This homemade Caesar Dressing recipe is so easy to make. With just a handful of ingredients, you’ll create a creamy homemade Caesar dressing that is better than store-bought or restaurant versions. And guess what? The anchovies are optional.
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Caesar Dressing Video
Watch Natasha make this homemade Caesar dressing. Don’t blink, because it’s so simple to make and comes together quickly. You’ll make this Caesar dressing again and again once you see how easy it is.
Caesar Dressing Recipe
It’s surprisingly easy to make your own dressings like Homemade Ranch Dressing, Lemon Vinaigrette or Italian Dressing from scratch, and creamy Caesar dressing is no exception.
Use this creamy dressing to make a Classic Caesar Salad, tossed with crisp romaine lettuce, and Homemade Croutons. Sure, you could buy a store-bought dressing, but why would you when you can effortlessly make your own umami-packed, lemony, garlicky, parmesan-cheesy, and creamy dressing that tastes so much better?
Our Caesar dressing is kid-friendly – it tastes like the creamy restaurant-style Caesar dressing that my kids love, yet it’s made with the best ingredients right at home. My kids get excited when I make Caesar salad because of this dressing.
Caesar Dressing Ingredients
- Mayonnaise – Use real mayo for the best flavor. The eggs in the mayo thicken this dressing so you don’t have to worry about the mixture separating. A Homemade Mayonnaise will make your dressing taste even better!
- Dijon mustard – We like to use the Grey Poupon brand, but any dijon will work
- Worcestershire sauce – Adds a rich umami flavor. If you are a vegetarian, see the pro tip below for more information.
- Oil – use a neutral oil like extra light olive oil and avoid using extra virgin olive oil which will give it a different flavor profile.
- Garlic – use fresh, not canned. It will give you more punch and flavor.
- Lemon juice – Opt for freshly squeezed lemon juice and not from concentrate.
- Parmesan cheese – We use freshly grated cheese, but finely shredded will work as well. You can also use pre-grated parmesan and add it according to taste since it’s more finely grated.
Did You Kow…
Anchovies are listed as an ingredient in Worcestershire sauce, so you can skip anchovies or anchovy paste since they’re technically already in there! If you are a vegetarian or have a fish allergy, choose a Worcestershire sauce that does not have anchovies listed in the ingredients.
How to Make Homemade Caesar Dressing
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper until combined.
- While whisking vigorously, slowly drizzle in the olive oil. Once all of the olive oil is in, continue whisking until it’s well incorporated. (P.S. If you have an immersion blender, I highly recommend using it while adding oil – it’s so much easier!) Add parmesan cheese and whisk together to combine.
- Transfer to a mason jar, cover with a lid, and refrigerate until ready to use.
Pro Tip:
The key to a thicker dressing is to slowly drizzle in the oil while whisking vigorously. This keeps the dressing emulsified and also helps incorporate more air into the dressing to help it thicken up. It will get even thicker in the refrigerator as the oil cools.
How to Serve Caesar Dressing
This dressing is so tasty you’ll be tempted to use it on everything, not just salads. Here are some of our favorite ways to enjoy this homemade Caesar dressing:
- Caesar Salad: add baked chicken breast to make it a complete meal, or make a chicken Caesar wrap for a healthy lunch option.
- As a dip for raw vegetables such as cut carrots, sliced cucumbers, or cauliflower florets – perfect for snacking!
- Pasta Salad Dressing – try it in Caesar Pasta Salad, Tortellini Salad with diced broccoli and tomato, tossed with parmesan cheese, or Macaroni Salad.
- As a grilling marinade for meat or chicken to tenderize the meat and add flavor.
- Potato Salad dressing – try this as the creamy base for a Classic Potato Salad.
How Long Can I Store Homemade Caesar Dressing?
Transfer to a mason jar or airtight container and store homemade dressing in the refrigerator for up to a week. Add a label to track how old the dressing is and refrigerate promptly after use to maintain its freshness. You will love that it doesn’t separate when chilled and you can use it directly out of the refrigerator without re-whisking.
I literally always have a jar of this creamy homemade Caesar dressing in my refrigerator because it’s such a favorite with my kids. I hope it becomes a new favorite for you as well.
Homemade Caesar Dressing
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce, *
- 2 garlic cloves, grated or pressed
- 3 Tbsp fresh lemon juice, from 1 large lemon
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup extra light olive oil, not extra virgin*
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 2 tsp Dijon mustard, 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce, grated garlic, 3 Tbs lemon juice, salt, and pepper, and whisk to combine.
- While whisking vigorously*, slowly drizzle in 1/2 cup olive oil. Once all of the olive oil is in, continue whisking until it’s well incorporated. Add parmesan and whisk together to combine.
- Transfer to a mason jar, cover with a lid, and refrigerate until ready to use.
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
More Homemade Dressings and Sauces
If you enjoy this homemade Caesar salad dressing recipe, you’ll love our other dressings and sauces made from scratch. They’re so fresh and easy to make and, in my opinion, taste better than anything store-bought.
- Chimichurri Recipe
- Classic Pesto
- Tartar Sauce
- Easy Marinara Sauce
- Tzatziki Sauce
- Barbecue Sauce
- Creamy Horseradish Sauce
Why can’t we use EVOO? That is all I have. Do I really need go out and buy regular olive oil?
Hi Heather! Evoo has a strong flavor and can separate. You can use avocado oil, or another neutral flavored oil.
The best! Love it. I used 1/2 low fat mayo and 1/2 zero Greek yogurt. Used magic bullet to mix together and stored leftover in fridge in mason jar. Best homemade dressing recipe I have tasted so far. I stopped buying store bought years ago.
Finely decided to make my own dressing after spending too much money on store bought ones and this was WONDERFUL! Sunshine in a mason jar!
You’ll never go back to store bought. I’m so happy you loved it, Judy!
Can you use greek yogurt in place of mayo?
Hi Linda, I haven’t tested an alternative, but some of my viewers have reported using Greek yogurt in place of mayo with good results.
Excellent recipe! My husband said “put this one on the list” and that’s huge for him. I used an immersion blender, so it was a little thick so keep that in mind if you want to do it that way. Wouldn’t change a thing.
Wow thank you for sharing! I’m so glad your husband loved it!
Wow–so good!! I can’t whisk and drizzle at the same time…I’m not that coordinated. I used a food processor instead, slowly drizzling in the oil while the rest of it spins. I also used fresh-grated Italian parmesan. Probably one of the best dressings I’ve ever tasted!
That’s so great to hear, C.J.
Use ROMANO Cheese instead of Parmesan; Romano has less salt !!!!
Absolutely perfect! We used it for kale Caesar salad. So good!
This is the best salad dressing I have ever eaten. I can’t make it often enough for my family. Thanks for sharing.
Can you use vegetable oil? I only have that or extra virgin olive oil. I used the evoo last time then reread the recipe and it said not to.
Hi Donna. Yes, that will work.