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Picture of a Chicken Caesar Salad

Easy Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad Recipe

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Easy Chicken Caesar Salad with homemade Caesar dressing, juicy chicken, and crunchy croutons. A perfect weeknight meal or lunch.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 2
Course: Appetizer, lunch or snack, Main Course, Salad, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 691

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb chicken breast
  • 2 cups romaine hearts chopped
  • ½ cup croutons
  • ½ cup Caesar dressing
  • 1 tablespoon Romano cheese
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil for cooking

Method
 

  1. Remove the chicken breast 30 minutes before cooking to allow it to come to room temperature.
  2. Pat the chicken breasts dry with a paper towel. If you have larger chicken breasts, slice them in half lengthwise.
  3. Chop the romaine hearts and rinse them clean with cold water. Set aside in a colander to drain excess water, then use as needed. Alternatively, if you have a salad spinner, you can use that as well.
  4. Heat a skillet over medium heat. Once the pan is warm, add the olive oil.
  5. Add the chicken breasts to the heated oil.
  6. Cook for 5-7 minutes until the chicken releases from the frying pan and is easy to flip.
  7. Flip to the other side and cook for an additional 5-7 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees in the thickest part of the chicken breast.
  8. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside on a plate or cutting board. Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes to redistribute the juices.
  9. While the chicken rests, add the drained romaine to a mixing bowl and top with the Caesar dressing.
  10. Use tongs or a slotted spoon to toss the salad with the dressing.
  11. Add the dressed romaine to a salad bowl or long plate.
  12. Slice the chicken breasts on a bias for better presentation.
  13. Top the salad with sliced chicken breasts.

Nutrition

Calories: 691kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 52gFat: 48gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 21gMonounsaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 171mgSodium: 1062mgPotassium: 1046mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 6370IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 96mgIron: 3mg

Notes

Chef Tips
  • Let the chicken rest before slicing to keep it juicy.
  • Marinate chicken in lemon, Dijon, and garlic for 2 hours for a deeper flavor.
  • When making this recipe for the week, we prepare the chicken, homemade dressing, and croutons; we store them separately. Mix the ingredients as needed to keep the croutons crunchy and the romaine from wilting from the dressing. 
  • For a BBQ/grilled chicken look, use a grill pan to cook the chicken.
 
Recipe Variations & Adjustments
  •  Make Homemade croutons rather than store-bought croutons
  • Add Freshly Shaved Parmesan on top for a more restaurant-style finish. 
  • Poached chicken Caesar: Use poached chicken, warm it, and finish it with a cast-iron sear. 
  • Chili-garlic Caesar dressing: Add chili paste to the Caesar dressing for a spicy kick. 
 
How to Store and Reheat
  • You can store ingredients separately in airtight containers. 
  • Please make sure to store the lettuce undressed to prevent wilting. 
  • Reheat the chicken over low heat in a sautee pan until warmed through. 
 
Serving Suggestions & Food Pairings
  • Serve with crunchy Garlic bread
  • Soup and salad for lunch? This pairs great with a tomato basil soup. 
  • Roasted potato wedges are a great side dish for this salad. 
  • Serve as a side salad or appetizer with my Lemon chicken orzo recipe, which I made for Ask Chef Dennis. 
  • Burrata crostini with balsamic glaze. 
 
Beverage Pairing
  • Non-Alcoholic: Sparkling lemonade cuts the richness, and iced green tea offers an herbal balance to the dressing's richness. 
  • Wine Style: Sauvignon Blanc offers citrus and herb notes that pair well with the dressing. Unoaked Chardonnay is a great, clean, buttery match for the chicken. 
  • Beer Style: Pilsner is crisp, refreshing, and light. Belgian Witbier offers citrus and a spice that lifts the flavors of the salad. 
 

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