Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad

5 from 2 votes

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Tired of the same old classic Caesar salad? Brace yourself for a total game-changer – my Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad. With crispy bacon, shaved parmesan cheese, and a traditional homemade creamy Caesar salad dressing, this classic gets a delicious makeover without any unnecessary fuss.

Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad on salad plate

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.
  • 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: Add 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.

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. 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

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 brussel 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.)

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.

Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad on salad plate

Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad Recipe Variations

While I like to keep this salad super simple with just bacon, parmesan and croutons, feel free to add any salad toppings of your choice…or sub out my ingredients for what you like! Here are some ideas…

  • Substitute bacon with sunflower seeds for a vegetarian twist
  • Try different types of cheese for unique flavor profiles
  • Experiment with adding grilled chicken breast or salmon for a main dish salad
  • Sauté your Brussels sprouts first before adding them to the salad
  • Add hard boiled egg for a protein boost.

Make Ahead and Storage Directions

To make ahead, prep the components and store them separately, then toss dressing in right before serving.

To store leftovers, keep salad refrigerated in an airtight container for up to two 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.

Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad on salad plate

Main Dishes to Serve With This Salad

Love Caesar Salad? Try these other salad recipes:

There you have it – a Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad that’s the perfect blend of classic and creative. I hope this is your new go-to salad when you’re in need of the perfect side dish, whether it be for a simple weeknight meal or a fancy dinner party. 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.

Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad on salad plate
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5 from 2 votes

Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad

Just as delicious as a typical Caesar salad just made with shaved Brussels sprouts! Give this Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad a try!
servings 6 servings
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 18 oz Brussels Sprouts* shaved or shredded
  • 1 lb bacon cooked and crumbled
  • 1/2 cup Parmigiano Reggiano shaved
  • 1 1/2 cups croutons crushed into crumbs

for dressing

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp dijon mustard
  • 3 tbsp lemon juice juice of about 1 whole lemon
  • 2 whole anchovy filets** canned, or anchovy paste
  • 1 clove garlic grated
  • 1/4 cup Parmigiano Reggiano freshly grated
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper freshly cracked + more to taste

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, combine shaved Brussels sprouts, bacon, cheese and crushed croutons. Set aside.
  • Add all dressing ingredients to a small blender and blend until smooth. (You can also whisk all ingredients in a small bowl if you don't have a blender.)
  • Pour dressing over salad ingredients and toss. Taste for seasoning and add salt and/or more freshly cracked black pepper if needed. Serve.

Notes

*You can purchase Brussels sprouts already shaved, but if you buy whole Brussels sprouts, it’s super easy to shred them in a food processor using the slicing blade. Alternatively, you can do this by hand using the slicing side of a box grater. 
**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. They just give this dressing the essential umami, salty flavoring.

Nutrition

Calories: 563kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 48g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 14g | Monounsaturated Fat: 18g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 67mg | Sodium: 933mg | Potassium: 521mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 782IU | Vitamin C: 75mg | Calcium: 199mg | Iron: 2mg
Course: Lunch
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Brussel Sprout Caesar Salad, brussels sprouts
5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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14 Responses
  1. Lisa

    This looks interesting! I am not a vegetable eater either, but this I would try. How do you prepare the Brussels Sprouts? I never heard of this before.
    All your recipes look awesome! Thank for sharing such a huge variety.

    1. Lauren

      The secret to this tasting so good is all the cheese and bacon. Haha! Of course that makes anything taste good! Lol! You can either buy your brussels sprouts shredded or buy them whole and slice them thinly to shred.

  2. Baked Rigatoni Pasta | Lauren's Latest

    […] salads try Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad or this Caprese Salad with Garlic Balsamic […]

  3. Stephanie

    My brussels sprout abhorring husband gobbled this up last night. And I’m having the leftovers right now for lunch with a couple of hard boiled eggs sliced in there – DELICIOUS

  4. Louellen Monte

    This looks like the perfect side dish for the Pesto Chicken and Rice. I’m always trying to find yummy vegetable dishes that my husband will eat, and this looks like one he will enjoy.

  5. Brandon's Dish

    I love Brussel Sprouts and Caesar Salad. Never thought of combining the two but this looks delicious. I would imagine this would have pretty great crunchy texture.

  6. Dianne Weston

    How do you shave Brussels sprout without shaving your fingers? They are small and will be hard to hold. Am I missing something here?

      1. Lauren

        I buy them ‘shaved’ but you can buy them whole and then cut them with a knife thinly to get that shredded look.

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