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Learn how to make the Best Chicken Caesar Salad in 15-minutes using this easy recipe. While you can make Caesar salad with different types of chicken, I recommend my seared chicken breasts or air fryer boneless chicken thighs as homemade options. But, you can keep things simple by adding rotisserie or grilled chicken that you pick up from the store. To cut carbs, I make this with my 5-minute, blender creamy caesar dressing and use parmesan crisps instead of croutons. Add this to your easy dinner meal rotation!
Why Make This:
- Easy Homemade Option: chicken Caesar salad is super easy to make at home in less than 15 minutes. The dressing is prepared quickly by dumping ingredients like anchovies, Parmesan Cheese, lemon juice and mayo into a blender. Plus, you can make this Caesar salad with grilled chicken from the store.
- Keto Croutons: Caesar salads are mostly keto-friendly, with the exception of the croutons. In this recipe for chicken Caesar salad, I use parmesan crisps to add flavor and crunch without adding bread.
Ingredients Needed
- Romaine Lettuce: I buy pre-washed lettuce to save time or buy a head of romaine lettuce that I wash, chop and dry with a salad spinner.
- Chicken breasts: There are a few options for making caesar salad with chicken. You can use my seared chicken breasts, air fryer boneless chicken thighs, or either grilled or rotisserie chicken from the store
- Cheese Crisps: I use these an a low carb alternative to crouton. You can use your favorite flavor.
- Parmesan Cheese: You can use freshly shredded or shaved for the best flavor
- Creamy Caesar Dressing: this homemade dressing comes together in minutes using a blender
- Black pepper
How to Make Chicken Caesar Salad
- When you are ready to eat, place the lettuce in a large bowl or on a plate
- Top the lettuce with the chicken breast and other toppings
- Make the caesar dressing in a blender
- Add caesar dressing to taste
Top Tips & FAQs
Crouton Options for Keto Chicken Caesar Salad
Here are some keto crouton options that I enjoy:
- Cheese Crisps – this brand has a wide range of flavors like Bacon BBQ
- Keto Protein Puffs (Ranch)
- Cheese Crisps – this brand is just Parmesan
Time Saving & General Tips
Using rotisserie chicken from the market helps save a lot of time when preparing this low carb caesar salad. This way, the chicken is ready to go when you need it.
If you are cooking your own chicken, allow it to rest and cool before slicing and adding it to the salad. Using hot chicken will wilt the lettuce.
You can also buy pre-washed and cut lettuce at the store, saving you time on rinsing, drying, and slicing. If you are washing your own lettuce, I recommend using a salad spinner to make sure the lettuce is dry and to prevent a soggy salad.
Meal Prep Tips
I love using this salad recipe for meal prepping. Just be sure to store the dressing and cheese crisps separately to avoid having soggy crisps and overdressed, wilted lettuce. Add both elements to your salad when you are ready to eat.
I store my salad in these glass meal prep jars and store the dressing in these reusable dressing containers. The cheese crisps, I store in their original packaging.
Caesar Salad Variations
I included rotisserie chicken to make this a super easy option. But, if you have time, here are some of my other favorite proteins for this salad:
- 4-Spice Chicken Breast
- Air Fryer Salmon Filet
- Boneless New York Strip Steak
- Cast Iron Whole30 Shrimp
- Grilled Chicken Kabobs
- Pan-seared Halibut
- Pan-seared Scallops
- Air Fryer Pork Chops
FAQs
Traditionally, Caesar salad contains lettuce, cheese, croutons, and caesar dressing in the dish’s simplest form. Croutons are not keto-friendly because they are made of bread. But, they are necessary for providing a crunchy texture. So, as an alternative, I’m using cheese crisps in place of croutons.
There are a range of keto-friendly salad dressings. I choose options based on the carbs per serving. But, others also search for brands that do not have any added sugar. Some of my favorite dressings are: blue cheese dressing, ranch dressing, and balsamic vinaigrette.
This depends on the products that you use. But, this recipe with homemade dressing and parmesan crisps is 2g net carbs per serving.
If you try this recipe, please stop back and leave it a star rating and/or a review in the comments. Stay connected & share photos of your creations with me & others on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest!
Easy Chicken Caesar Salad Recipe
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Ingredients
- 2 cups Romaine Lettuce, washed, dried and cut to bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup Chicken breasts, use four-spice chicken breast recipe or a rotisserie chicken
- ¼ cup Cheese Crisps, or another crouton alternative mentioned above
- ¼ cup Parmesan Cheese, shredded or shaved
- Creamy Caesar Dressing, click for recipe
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- When you are ready to eat, place the lettuce in a large bowl or on a plate
- Top with the chicken breast and other toppings
- Add caesar dressing to taste
Nutrition Details
The nutrition facts come from entering the recipe ingredients into Spoonacular API, a database of food ingredients. They may vary for any recipe based on the exact product used. The keto sweeteners I use have 0g net carbs & are not included because sugar alcohols do not impact most people. This is provided as a courtesy, but you can do your own calculations if you wish!
Jeannette says
Just ordered a Chicken Caesar Salad for lunch and I wish I had made this one instead! I love the idea of cheese crisps as an alternative for croutons. Such a simple and delicious meal is a winner for me 😀
Dr. Davinah's Eats Team says
We really appreciate you stopping back to write such a thoughtful review.
Jamie says
I love how fast and easy this is to prepare! It’s perfect for weeknights and the parmesan cheese is a must!
Dr. Davinah's Eats Team says
We really appreciate you stopping back to write such a thoughtful review.
Mary says
Such a great caesar salad! It’s a classic for a reason!
Dr. Davinah's Eats Team says
We really appreciate you stopping back to write such a thoughtful review.
Noelle says
So delicious and easy to make! Thank you for sharing!
Dr. Davinah's Eats Team says
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review.
Emily Liao says
Love how easy and delicious this salad is! Will definitely become a summer staple.
Dr. Davinah's Eats Team says
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veenaazmanov says
This Salad surely is crunchy, cheesy and flavorful with the amazing dressing. Best for a light Dinner option. Chicken is surely the icing to the Salad.
Dr. Davinah's Eats Team says
We really appreciate you stopping back to write such a thoughtful review.
Toni Dash says
This was so good!! Thank you so much for the tips!
Dr. Davinah's Eats Team says
You’re welcome! We’re so glad you liked it.
Sharon says
I love chicken caesar salad but thes keto version makes for a great lunch without having the carbs weight me down in the afternoon.
Dr. Davinah's Eats Team says
We really appreciate you stopping back to write such a thoughtful review.
Safira says
This was delicious and love that it is keto friendly too so the whole family could eat together!
Dr. Davinah's Eats Team says
We’re so happy that you enjoyed this recipe.
Christian Guzman says
This is brilliant! It was light and refreshing. I didn’t miss the croutons at all.
Dr. Davinah's Eats Team says
We’re so happy that you enjoyed this recipe.
Sue says
Delicious! I love the use of cheese crisps for a crunchy alternative to croutons!
Dr. Davinah's Eats Team says
We really appreciate you stopping back to write such a thoughtful review.
Marlynn says
What a delicious and healthier way to enjoy chicken Caesar salad!
Dr. Davinah's Eats Team says
We really appreciate you stopping back to write such a thoughtful review.
Dannii says
One of my favourite salads. So easy and delicious.
Dr. Davinah's Eats Team says
This is one of our favorites as well. Thank you for taking the time to leave a review.