Romaine Caesar Bowl (Printable)

Crisp romaine with creamy Caesar dressing, golden croutons, and grilled chicken or chickpeas for a complete meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salad Base

01 - 2 large heads romaine lettuce, washed, dried, and chopped
02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - ½ cup shaved Parmesan cheese

→ Croutons

04 - 3 cups day-old bread, cubed
05 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
06 - ½ teaspoon garlic powder
07 - ¼ teaspoon salt
08 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Protein

09 - 2 grilled chicken breasts, sliced or 1 can chickpeas, drained and roasted or 8 ounces grilled shrimp

→ Caesar Dressing

10 - ¼ cup mayonnaise
11 - 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
12 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
13 - 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
14 - 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
15 - 1 garlic clove, minced
16 - 2 anchovy fillets, finely minced
17 - ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
18 - Salt and black pepper to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Toss bread cubes with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Spread on a baking sheet and bake for 8 to 10 minutes until golden and crisp. Cool completely before use.
02 - In a bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, minced garlic, anchovies, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper until smooth and well combined.
03 - Grill chicken breasts until cooked through and slice, or roast chickpeas at 400°F tossed with olive oil, salt, and pepper for 20 minutes, or grill shrimp until just cooked through.
04 - In a large bowl, toss chopped romaine with half the Caesar dressing. Add cherry tomatoes and shaved Parmesan cheese.
05 - Top salad with croutons and protein of choice. Drizzle remaining dressing over the top and serve immediately.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It is a fresh, hearty main dish that comes together in just 30 minutes.
  • The homemade Caesar dressing is creamy and zesty, far outshining store-bought alternatives.
  • It is highly customizable with protein options like grilled chicken, shrimp, or roasted chickpeas for a vegetarian meal.
02 -
  • To maintain their crunch, ensure the homemade croutons have cooled completely before adding them to the salad.
  • Use gluten-free bread for the croutons to make this dish gluten-friendly.
  • Always double-check ingredient labels for allergens such as wheat, eggs, fish, and milk.
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