Mexican Caesar Salad

This Mexican Caesar Salad is a quick, 15 minute, classic side dish with a Mexican twist. It features fresh, crunchy romaine hearts tossed in a creamy, tangy Mexican caesar dressing, then topped with cotija cheese, fried tortilla strips, and roasted pepitas.

Ingredients + Substitutions

• Mexican Caesar Salad Dressing – Our dressing is made with a combination of mayonnaise, dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, lime juice, fajita seasoning, and vegetable oil.
• Lettuce – I like to use chopped Romaine hearts, but feel free to use another lettuce of your choice. Romaine lettuce would work great too!
• Cheese – Crumbled cojita cheese or Queso Fresco are both great options.
• Tortilla Strips – Tortilla strips can be purchased pre-made, but you can also very easily make them from scratch! See the recipe card below for instructions.
• Roasted Pepitas – Pepitas are pumpkin seeds! You can find these at most grocery stores.

Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.

Recipe Variations

If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!

• Add a protein – Turn this side dish into an entree by adding sliced or shredded chicken. I love to use my Baja Chicken Breast or Blackened Chicken Thighs.
  
• Make it a vegetarian – Traditional Worcestershire sauce contains anchovies. You can make your caesar salad dressing without anchovies a couple of different ways: 1) Find a brand of Worcestershire sauce that doesn’t contain anchovies or 2) simply leave it out (although I do love the umami flavor it adds.)
• Try other toppings – You can load this salad up with any toppings that sound good to you! Try chopped avocado or guacamole, bean and corn salsa, diced bell pepper, red onion, you name it.

Recipe Step by Step

I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make Mexican Caesar Salad.

Recipe Tips

1. Serve right away once assembled – To make sure your lettuce stays fresh and your tortilla strips stay crunchy, I recommend serving this salad immediately once you’ve added the dressing.
   
2. Customize – Feel free to make this recipe your own by adding or leaving out ingredients as desired.

What to Serve with Mexican Caesar Salad

Since this tasty side dish has the delicious flavors of Mexican food, it will pair well with many of your favorite Mexican side dishes or entrees.

Choose one or several of these dishes to create a wholesome, well-rounded dinner. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.

Side Dish Ideas

• Mexican Style Crockpot Refried Beans – What’s a Mexican night without a side of refried beans? These Mexican Style Crock Pot Refried Beans are the perfect recipe. They’re creamy, rich, perfectly seasoned, and delicious paired with a Mexican Caesar Salad.
• Mexican Chicken and Rice Bake – Turn your side salad into a hearty meal by pairing it with this Mexican Chicken and Rice Bake. This meal is loaded with chicken, black beans, rice, and cheese, then topped with all of your favorite fresh toppings.
• Oven Baked Green Chile Pork Chops – These Green Chile Pork Chops are an all-time favorite. They’re made with tender pork chops doused in a creamy green chile cheese sauce and finished with fresh cilantro.
• Mexican Roasted Vegetables – Keep your meal light with these Mexican Roasted Vegetables—a blend of red onion, bell pepper, broccoli, and squash tossed in taco seasoning and lime juice.