This steakhouse-style Homemade Caesar Dressing is going to be a staple in your fridge. It's made with mostly ingredients that you already have in your kitchen, and my recipe makes it super easy to create without ever compromising on taste!
It's something about a fresh Caesar salad that hits the spot every time. Instead of spending so much money on store-bought that are full of preservatives and funny ingredients, try making your own in less than 5 minutes!
The Coined Breakdown
- Total Cost per serving: $0.11
- Total Cost (about 12 servings): $1.36
- Those Other Guys: $4.29 per bottle
Ingredients
- Anchovies- I know, I know - some folks are thrown off that this dressing has anchovies. But they provide that umami taste that you need for a perfect Caesar dressing. Don't skip this ingredient! Anchovy paste is less "weird" to most people.
- Mayonnaise - The original recipe for Caesar dressing uses egg yolks and olive oil. In my 5-minute version, I use mayonnaise (which is literally egg yolks + oil) as a shortcut.
- Garlic Paste - I love using garlic paste to get that perfect pop of garlic. You can also mince fresh garlic cloves; but I would not recommend the kind that already comes minced in a jar.
- Worcestershire & Lemon Juice - Just a touch of these ingredients give the right amount of acidity and smokiness we need. Don't go too heavy on either one!
Variations and Substitutions
Fresh Anchovies: Instead of garlic paste and anchovy paste, you can use fresh garlic and canned anchovies in oil. Just mince them together until they create a paste.
Lemon-Herb Caesar Dressing: If you like citrus, a bit of lemon zest grated into the dressing is amazing. Add in some freshly minced oregano as well.
Miso Caesar Dressing: Spice up a classic by adding a touch of miso to create a Miso-Caesar dressing. It's divine!
How to Make Homemade Caesar Dressing without Eggs
Most people are pretty picky about their Caesar dressing. If it isn't that steakhouse quality and taste, it seems to always miss the mark.
My recipe is the perfect balance between ease and authenticity! I promise you'll be eating so many more salads just to have this dressing on your plate.
Step 1: Whisk together your lemon juice, Worcestershire, dijon mustard, garlic paste, and anchovy paste. You should have a light brown concoction at this point.
Using the anchovies that come in a can of oil? No problem! Just mince them as much as you can to create a paste. Anchovies naturally "melt" the more they are manipulated.
Step 2: Then, whisk in the mayonnaise. Use the real stuff - no Miracle Whip here - and if you can find the mayo that's made with olive oil, even better.
Shred your parmigiano reggiano cheese using a zester to get the shreds extra fine. Then stir the cheese into your dressing.
Stir in a pinch of black pepper (freshly cracked if you have it) and that's it!
Recipe Pro Tip
- Thick or thin? This recipe makes the thicker, steakhouse-style dressing. You can always thin out your dressing with just a bit of water, like 1 tsp. at a time, until you get the consistency needed.
Recipe FAQs
Although the classic recipe uses egg yolks, my recipe uses mayonnaise (which is primarily made of egg yolks and oil) as the base. This way you don't have to worry about raw yolks!
It's in my local stores near the canned tuna and sardines.
If you can only find canned anchovies, simply mush them together using a fork before incorporating into the bowl.
Other Tasty Dips and Sauces You'll Love!
If you tried this Homemade Caesar Dressing Recipe, or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. I love hearing from you! Thanks for visiting!
Homemade Caesar Dressing
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
- Whisk (or fork)
- Microplane
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons garlic paste
- 2 teaspoons anchovy paste
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup parmigiano reggiano (finely shredded)
- 1 pinch black pepper
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, Worcestershire, dijon, garlic paste, and anchovy paste until well combined.2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, 2 teaspoons dijon mustard, 2 teaspoons garlic paste, 2 teaspoons anchovy paste
- Slowly whisk in the mayonnaise until your dressing is lightly colored and thin.1 cup mayonnaise
- Pour in the parmigiano cheese and whisk well until everything is fully combined.¼ cup parmigiano reggiano
- Stir in a bit of black pepper. If you want to loosen the dressing, add a couple teaspoons of water at this step.1 pinch black pepper
- Store in a mason jar in the refrigerator and serve over your favorite leafy greens. Enjoy!
Did you make this recipe? Let me know what you think!