I’m so excited to share my Classic Chicken Caesar Salad recipe with you! This is a simple, crunchy, and satisfying salad — crisp romaine, tender chicken, salty Parmesan, crunchy croutons, and creamy Caesar dressing all come together in one quick, bright meal.
Level: Easy
Total Time: 10 minutes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes (assuming chicken is pre-cooked)
Yield: 4 servings
Course: Salad / Main
Cuisine: American
I made this Classic Chicken Caesar Salad when I wanted something fast, healthy-feeling, and filling. It’s a restaurant-style salad you can put on the table in minutes if you have cooked chicken ready. The crunch from the romaine and croutons, the savory bite from Parmesan, and the creamy dressing make every forkful satisfying. I like serving it with a lemon wedge — a squeeze brightens everything up.
This recipe is great for a quick lunch, a light dinner, or a make-ahead option for a busy weeknight. It uses a few straightforward ingredients but delivers big, familiar flavor.
How to Make Classic Chicken Caesar Salad
At its core this salad is very simple:
• Crisp romaine lettuce as the base.
• Strips of cooked chicken for protein.
• Lots of finely shredded Parmesan for savory depth.
• Seasoned croutons for crunch.
• Creamy Caesar dressing to tie it all together.
Everything gets arranged and dressed so every bite has lettuce, chicken, cheese, and crouton.
Ingredients
• 6 cups tightly packed romaine lettuce, chopped
• 1 pound cooked boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips (rotisserie chicken works great)
• ½ cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese
• ½ cup seasoned croutons
• ¼ cup creamy Caesar dressing (store-bought or homemade)
• Optional: lemon wedges for serving
Directions
- Prep the lettuce: Wash and dry the romaine, then chop into bite-sized pieces. Shake off excess water so the dressing sticks well.
- Arrange the plates: Divide the chopped romaine onto four serving plates or a large salad bowl.
- Top with chicken: Arrange the cooked chicken strips evenly over the lettuce. If the chicken is cold, you can warm it briefly in the microwave or a skillet, but room temperature is fine.
- Add cheese and croutons: Sprinkle the shredded Parmesan and the seasoned croutons over each salad.
- Dress and serve: Drizzle about 1 tablespoon of creamy Caesar dressing over each serving (use more or less to taste). Serve immediately with a lemon wedge if you like a bright finish.
Process Details
• Why use chopped, dry lettuce: Wet lettuce makes the dressing slide off and the salad soggy. Dry, chopped romaine keeps the crunch and helps the dressing cling.
• Cooked chicken: This recipe assumes the chicken is already cooked. Rotisserie or leftover grilled chicken saves time and adds flavor.
• Parmesan texture: Finely shredded Parmesan melts slightly against the warm chicken and coats the lettuce so every bite gets savory cheese notes.
• Crouton timing: Add croutons just before serving so they stay crunchy. If you add them too early, they can soften from the dressing.
• Dressing amount: Start with a light drizzle — you can always add more. Toss gently if you prefer the dressing distributed throughout the salad.
Tips for Success
• Dry the lettuce well. Use a salad spinner or pat with paper towels.
• Cut chicken into even strips. That makes the salad easier to eat and looks nicer.
• Taste as you go. If the salad needs brightness, squeeze on a little lemon. If it needs more salt, add extra Parmesan.
• Upgrade the croutons. For extra flavor, use garlic or herb croutons, or toast cubed bread with olive oil and a pinch of salt.
• Make it heartier: Add a hard-boiled egg, avocado slices, or a few anchovy fillets if you like classic Caesar depth.
Serving Ideas
• Serve as a main with crusty bread or garlic toast.
• Make it a light dinner with a bowl of soup on the side.
• Offer extra grated Parmesan and extra croutons at the table so guests can customize.
• Plate family-style in a big bowl for easy sharing at casual dinners.
Storage & Freezing
• Refrigerator: Assemble without dressing (or dress only the portion you’ll eat). Store the salad components separately — lettuce in a dry container, chicken in a sealed container — for up to 2 days. Add croutons and dressing just before serving.
• Freezing: Not recommended. Lettuce and croutons don’t freeze well; they become soggy after thawing.
Nutrition Info (Approximate per Serving — 1 of 4 servings)
• Calories: 333
• Total Fat: 17 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Cholesterol: 90 mg
• Sodium: 385 mg
• Total Carbohydrates: 6 g
• Dietary Fiber: 2 g
• Sugars: 1 g
• Protein: 36 g
(Nutrition values are estimates based on the ingredient amounts and may change with different brands or substitutions.)
My Classic Chicken Caesar Salad is a quick, reliable meal that feels fresh and satisfying. It’s perfect when you want something healthy-ish that still fills you up. Keep your ingredients ready and assemble in minutes — a squeeze of lemon and a few extra shavings of Parmesan take it from plain to restaurant-ready. I hope you enjoy making (and eating!) this salad as much as I do.
