can and mix well using a whisk.
- You can also bake chicken in the oven, and briefly broil or saute the greens to brown them.
- To make sure the romaine doesn’t stick to the grill grates, be sure to brush the cut side with olive oil and closely monitor to make sure they don’t begin to burn.
Why make caesar salad on the grill?
Making salad on the grill? Hear me out! Grilling adds such a wonderful smoky flavor to this classic salad.
Grilled chicken adds more protein and flavor to a caesar salad. And grilling the romaine hearts creates a delightfully crispy texture to your greens.
You’ll be making this version every summer, along with your other grilled favorites.
What kind of chicken should I use?
You can use breast or thighs for this grilled chicken caesar salad, but I definitely recommend using skinless, boneless options.
Chicken breast creates a lighter, healthier salad overall. While chicken thighs will add more juicy, rich flavor.
This grilled chicken caesar salad recipe is so packed with flavor, you’ll be making it every change you get. It’s the perfect thing to pair with pasta and Italian dishes, or to eat as a quick meal on it’s own.
If you’ve made this recipe, please be sure to let us know by leaving a star rating or a comment below. Enjoy!
Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad
Grilled chicken Casear salad is the most flavorful and fun version of the classic salad recipe. Add juicy grilled chicken, and grill up the romaine lettuce for more texture. The creamy, homemade caesar dressing tops it all off perfectly. Serve it as a main, side, or appetizer!
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 35 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Instructions
-
Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat.
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Brush the cut sides of the romaine with olive oil and place the cut sides on the grill. Cook for 3-5 minutes until slightly charred.
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Combine chicken ingredients in a large bowl, tossing to combine. Grill for 5 minutes per side until fully cooked. Rest for 5 minutes, then cut into slices.
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Add all dressing ingredients to a blender and mix on high speed until smooth and emulsified. The dressing will be thick and creamy.
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Serve each romaine heart topped with grilled chicken, shaved parmesan, Caesar dressing, and croutons.
Ratings
- Use an outdoor grill, or a grill pan to cook indoors.
- If you don’t have a blender to make the dressing, chop up the ingredients as finely as you can and mix well using a whisk.
- You can also bake chicken in the oven, and briefly broil or saute the greens to brown them.
- To make sure the romaine doesn’t stick to the grill grates, be sure to brush the cut side with olive oil and closely monitor to make sure they don’t begin to burn.
Nutrition Facts
Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad
Amount Per Serving
calories 348
Calories from Fat 216
%Daily Value*
fat 24g37%
Saturated Fat 11g69%
Cholesterol 148mg49%
Sodium 667mg29%
Potassium 332mg9%
Carbohydrates 5g2%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
protein 27g54%
Vitamin A 1360IU27%
Vitamin C 2.6mg3%
Calcium 126mg13%
Iron 1.6mg9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
