Classic Caesar Salad with Homemade Garlic Croutons
A refreshing Caesar salad with crisp romaine, tangy dressing, and crunchy homemade garlic croutons for a satisfying starter or side dish. This Italian-inspired salad recipe, ready in about 27 minutes, pairs romaine lettuce, parmesan cheese, French bread into a side that holds its own next to almost any main — bright, balanced, and quick enough to slot into a weeknight plate. Each serving lands at about 220 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly next to roasted proteins, grain bowls, or weeknight mains. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 2 heads, washed and chopped romaine lettuce
- 1/2 cup, freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 4 slices, cubed French bread
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves, minced garlic cloves
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp, freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1/2 tsp (optional) anchovy paste
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
The salad spinner we’d dry the greens in → Best Salad Spinners for 2026: Picks That Actually Dry Greens
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F. In a bowl, toss 4 cups cubed French bread with 2 tbsp olive oil and 2 minced garlic cloves until evenly coated. Spread on a baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes, tossing halfway, until golden and crisp.
- Step 2: In a small bowl, whisk together 1/3 cup mayonnaise, 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice, 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1/2 tsp anchovy paste (if using), and 1/4 tsp black pepper until smooth.
- Step 3: In a large salad bowl, combine 2 chopped heads of romaine lettuce and 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat.
- Step 4: Top the salad with the warm garlic croutons and an extra sprinkle of Parmesan before serving for a classic Caesar experience.









