Grilled Caesar Salad. Smokey, perfectly crunchy romaine paired with a creamy dressing and a surprise tang from caramelized lemon come together to make the best grilled caesar salad you’ll ever have. It’s quick and easy and beyond delicious. Try it now and it’ll be the constant go-to for your summertime dining!
Let’s get started!
This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details.
Let’s Talk Grilled Caesar Salad!
It’s easy to make
One of my favorite things about this grilled caesar salad is the amount of time it takes to make. The dressing comes together as quickly as you can pull the ingredients out of the fridge. The caramelized lemon (which I’ll talk about more in a minute) goes on the grill simply without any add-ons. And, the romaine hearts? They need only two, maybe 3 minutes on the grill just to develop the perfect color.
Easily adapted to many dietary needs
Another great thing about this grilled caesar salad recipe is that it is so easily adapted to several different dietary needs. The caesar salad dressing is naturally gluten-free. It is low-carb with no added sugars. If you are adhering to a dairy-free lifestyle simply leave out the parmesan shavings at the end. Need gluten-free? Use leave out a crouton garnish or use your favorite gluten-free croutons as a substitution.
Grilled Caesar Salad Ingredients
- Hearts of Romaine
- Mayo
- Lemon
- Anchovy Paste
- Garlic
- Dijon Mustard
- Worcestershire
- Avocado Oil
- Kosher Salt and Fresh Ground Pepper
- Optional parmesan shavings, croutons for garnish
How to Make The Best Grilled Caesar Salad
The Romaine Hearts
First, let’s talk about the lettuce for our grilled caesar salad. In order for the romaine to get the proper grill marks, it MUST BE DRY. I would wash the lettuce before you begin to give it plenty of time to dry. Honestly, I would recommend just wiping down the leaves with a damp cloth. This would prevent any excessive water that would occur due to soaking or rinsing.
After the lettuce is dry, simply cut the heart in half, LEAVING THE CORE INTACT. If you remove the core, the leaves will fall out and you will not be able to grill them. Only remove it AFTER grilling!
Next, simply brush the flat or grill side of the romaine hearts with avocado oil and lightly season with kosher salt.
The Dressing
The dressing for our grilled caesar salad could not be any easier. Simply mix all the ingredients together. I keep mine in the fridge in a mason jar. It never lasts long at my house, but you could keep it in the refrigerator for about a week.
Whatever you do, don’t throw out the lemon after you use it for the grilled caesar salad dressing! We are gonna save that for the grill later and turn it into something truly magical!
Grilled Lettuce and Lemons
It’s finally time to make some grill marks for our grilled caesar salad. I place the previously used lemon halves and prepped lettuce on a baking sheet and head outside.
The lemons will take just a few minutes longer, but they do not need any oil or salt. Simply place them flesh side down on a hot grill and let them caramelize for about 5 minutes.
The romaine lettuce hearts only need about 2 minutes. You are not trying to cook them. You only want to get a little char. I keep my grill lid open during this time to ensure that the lettuce is not cooking through and is staying crisp.
Assembling the grilled caesar salad
Once the lettuce and lemon are perfectly charred, bring them back into the kitchen on the baking sheet. I like to serve my dressed grilled caesar salad directly from this same sheet. Arrange the romaine hearts and give them a healthy squeeze of the caramelized lemon juice.
Next, drizzle copious amounts of the caesar dressing. I top mine with fresh parmesan cheese shavings, croutons, and course ground black pepper.
To serve, I simply leave a pair of tongs on the baking sheet alongside the salad. It’s easy, and casual, and your guests will love it!
Time needed: 15 minutes
For the best Grilled Caesar Salad recipe, simpy:
- For the caesar dressing.
Whisk the first 6 ingredients together until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Store in fridge until ready for use. Keep the used lemon halves for the grill.
- For the grilled caesar salad.
Carefully clean the romaine leaves with a damp towel. You do not want the leaves to be wet or the lettuce will steam instead of grill. Cut hearts in half. Do not remove the core until after grilling.
Brush flat side of the romaine with avocado oil and season lightly with salt.
On a medium-high heat grill, add the reserved lemon halves flesh side down until grill marks appear and are caramelized. About 5 minutes.
Add the romaine halves flat side down to the grill for 2-3 minutes or just until a char appears. Do not overcook the lettuce. - Assembly.
Squeeze some of the caramelized lemon juice over the grilled lettuce.
Drizzle with the caesar dressing.
Garnish with optional parmesan shavings, croutons, and black pepper. Enjoy!
Recipe Essentials
Let’s talk anchovy. I know the thought makes some of you shudder, but listen to Rufus for just a second. This is essential for making the caesar dressing amazing. Without it, the dressing will be good, not great.
Also, you probably eat it more than you think. It’s a major ingredient in Worcestershire sauce. This version is in a tube and couldn’t be easier to use!
This silicone pastry brush is perfect for applying the avocado oil to the romaine. And, once you’re done, it goes straight into the dishwasher!
I love putting all of the salad components onto a baking sheet, taking them out to the grill, and simply serving on the same sheet after I’m done. This is an incredibly easy recipe with an incredibly easy cleanup!
A microplane is the perfect tool to grate garlic. It’s quick and easy and, again, it goes straight into the dishwasher when I’m done!
frequently asked questions
Yes! This recipe is 100% gluten-free!
The only ingredient of concern for my dairy-free peeps is the parmesan cheese. You can simply substitute nutritional yeast for the parm. You’ll have a fantastic caesar salad recipe in the end!
Although many people think this salad recipe is Italian in origin, it is, in fact, Mexican by way of Italy. This salad was developed in the 1920s in Tijuana, Mexico by Caesar Cardini. Cardini, originally from Italy, moved to Mexico in order to escape Prohibition in California. Thank goodness. I love a good caesar salad!
other great recipes
Grilled Caesar Salad
Ingredients
Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp lemon juice keep the used lemon halves for the grill
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp dijon mustard
- 2 tsp anchovy paste
- 1-3 cloves garlic, finely grated use as much or as little as you would like
- salt and pepper
Salad
- 3 hearts of romaine
- 1-2 tbsp avocado oil to brush on lettuce
- salt and pepper
- parmesan shavings and croutons optional, for topping
Instructions
Dressing
- Whisk the first 6 ingredients together until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Store in fridge.
Salad
- Carefully clean the romaine leaves with a damp towel. Cut hearts in half. Do not remove the core until after grilling.
- Brush flat side of the romaine with avocado oil and season lightly with salt.
- On a medium-high heat grill, add the reserved lemon halves flesh side down until grill marks appear and are caramelized. About 5 minutes.
- Add the romaine halves flat side down to the grill for 2-3 minutes or just until char appears. Do not overcook the lettuce.
Assembly
- Squeeze some of the caramelized lemon juice over the grilled lettuce.
- Drizzle with the caesar dressing.
- Garnish with optional parmesan shavings, croutons, and black pepper.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
If you guys make this Grilled Caesar Salad, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I absolutely love to hear from you all and always do my best to respond to each and every one of your comments!
Thank you!
I am so incredibly happy that you are here! I hope you try my Grilled Caesar Salad recipe and fall in love with it. If you make this recipe, please share and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok! And, please leave a comment or review. I absolutely love seeing each and every one of your kitchen masterpieces. And, as always, if you ever have any questions about any of my recipes, please don’t hesitate to contact me!
Happy Cooking!
-Rufus
Rufus for Real is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. I may earn a commission, with no additional cost to you, if you purchase through those links.
Leave a Reply