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You are here: Home / Recipes / Salads / Keto Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken and Caesar Dressing

Keto Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken and Caesar Dressing

Published July 14, 2020 by Lauren Vavala

Thanks for sharing!

Keto Caesar Salad is a low carb alternative to the classic version. It’s made with Romaine lettuce, Parmesan cheese, and grilled chicken, then topped with garlicky almond crumbs. The dressing is a raw egg-free version of classic Caesar dressing. You won’t miss the carbs at all with this flavorful, filling main dish salad!

Grilled CHicken Caesar salad in a white bowl with a white container of caesar dressing and a napkin near it

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I love a good Caesar salad, especially come summer when I can use up some of our garden grown lettuce, which tends to grow in abundance, much like zucchini (which I’m using constantly in this Keto Pasta Salad recipe).

Caesar salad is traditionally a very simple salad of lettuce and croutons topped with a rich and creamy Caesar dressing. Parmesan cheese is often added, as well.

Being on a low carb diet, this salad would simply be lettuce or lettuce and Parmesan cheese, since croutons are off the table. Instead, I added grilled chicken to make it a more filling main meal, and garlicky almond flour crumbs to replace the croutons.

Why This Recipe Works

This recipe is quick, easy, and filling. It can be served as a main dish, or you can omit the chicken and serve it as a side dish. For a short cut, rotisserie or leftover chicken can be used, if you have it.

It’s a delicious alternative to a classic Caesar salad with all of the same flavors. Almond flour is used to make garlic flavored toasted crumbs to replace the croutons. You could also use low carb bread and make your own croutons, but it’s expensive and I don’t often have it on hand. I always have almond flour, though.

The homemade dressing is made with all of the same ingredients as traditional Caesar salad dressing. This includes lemon, garlic, Parmesan cheese, anchovies, Dijon mustard, and a small amount of Worcestershire sauce. Mayonnaise is used in place of raw egg so there is no need to worry about salmonella.

This recipe is low in carbs, keto friendly, and gluten free as written.

How To Make Keto Caesar Salad

What You Need To Make This Recipe

To make Caesar salad, you will need:

Ingredients to make a keto caesar salad on a white background

  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 clove garlic, grated
  • 1/4 cup blanched almond flour
  • 8 cups Romaine lettuce, roughly chopped
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese, grated or shaved
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, optional

To make Caesar salad dressing, you will need:

ingredients to make Caesar salad dressing on a white background

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise (keto-approved)
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon anchovy paste
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Chef’s Tip: grate the Parmesan cheese from a block to avoid starchy additives often found in pre-grated cheeses.

The entire recipe and instructions can also be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. You can also print the recipe from the card, if needed.

Prep!

Roughly chop the Romaine lettuce and grate the Parmesan cheese. The Parmesan will need to be finely grated for the dressing, but you can use shaved Parmesan cheese in the salad, if preferred.

Grate the garlic using a microplane, garlic press, or the small side of a box grater. Be careful not to get your fingers to close!

Preheat your oven to 350°F.

Create!

2 grilled chicken breasts in a grill pan

Season the chicken with salt and pepper.

Heat the olive oil in a, oven-proof grill pan, or large skillet, over medium-high heat.

Sear the chicken for about 2-3 minutes per side, or until grill marks are present and it’s golden brown.

Transfer the pan to the oven and cook until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F when a meat thermometer is inserted into the center of the thickest portion, about 10-15 minutes.

Remove and allow to cool. Cut into 1/2-inch slices.

Toasted garlic almond flour crumbs in a black skillet

Meanwhile, melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 15-30 seconds, then stir in the almond flour. Cook, stirring often and watching closely until the almond is lightly toasted, about 3-4 minutes.

Set aside and allow to cool.

Prepare the salad by combining the lettuce and Parmesan cheese in a large bowl.

Caesar salad dressing in a white bowl with a small whisk

Make the salad dressing by adding the mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, garlic, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, anchovy paste, salt, and pepper in a blender cup or food processor.

Process until well blended and mostly smooth. There will be a slight texture from the Parmesan cheese and garlic – this is normal.

Chef’s Tip: you can also make the dressing by whisking all of the ingredients together in a bowl. Be sure to grate the garlic first.

Toss the salad with half of the dressing.

Present!

A keto caesar salad in a white bowl over a white background with a white container of caesar salad dressing and a fork near it

Divide the salad between 4 bowls and top with equal parts of sliced chicken and almond crumbs.

Serve with the extra dressing on the side.

Tips and Techniques

  • Rotisserie or leftover chicken can be used, if available.
  • Grate Parmesan cheese from a block to avoid starch often added to pre-shredded cheeses.
  • Low carb bread can be used to make croutons, however, it is more expensive, especially if it’s not something that you typically keep on hand.
  • You can make the salad dressing in a bowl with a whisk, just be sure to finely grate the garlic first.
  • Store leftover salad and dressing in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator. If the salad is dressed, it will last a day or two. The salad dressing will be good for up to a week.

FAQ’s

Can You Eat Caesar Dressing On A Keto Diet?

Caesar dressing is very keto-friendly. If you are buying store-bought dressing, be sure to check the label as many contain additives that may not fit into your keto diet.

When making homemade Caesar dressing, ensure that your ingredients are all keto-friendly based on your own preferences. For example, you may prefer to use a “keto-approved” mayonnaise rather than traditional mayonnaise made with soy.

How Many Carbs Are In A Chicken Caesar Salad Without Croutons?

This number is going to vary greatly, depending on where you are getting the salad from, the dressing used, and any additional ingredients that may be added.

In this recipe, there are 6 grams of total carbohydrates with 3 grams being fiber for a total of 3 grams of net carbs. This is including the almond flour crumbs.

Without the almond flour crumbs, the total net carbs is 4 which may be a good estimate for how many carbs you can estimate any moderately sized Caesar salad having without the croutons.

More Keto Salad Recipes

Keto Chopped Greek Salad
Keto Greek Salad is a modified, low carb version of traditional Greek salad. It's loaded with many of the same fresh vegetables and Mediterranean flavors, but with less carbohydrates. This classic recipe, also referred to as Village Salad or Horiatiki, is a healthy and delicious dish to serve, especially during summer.
Get The Recipe
Buffalo Chicken Salad
Buffalo Chicken Salad is a low carb, keto-friendly recipe that is a great make ahead meal for lunch or dinner. There are only 3 net carbs per serving and it’s gluten free.
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Low Carb Buffalo Chicken Salad in a Bowl
Loaded Bacon Ranch Cauliflower Salad
Topped with cheddar cheese, bacon, and creamy Ranch dressing, this Loaded Bacon Ranch Cauliflower Salad recipe is a delicious low carb side dish. It's equally as delicious as a barbecue or weeknight side any time of the year.
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A rectangle white serving tray with loaded bacon ranch cauliflower salad on it over a white background

Love this Keto Caesar Salad recipe? Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook for more!

If you try this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would please leave a comment and star rating. Thanks!

Print

Keto Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken and Caesar Dressing

Keto Caesar Salad is a low carb alternative to the classic version. It’s made with Romaine lettuce, Parmesan cheese, and grilled chicken, then topped with garlicky almond crumbs. The dressing is a raw egg-free version of classic Caesar dressing.
Course Appetizer, Main Dish, Salad
Cuisine American, Gluten Free, Low Carb, Mediterranean
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 487kcal
Author Lauren Harris

Ingredients

Caesar Salad

  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 clove garlic * finely grated
  • 1/4 cup blanched almond flour
  • 8 cups Romaine lettuce * roughly chopped
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese * grated or shaved
  • 1 cup grape tomatoes * optional

Caesar Salad Dressing

  • 1/2 cup keto-approved mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese * finely grated
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice * fresh squeezed
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon anchovy paste
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

Caesar Salad

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F.
  • Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a, oven-proof grill pan, or large skillet, over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken for about 2-3 minutes per side, or until grill marks are present and it’s golden brown.
  • Transfer the pan to the oven and cook until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F when a meat thermometer is inserted into the center of the thickest portion, about 10-15 minutes. Remove and allow to cool, then cut into 1/2-inch slices.
  • Meanwhile, melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 15-30 seconds, then stir in the almond flour. Cook, stirring often and watching closely until the almond is lightly toasted, about 3-4 minutes. Set aside and allow to cool.
  • Prepare the salad by combining the lettuce and Parmesan cheese in a large bowl.

Caesar Salad Dressing

  • Make the salad dressing by adding the mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, garlic, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, anchovy paste, salt, and pepper in a blender cup or food processor. Process until well blended and mostly smooth.
  • Toss the salad with half of the dressing.
  • Divide the salad between 4 bowls and top with equal parts of sliced chicken and almond crumbs.
  • Serve with the extra dressing on the side.

Notes

Tips and Techniques

  • Rotisserie or leftover chicken can be used, if available.
  • Grate Parmesan cheese from a block to avoid starch often added to pre-shredded cheeses.
  • Low carb bread can be used to make croutons, however, it is more expensive, especially if it’s not something that you typically keep on hand.
  • You can make the salad dressing in a bowl with a whisk, just be sure to finely grate the garlic first.
  • Store leftover salad and dressing in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator. If the salad is dressed, it will last a day or two. The salad dressing will be good for up to a week.
*  Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary. It includes the full amount of dressing, but does not include the tomatoes, as those are optional.

Nutrition

Serving: 1salad | Calories: 487kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 101mg | Sodium: 1010mg | Potassium: 664mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 8425IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 199mg | Iron: 2mg

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Filed Under: Chicken, Gluten Free, Low Carb, Main Dish, Recipes, Salads

Comments

  1. Beth says

    August 26, 2020 at 10:00 am

    Yum! This looks so delicious and tasty! Can’t wait to make this salad!

    Reply
  2. Alison says

    August 26, 2020 at 9:54 am

    I love the garlic almond crumbs instead of croutons. I’ve never been a big fan of croutons on my salad, but the almond crumbs add a nice texture and flavor.

    Reply
  3. Lata Lala says

    August 26, 2020 at 9:42 am

    I am game for all things caesar salad. This recipe is outstanding!! I am sure gonna make it soon.

    Reply
  4. Bless my food by payal says

    August 26, 2020 at 9:41 am

    Such an elaborate post and beautiful clicks. Awesome

    Reply
  5. Ashley says

    August 26, 2020 at 9:34 am

    I am obsessed with all things caesar salad — this dressing recipe is incredible!!

    Reply
  6. Sara Zielinski says

    July 23, 2020 at 1:20 pm

    This looks like an amazing salad.

    Reply

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Welcome, I'm Lauren!

Delicious Little Bites is where I share all types of recipes from appetizers to desserts. You will also find plenty of keto, gluten free, and vegetarian recipes here to help you put a delicious meal on the table every night that the whole family will love! Read More...

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