Best Chicken Caesar Salad
This is the Best Chicken Caesar Salad, and it’s the real deal. Juicy chicken, a creamy homemade Caesar dressing, bacon, freshly grated Parmesan, colorful veggies, and toasted nuts—all topped with garlic-infused croutons.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 8 Chicken Thighs
- 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 Tablespoon Paprika
- 1 Tablespoon Garlic Powder
- Salt & Pepper to taste
Croutons
- 5 Slices Sourdough Bread I use a gluten free sourdough
- 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- 1 Tablespoon Garlic Powder
- 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
Caesar Dressing
- 1/2 Cup Avocado Mayo or Greek Yogurt
- 1/4 Cup Fresh Lemon Juice
- 3 Cloves Garlic minced
- 2 Teaspoons Dijon Mustard
- 1 Teaspoon Anchovy Paste
- 1/2 Cup Parmesan Cheese freshly grated
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
Salad & Ingredients
- 2 Heads Romaine Lettuce chopped
- 4 Cups Kale chopped
- 2 Cups Carrots grated or shredded
- 4 Strips Bacon
- 1/2 Cup Pecans chopped & toasted
- Parmesan Cheese freshly grated
Instructions
- To make this salad, you’ll start by preparing the chicken thighs. Rub them with a mixture of olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, then sear them in a hot skillet or on he grill until they’re crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Chicken is generally safe to eat when the internal temperature has reached 165℉. Once cooked, let them rest while you prepare the rest of the salad.
- Next, make the croutons. Simply cut the gluten-free sourdough bread into cubes, toss them in bowl in olive oil, garlic powder, and salt. Get out a baking pan and bake until they’re golden and crispy. This should take about 30 minutes.
- For the Caesar dressing, combine avocado mayo (or Greek yogurt), fresh lemon juice, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, anchovy paste, freshly grated Parmesan, and salt in a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Assemble the salad by tossing chopped romaine lettuce, kale, grated carrots, crispy bacon, and toasted pecans in a large bowl. Drizzle with the homemade Caesar dressing, top with freshly grated Parmesan, and add the chicken thighs. Finish with the crunchy croutons, and your Chicken Caesar Salad is ready to serve!