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chicken ceasar salad

Ultimate Chicken Caesar Salad with Crunchy Homemade Croutons

This Chicken Caesar Salad combines grilled chicken, crunchy homemade croutons, and a creamy dressing, making it a must-try dish for salad lovers.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Marinating Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 35 minutes
Course salads
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 480 kcal

Equipment

  • Baking sheet
  • small bowl
  • - Large bowl
  • Medium bowl
  • - Grill

Ingredients
  

For the Croutons

  • 3 tbsp Extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 tbsp Chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 cloves Garlic minced
  • 1 tsp Kosher salt
  • 1 tsp Freshly ground black pepper
  • 6 cups Ciabatta bread cubes

For the Chicken

  • 1 lb Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 2 tbsp Extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp Freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 tsp Lemon zest
  • 2 cloves Garlic minced
  • 1 tsp Kosher salt
  • 1 tsp Freshly ground black pepper

For the Dressing

  • 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup Buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup Freshly grated Parmesan
  • 2 cloves Garlic minced
  • 2 tbsp Freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp Kosher salt
  • 1 tsp Freshly ground black pepper

For Assembly

  • 4 cups Romaine chopped
  • 1/2 cup Freshly grated Parmesan

Instructions
 

Croutons Preparation

  • Preheat your oven to 400°F to get ready for those wonderfully crispy croutons.
  • In a small bowl, whisk the olive oil, parsley, and garlic together. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Spread the ciabatta bread cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet. Toss with the olive oil mixture and bake until golden and crisp, about 13-15 minutes. Set aside to cool.

Chicken Preparation

  • In another small bowl, mix olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, salt, and pepper for the chicken marinade.
  • In a large bowl or Ziploc bag, combine the chicken and the marinade. Allow it to marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
  • Preheat your grill to medium-high. Cook the chicken for about 4-5 minutes per side until fully cooked through. Let it cool before dicing into bite-sized pieces.

Dressing Preparation

  • Whisk together mayonnaise, buttermilk, Parmesan, garlic, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and season with salt and pepper in a medium bowl.

Salad Assembly

  • In a large bowl, add the chopped romaine, top with the diced chicken and croutons, and drizzle the dressing over.
  • Gently toss everything together to combine and top with extra Parmesan.

Notes

Optional: Garnish with additional parsley for a vibrant finish.
Keyword chicken caesar salad, creamy dressing, easy dinner, grilled chicken, healthy salad, homemade croutons