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
Recipe: Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad 🔗
Grill the chicken, lettuce and croutons in this perfect-for-summer Caesar salad.
Prep: 20min
Total: 40min
Serving Size: 0 g
Nutrition Facts: calories 1223 calories, Carbohydrate 49 g carbohydrates, Cholesterol 247 mg cholesterol, Fat 82 g fat, Fiber 8 g fiber, Protein 74 g protein, Saturated Fat 12 g saturated fat, servingSize 0 g, Sodium 1596 mg , Sugar 7 g , Trans Fat 0 g
Ingredients:
- 3 garlic cloves, peeled
- 3 olive oil-packed anchovy fillets
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 large egg yolk
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 4 romaine hearts, halved lengthwise
- 2 thick slices sourdough bread
- Caesar dressing
- Shaved Parmesan, for garnish
- Lemon zest, for garnish
- Chopped chives, for garnish
Instruction:
- Make the dressing: In a blender, combine all the ingredients, except the olive oil. Purée until smooth, then with the motor still running, slowly pour in the olive oil until a thick dressing forms.
- Make the salad: Light a grill. In a medium bowl, toss the chicken breasts with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, the garlic, salt and pepper. Grill, flipping once, until charred and cooked through, 6 to 7 minutes per side. Transfer to a board and let rest for 5 minutes, then slice into thick pieces.
- Meanwhile, brush the romaine and sourdough with the remaining olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill the romaine cut-side down until charred, 4 minutes, and sourdough, flipping once, until charred and crisp, 5 minutes.
- On a platter, arrange the grilled romaine and top with the grilled chicken. Roughly tear the sourdough into croutons and scatter over top. Drizzle with dressing and garnish with Parmesan, lemon zest and chives, then serve.
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.
What is chicken Caesar salad made of?
An authentic Caesar salad consists of romaine lettuce that is crisp and croutons that may or may not be made from stale bread, and it is seasoned with Parmesan cheese, Worcestershire sauce, anchovies, egg yolk, lemon juice, and other ingredients.