This Creamy Caesar Salad with Crispy Garlic Panko is a restaurant-quality side dish made right at home. This salad features crunchy Romaine lettuce and fresh parmesan tossed in a tangy Caesar dressing, and finished off with crispy garlic Panko breadcrumbs.
We all know that there aren’t many things better than a really good Caesar salad. Well, this Creamy Caesar Salad with Crispy Garlic Panko may just be the best Caesar salad.
Not only is this recipe incredibly easy, but it’s mouthwateringly delicious too! Crunchy romaine, the tang of Caesar dressing, salty parmesan, and garlicky breadcrumbs. What’s not to love?
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- Quick and easy – Just 10 minutes of prep to get this delicious salad on the table!
- Restaurant-quality – This salad truly does taste like it came from the kitchen of your favorite Italian restaurant.
- Side dish or entree! – Enjoy as a side dish or top it with chicken breast, salmon, or sliced steak to make it a meal!
Recipe Notes
This Creamy Caesar Salad Recipe is as simple as promised! Just a 10 minutes of prep for a mouthwatering side dish that everyone will love.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make the Perfect Caesar Salad to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
- Caesar Salad Dressing – Our Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing is made with garlic, lemon juice, mayonnaise, vegetable oil (olive oil will work too), worcestershire sauce, and dijon mustard.
- Panko Topping – You’ll need Panko breadcrumbs, salt, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning (store-bought or homemade!)
- Romaine Lettuce
- Parmesan Cheese – I like to use freshly grated cheese for the best flavor.
Feel free to finish your salad off with black pepper for a kick of heat!
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 – Make this salad into a meal by topping it off with chicken breast, salmon, or sliced steak.
- Make it a sandwich or a wrap– Yep, you read that right. Pile this salad onto garlic bread or tortilla with shredded chicken to make a Garlic Bread Chicken Caesar Sandwich instead!
- Use croutons instead – I love the crispy breadcrumbs in this recipe, but feel free to use your favorite croutons to add that crunch instead.
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 Classic Caesar Salad with crispy Panko breadcrumbs.
In a small mixing bowl, combine garlic, lemon juice, mayonnaise, oil, Worcestershire, and dijon.
Whisk the dressing ingredients until smooth, then chill in the fridge for 10 minutes.
Heat a skillet over medium heat, then melt butter. Once melted, add in Panko, salt, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Cook and mix until golden.
Chop the romaine hearts and add them to a large bowl. Drizzle on the dressing, toss to coat, then top with fresh parmesan and your prepared breadcrumbs. Serve on your favorite salad platter or bowl!
Recipe Tips
- Let the dressing chill – Giving your Caesar dressing a quick 10 minutes in the fridge once it’s mixed really gives all those flavors time to meld together.
- Keep an eye on the breadcrumbs – Breadcrumbs can go from perfectly golden to burnt really quickly. Keep a close eye on them as they cook, and mix often.
- Fresh is best! – Once your salad is assembled, serve it right away to preserve the texture of the lettuce and breadcrumbs.
Recipe Short Cuts
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Use pre-shredded cheese – I do love the flavor of freshly shredded parmesan, but pre-shredded will work too.
- Make your dressing in advance –. To get ahead, prep your dressing in advance and store it in the fridge for up to 5 days, so it’s ready to go when you’re ready to assemble and serve your salad.
What to Serve with Creamy Ceasar Salad with Garlic Panko
Since this delicious side dish has all of the flavors of a Classic Caesar Salad it will pair well with many of your favorite entrees or sides!
Choose an main dish or additional side dishes to create a wholesome, well-rounded dinner. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.
Main Dish Ideas
- Marry Me Chicken – Create a restaurant-quality meal with this mouthwatering Marry Me Chicken. This entree features juicy chicken breast smothered in a rich, savory, creamy sauce.
- Creamy Tuscan Sausage Pasta – This Creamy Tuscan Sausage Pasta is a quick and easy family favorite! It’s made with rigatoni pasta and Italian sausage coated in the best creamy tomato sauce. Perfect paired with homemade Caesar salad!
- Garlic Herb Steak – Impress your guests (and yourself) with this Garlic Herb Steak and a side of Caesar salad. This steak recipe takes just 15 minutes to make, but yields the most tender, juicy, garlicky steak ever.
Side Dish Ideas
- Garlic Bread – You can never go wrong with Garlic Bread—soft slices of French bread covered in a garlicky, herby butter mixture, and toasted until deliciously golden.
- Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Soup – Enjoy a lighter meal with a classic soup and salad combination! This Slow Cooker Tomato Soup is the perfect pairing. It’s creamy, sweet and savory, and requires just 10 minutes of prep.
Creamy Caesar Salad Leftovers
In general, salad (once assembled) is best served immediately! Store leftovers:
- in the refrigerator for 1-2 days
If you know you’ll have leftovers, keep the breadcrumbs separate so they stay crispy!
Recipe FAQ’s
What are the ingredients in a Caesar salad?
Traditional Caesar salad is made with romaine lettuce, croutons, and parmesan cheese covered in a creamy and tangy Caesar dressing. This recipe has all of the components of a classic Caesar salad, but our “crouton crunch” comes from the garlicky, buttery breadcrumbs instead!
What’s the secret to a creamy caesar dressing?
Mayonnaise! We’re keeping our dressing simple by using a mayonnaise base, which creates the perfect creamy dressing in the easiest way.
More EASY Salad Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my easy salad recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.
Creamy Caesar Salad with Garlic Panko
Ingredients
For the dressing:
- 1 clove garlic, pressed
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
For the Panko Topping
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
For the salad
- 4 hearts of romaine
- ¼ freshly grated parmesan cheese, or more to taste
Instructions
To make the caesear dressing:
- In a medium bowl, add the pressed garlic and lemon juice.
- Then whisk in the mayonnaise, oil, Worcestershire, and dijon, until smooth.
- Chill for at least 10 minutes to let the flavors meld.
To make the garlic panko topping:
- Heat a medium sized skillet over medium heat. Once hot, melt the butter, then add panko, salt, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
- Mix well and cook 4-6 minutes, or until the bread crumbs turn golden brown. Stir regularly as they cook.Once they are golden immediately remove from heat and transfer breadcrumbs into a bowl to cool to prevent overcooking.
To assemble the salad:
- Chop the romaine hearts and add to a large bowl. Drizzle with caesar dressing, then toss the greens with the dressing to coat.
- Top with parmesan and panko bread crumbs and serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
- chicken breast
- salmon
- sliced steak
Leave a Reply