If you want to wow your dinner guests, try this classic Caesar salad recipe. It has crisp romaine lettuce, crunchy homemade croutons, fresh parmesan cheese, and a light Caesar dressing.
“This is by far the BEST Caesar salad recipe! It’s also very easy to make vegan! My kids and I both love it!” ” – Darlene ★★★★★.
This homemade Caesar Salad was inspired by my son David. When he was 9 years old, he took cooking classes at Sur La Table, where he learned and fell in love with this Caesar salad recipe, so we re-created it at home together.
Since then, both of my kids have adored Caesar salad – it’s the salad they always request. As long as they’re eating their greens, I’ll happily crank out this salad for them. It’s my go-to green salad with hearty dinners like Chicken Tetrazzini, Lasagna, or Manicotti – it pairs well with almost anything!.
It’s easy to find chicken Caesar salad on menus all over the world. It has crunchy croutons, crisp romaine lettuce, tasty chicken, and a creamy, garlicky dressing. But what really brings this salad together is the cheese. The right cheese adds a salty and umami flavor that goes well with the other ingredients.
So if you’re making chicken Caesar salad at home, what cheese should you use? Here are 10 of the best options for cheese to top your chicken Caesar salad.
Parmesan
Parmesan cheese is the most iconic and traditional choice for Caesar salad. This hard Italian cheese has a salty, nutty flavor and granular texture that gives the salad a delicious richness. Parmesan works perfectly with the creamy dressing and brings everything together. Just make sure to use freshly grated Parmesan rather than pre-shredded cheese which can have anti-caking agents that affect the flavor. Freshly shaved Parmesan adds a wonderful finishing touch.
Pecorino Romano
Pecorino Romano is an Italian sheep’s milk cheese that tastes a lot like Parmesan. It is strong and salty. It has a bit more bitterness and bite than Parmesan. With Pecorino Romano, your Caesar salad is sharp enough to cut through the rich dressing. For a slightly different taste, use it along with or instead of Parmesan.
Asiago
Asiago is an Italian cow’s milk cheese with a firm, crumbly texture. It has a nutty, mild flavor that is less intense than Parmesan but adds nice complexity. Asiago blends well with the other Caesar ingredients without being overpowering. It also holds up well when tossed with the salad.
Cheddar
Take Caesar salad and make it more American by adding shredded cheddar cheese. Sharp cheddar goes especially well with the garlicky dressing; it adds a tangy flavor and a creamy texture when it melts a bit. Just stay away from pre-shredded cheddar, though, because it may not melt well. Shred your own cheese for the best results.
Blue Cheese
For a flavor boost, crumble sour and strong blue cheese over your chicken Caesar. Blue cheese is strong, but the rich dressing and mild lettuce go well with it. It doesn’t take much, so don’t add too much if you don’t like blue cheese. Gorgonzola, Roquefort, or Stilton are all good options.
Feta
For a Greek-inspired take, use briny, creamy feta cheese. Crumble the feta over the salad for pops of salty flavor in each bite. It also adds nice moisture. Just don’t overdo the feta or it can make your salad too salty.
Goat Cheese
The tangy, earthy flavor of goat cheese is fantastic on a chicken Caesar salad. Goat cheese has a creamier, more crumbly texture than Parmesan that gives a nice contrast. Try a log of fresh goat cheese and slice or crumble it over the salad.
Havarti
Havarti is a mild Danish cheese with a semi-soft, smooth texture. It has a buttery, creamy flavor that works well atop a Caesar salad. Havarti melts nicely, so it blends well with the warm chicken and dressing.
Swiss
For another mild option, use sliced or shredded Swiss cheese. The nutty, mellow flavor of Swiss blends perfectly with Caesar ingredients without covering them up. Swiss cheese also has great meltability which gives a lovely creamy finish.
Mozzarella
Fresh mozzarella adds milky flavor and soft, shredded texture to chicken Caesar salad. Part-skim mozzarella is a budget-friendly choice, or splurge on moist buffalo mozzarella. Just don’t use pre-shredded mozzarella which can be dry and rubbery. Slice or shred it yourself instead.
So there you have it – 10 delicious cheeses to top your chicken Caesar salad! Parmesan is the classic choice, but branch out and try Pecorino Romano, Asiago, or Havarti for something a bit different. Blue cheese and goat cheese also make flavorful additions. The most important thing is to use high-quality, fresh cheese and add it just before serving to prevent sogginess. With the perfect cheese accompaniment, chicken Caesar salad makes a hearty, satisfying meal.
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How to Make Croutons for Caesar Salad
The crunchy homemade garlic croutons really elevate this salad. The cheese crusted onto each little toast will have you snacking on these croutons!.
- The baguette should be cut in half lengthwise, then sliced into 1/4-inch thick pieces. Place the pieces on a baking sheet.
- Combine 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil with minced garlic. Mix the croutons with 2 tablespoons of finely grated Parmesan and oil that has garlic in it.
- They should be spread out evenly on the baking sheet. Bake until the edges are golden and crisp. If you want to save these for later, bake them until they are completely dry.
How to Keep Lettuce Crisp
Over the years, I’ve learned some great tips to keep romaine crisp, and these tips make all the difference in the texture of the salad.
- Wash the lettuce in cold water; this will keep it crisp.
- Start with dry leaves. I love my salad spinner. Cut the leaves up, rinse them, and spin them dry to get rid of as much water as you can. A lot of time is saved, and the clothes dry faster.
- Chill Lettuce Before Using: Once the romaine has been washed and dried, put it in a zip-top bag with a paper towel inside to keep air out.
This Chicken Caesar Salad Is Wrapped In Cheese!
FAQ
What cheese do you put in a chicken caesar salad?
Ingredients6 cups tightly packed chopped romaine lettuce. 1 pound cooked boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips. ½ cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese, such as Cracker Barrel. ½ cup seasoned croutons. ¼ cup creamy Caesar dressing, such as Kraft.
What type of cheese goes on top of Caesar salad?
This classic Caesar salad recipe features crisp romaine, crunchy croutons, and Parmesan cheese. A creamy, tangy homemade dressing ties it together. This Caesar salad recipe is classic and delicious. It features a base of crisp romaine lettuce topped with crunchy croutons and plenty of shaved Parmesan cheese.
What cheese is good for caesar?
Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (or parmesan cheese) — Parmigiano-Reggiano is the absolute best cheese for Caesar salad, but regular parmesan cheese works well too! I like to use the coarse setting of a box grater to grate my cheese. Coarsely grated cheese can’t be beaten in Caesar salad!.
What type of cheese with chicken salad?
Sharp cheddar cheese– I prefer to use sharp cheddar because you get more flavor with less cheese. You don’t have to overtake the salad with the shredded cheese to really incorporate the flavor.