Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad

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Tired of the same old classic Caesar salad? Brace yourself for a total game-changer – my Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad. Combining crispy bacon, parmesan cheese, and crunchy croutons, all tossed in a garlicky dressing, this is not your traditional Caesar salad. The Brussels sprouts are shredded into thin ribbons, offering the perfect base for a bold, creamy dressing made with a hint of anchovy paste. It’s the best of both worlds – a classic Caesar salad with a seasonal twist.

Why You’ll Love This Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad

Think crunchy croutons, nutty Parmesan, crispy bacon and perfectly shaved Brussels sprouts, all bathed in a creamy dressing. This salad is anything but ordinary.  I love a traditional Caesar salad, but more recently I’ve been switching out romaine lettuce for Brussels sprouts! I’d like to think that its a healthier option considering there’s a pound of bacon and cheese in this recipe. I suppose you could add less bacon and cheese, but whyyyyy? I always err on the side of splurge. 🙂 However, if you leave out the crushed croutons, this salad is Keto friendly with only 10 carbs in the entire recipe (which feeds a crowd, might I add). I absolutely looooove the crunch of the crushed croutons though, so I wouldn’t leave them out just for the sake of a couple more carbs.

Ingredients Needed for Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad

• Raw Brussels Sprouts: Shredded for that perfect crunch. The easiest way to do this is in a food processor using the slicing blade.
• Bacon: Cooked to crispy perfection and crumbled. Try making your bacon in the oven for easier cleanup.
• Parmigiano-Reggiano: Get the good stuff. You won’t regret it. I like to shave it for a prettier presentation. This gives such a great nutty flavor to this salad.
• Croutons: Crushed into delightful crumbs…so much better than biting into giant crispy croutons.

For the Caesar salad dressing–

• Mayonnaise: Traditional Caesar dressing uses raw egg yolks and oil, which is what mayonnaise is made of, so I took the shortcut here.
• Dijon Mustard: Adds a tangy flavor and also helps emulsify the dressing.
• Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed, about 1 whole lemon will be needed.
• Canned Anchovy Filets: You could also substitute anchovy paste. See my notes below.
• Fresh Garlic Clove: One clove is plenty but if you are a garlic lover, feel free to add two garlic cloves.
• Black Pepper: Freshly cracked, plus you’ll want to add more to the finished salad.

Variations

• Add Protein: Add grilled chicken breast, salmon or hard boiled egg make this a main dish.
• Sunflower Seeds: Toss in sunflower seeds for added crunch.
• Crispy Chickpeas: Replace croutons with crispy chickpeas for a gluten-free option.
• Sauté your Brussels sprouts first before adding them to the salad.

A Note About Anchovies

If you are allergic to anchovies, you can leave these out of the recipe, but be sure to add salt (to taste). Anchovies have a high salt content, which is why I left salt out of the dressing ingredients. If you think you won’t like the taste, don’t worry – you can’t even tell they’re in there. Put your big girl (or boy) pants on and give it a whirl. I promise you will LOVE what they do for this dressing. They give it that essential umami, salty flavoring…plus they are so good for you! If you can’t be talked into this at all, feel free to use the Caesar dressing recipe in this post that uses no anchovies.

How to Make Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad

For full recipe details, including ingredient measurements, see the printable recipe card down below. Here are my step by step instructions for making this Caesar Salad:

1. Cook the Bacon

Cook bacon until crispy. I like to cook my bacon in the oven at 425° F. It’s so much less cleanup and your bacon comes out perfect every time.

2. Shave the Brussels Sprouts

You can purchase Brussels sprouts already shaved at some grocery stores, but if you buy whole Brussels sprouts, one of the best ways to shred them is in a food processor using the slicing blade. Alternatively, you can do this by hand using the slicing side of a box grater. If all else fails, there’s always a sharp chef’s knife. 🙂 You just want to break up the Brussels sprouts so they are more edible in their raw form. Slice them as thinly as possible.

3. Crush the Croutons

Place 1 1/2 cups of croutons in a zip top bag and crush them using a mallet or a rolling pin, until they are fairly fine crumbles with just a few smaller chunks left.

4. Shave the Parmesan Cheese

This is a personal preference. You can use shredded cheese if you’d like but I prefer the big slices of shaved cheese. Be sure to use a good Parmigiano-Reggiano.

5. Add to a Large Salad Bowl

Combine shredded Brussels sprouts, bacon, cheese, and crushed croutons in a large bowl. Set aside while you make the dressing.

6. Make the Dressing & Combine

In a small blender, blend all dressing ingredients until smooth. (You can also whisk all ingredients in a small bowl if you don’t have a blender. Be sure to mince your garlic finely first.)

Drizzle the dressing all over the salad, then toss to combine, ensuring every piece of the salad has some dressing on it.

Taste, adjust seasonings (salt and more pepper if needed), and serve at room temperature.

Make Ahead and Storage Directions

To store leftovers, keep salad refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Brussels sprouts can hold up to dressing in the fridge, but keep in mind that the crouton crumbs will get soggy. I would NOT recommend freezing Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad.

To Make Ahead: prep the ingredients and store them separately, then toss dressing in right before serving.

Main Dishes to Serve With This Salad

• Roast Chicken
• Prime Rib – either oven roasted or Smoked Prime Rib
• Beef Tenderloin
• Steak on the Stove
• Red Wine Braised Beef Short Ribs
• Parmesan Tuscan Chicken
• Sausage Hash Brown Casserole

Love Caesar Salad? Try these other salad recipes:

• Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad
• Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
• Caesar Avocado Dressing
• Caesar Salad Recipe without Anchovies

This Brussels sprouts caesar salad offers a delicious twist on the classic recipe, combining the nutty flavor of fresh Brussels sprouts with the bold, garlicky dressing that makes a Caesar salad so popular. The printable recipe card is below. Have a great day, friends!

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.