In this nutritious Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad, romaine hearts, chicken that has been marinated in rosemary, and even the bread for the croutons are all cooked to perfection on the grill.
If you’re like me, your favorite part of a salad is the toppings. You feel like you have to include lettuce because you’ve always done it that way, and if you don’t, is it really a salad? Generally speaking, I think of lettuce as something that gets in the way and takes up space for the things I really want. However, after making this Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad, my opinions of lettuce have completely changed.
I was hesitant to give it a try because I was worried the lettuce would get limp and soggy. This can absolutely happen if you leave it on the grill too long or use a delicate lettuce, but with a sturdy lettuce like romaine hearts, it works beautifully. That’s right, I stuck it on the grill! Sounds crazy and I’ve been skeptical to try it, but it seems to be the thing to do in the summer.
Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad
Homemade Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad 🔗
A fresh and delicious grilled chicken caesar salad with lots of flavor from cucumbers, avocado, tomatoes, parmesan, and grilled bread for croutons! An easy homemade caesar dressing elevates each bite. Chicken thighs rather than chicken breasts are used in this recipe for maximum juiciness and flavor.
Prep: 30min
Ingredients:
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
- 5 slices sourdough bread
- 2 heads of romaine lettuce, cut in half vertically then (torn into bite size pieces)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, (halved)
- 3 small Persian cucumbers, sliced (into half moons)
- 1 ripe avocado, (sliced into thin strips or cubed)
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 1/2 teaspoons anchovy paste
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon worchester sauce
- 1 large clove garlic (or 2 small cloves, minced)
Instruction:
- Preheat 2 burners of your grill to medium-high heat.
- Season both sides of chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Brush both sides of sourdough bread with olive oil.
- Place chicken and bread onto grill directly over burners. Let chicken and bread cook for 3-4 minutes per side.
- Check chicken at 4 minutes with a tong and if there is no resistance, flip the chicken. If there is resistance, let cook for another minute (to avoid meat sticking). Flip bread as well, and when it’s golden brown on both sides, move to side of grill that is off.
- Let chicken thighs cook for another 3-4 minutes, until chicken reaches internal temp of 160 degrees F.
- Move chicken and bread to a platter and let rest for 10 minutes. Then slice chicken into thin strips, and tear grilled bread into small pieces.
- Assemble the salad with romaine in the bowl, tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, parmesan, grilled chicken, and grilled bread.
- Pour 1/2 of salad dressing over the top and toss to coat, just before serving. Add more dressing to top of salad if you’d like. Serve.
- For dressing: Whisk all ingredients together in a bowl and store in a jar. Can be made 3 days ahead.
FAQ
Are grilled chicken Caesar salads healthy?
Chicken Caesar Salads are ever-popular due to their incredible taste and nutrient-rich ingredients. You have the right amount of protein with the chicken, healthy fats with the parmesan cheese and dressing, and carbohydrates for energy to feel satisfied.
Is eating a chicken Cesar salad healthy?
For a main course Caesar, try serving this with my best grilled chicken. To make the dressing, first whisk together the garlic, anchovy paste, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Next, whisk in the mayonnaise, Parmigiano-Reggiano, salt, and pepper.
Is Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad fattening?
Unfortunately, Caesar salads are not healthy. This is due in part to the salad’s main ingredient, the dressing, which is high in calories, sodium, and saturated fats despite its long history of popularity.