This homemade Caesar Dressing recipe is so easy to make. With just a handful of ingredients, you’ll create a creamy Caesar dressing that is better than storebought or restaurant versions. And guess what? The anchovies are optional.
It’s surprisingly easy to make your own dressings like Homemade Ranch Dressing or Italian Dressing from scratch and creamy Caesar dressing is no exception.
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Use this creamy dressing to make a Classic Caesar Salad, tossed with crisp romaine lettuce, and Homemade Croutons. Sure, you could buy a storebought 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.
Easy Caesar Dressing Recipe 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.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- One-Bowl – Instead of hauling out a blender, food processor, or immersion blender, (which always creates issues for people, plus it’s messy), I’m so excited to finally have a Caesar dressing that’s easy to whip up in one bowl with just a whisk.
- Easy – I find myself making this dressing way more often for my kids (who love it!) because it’s so easy (measure, pour, stir) and mess-free.
- Keeps Well – The creamy texture remains intact, allowing you to enjoy it straight from the fridge.
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.
Pro Tip:
Did you know anchovies are an ingredient in Worcestershire sauce? So you can skip anchovies or anchovy paste since they’re technically already in there! If you are 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. 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.
Storage
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.
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.
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
Easy Caesar Dressing Recipe (VIDEO)
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
OMG, I will NEVER buy store bought dressing again! This was too EASY and too GOOD!
That garlic takes it over-the-top; thanks Natasha!
This is very easy to make and very tasty! I have never grated my own parmesan cheese before and wow! What a positive difference. Thank you for sharing the recipe, we will be making it anytime we want caesar salad instead of a prepackaged mix.
Delicious! I will always use this recipe for my Caesar salad.
Best Caesar dressing I’ve ever had!! Super easy to make!! 10/10!!
Hi, I have made your perfect caesar dressing for years and my family loves it! The last several times that I went to make it, it seems that the recipe has been updated. The old one that I started on did not have Worcestershire sauce. I wish I had the old one written down, but only have the link saved which takes me to the updated version. Could you please email me the older recipe. Much appreciated!!
Hi Janet, I updated the recipe to emphasize that the oil must be added very slowly. And, thanks to Alina’s advice; a blender does not work well in thickening this dressing. Use a food processor for best results. An electric hand mixer may work but I haven’t tried it yet.
Hi Natasha, I don’t usually have issues with emulsion as I use a food processor and add the oil slowly. I was hoping you could clarify the older version of this recipe from at least 2018 or earlier, without the Worcesterchire…I think it was:
2Tbs Mayo
2Tsp Dijon
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 cup extra light olive oil, not extra virgin*
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Is that right? It’s my son’s favorite dressing recipe and I want to pass it down to him now that he is grown.
The best way to look at old versions of a recipe is to go to this site and paste the URL of the recipe in the search bar.
This dressing is the best!
How long will this last in fridge?
Hi Wendy! See the “storage” section above for details.
My family loved this, this is a great recipe that keeps in the fridge and can be used alongside lots of things 😍
Can you make this without adding grated to cheese to the dressing but adding some graded cheese on top of the salad. Thanks
Yes absolutely! I hope you will enjoy it!
Wow, this Caesar dressing was amazing! I have tried other recipes in the past and had just given up because they were never quite right. This recipe was exactly how I expect Caesar dressing to taste and it really was so easy to make! I made it exactly as is, with one exception – I added just a pinch of sugar (about 1/8 teaspoon). I will be making this dressing on a regular basis – thank you so much Natasha!
I’m so happy to hear you loved this recipe, Erin!
this is such a good recipe. I have made this several times now, easy and tastes great.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Could you use avocado oil in place of light olive oil?
It should be fine since avocado oil has a mild flavor. Hope you enjoy it!
Perfection! This was so easy to make and it is delicious. It is perfect as is; no need to alter the recipe in any way. I’m not buying Caesar dressing from the store again.
Hi Katie! I’m so glad you loved it. We enjoy this one a little too much, I think! Ha!
This is absolutely outstanding! Perfect amount of every ingredient. Nothing overpowering. I never liked Caesar dressing with mayo until now. So glad I gave this a try. Well done!
I have been trying out Caesar dressings for a long time. Store bought and home made. None to find till now. Great blend of ingredients and tasty. My grand daughter who’s 8 raved about it. Good job Natasha! Thanks for sharing.🥰
Simply delicious. I love the fact that the egg is replaced with mayonaise and no need for a blender. Easy peasy to make. Thank you for the recipe.
You are very welcome, Darlene!
Super easy to make! Thank you for including a way to change the number of servings! This is delicious! I did substitute stone ground mustard for the Dijon because that’s what I had. I will definitely be making this dressing instead of buying from now on.
Very simple and tasty… easy to go trough the whole lettuce as a tester -> just to make sure it’s on point 😉
This is a great recipe. It taste better than restaurant dressing. Fresh and tangy. I have eaten a salad every day to enjoy this dressing.
That’s great, Lynne. Thank you for the feedback!