Grilled Romaine Caesar Salad with Chicken

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Grilled Romaine Caesar Salad with Chicken is just as tasty as a classic Caesar Salad, but if you haven’t tried grilling your Caesar salad yet, you’re missing out on some serious flavor! My Grilled Romaine Caesar Salad with Chicken takes the classic chicken Caesar salad up a notch by giving the romaine hearts and chicken a quick char on the grill. The result? A smoky, crunchy, and savory salad that’s loaded with juicy grilled chicken, crispy bacon, parmesan cheese, and homemade caesar dressing. Trust me, this recipe is so simple to make and is the best grilled Caesar salad you’ll try!

Why You’ll Love This Caesar Salad Recipe!

This Grilled Romaine Caesar Salad is the perfect combination of fresh, crunchy, and savory. The charred romaine hearts add a hint of smoky flavor that pairs perfectly with the creamy Caesar dressing. Grilling the chicken breasts gives the whole thing an extra layer of flavor, and let’s not forget about the crispy bacon and parmesan cheese shavings that take it over the top. It’s an easy way to impress your guests (or yourself!) while still keeping it light and fresh. Plus, the homemade Caesar dressing with anchovy paste gives it that true Caesar salad taste without being overwhelming. If you’re tired of boring salads, this is one you’ll actually look forward to eating.

Ingredients Needed For Grilled Romaine Caesar Salad with Chicken

Here’s everything you’ll need to make this Caesar Salad recipe:

• Romaine hearts – Grilled for that smoky flavor and crunch.
• Chicken breasts – Marinated in olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic for added flavor.
• Bacon – Cooked until crispy and roughly chopped.
• Parmesan cheese – Shaved for a nice salty bite.
• Croutons – Crushed for added crunch.
• Olive oil – Used for both the marinade and brushing on the romaine.
• Garlic – Grilled and mixed into the dressing for a deep, garlicky flavor.
• Lemon juice – Adds brightness to both the marinade and the Caesar dressing.
• Dijon mustard – Helps give the Caesar dressing its signature tang.
• Anchovy paste or fillets – Optional but gives the dressing that umami punch.

Variations

• Swap chicken breasts for skinless chicken thighs for a juicier texture.
• Use plain Greek yogurt in place of mayonnaise for a lighter Caesar dressing.
• If you prefer a non-grilled version, skip the grill and use the romaine raw for a traditional Caesar salad.
• For a vegetarian option, leave out the chicken and bacon and add grilled cherry tomatoes or avocado instead.

A Note About Indoor Grilling

The beauty of this recipe is that you can use either an outdoor or indoor grill to make it! So if you’ve packed away your grill for the winter you can still make this dish year-round. A cast iron grill pan also works just as well and worst case scenario, you can brown the chicken in a nonstick skillet with a little nonstick cooking spray. It won’t have that smoky flavor you get from a grill, but it’s still really flavorful.

How to Make Grilled Romaine Caesar Salad

For full recipe details, including ingredient measurements, see the printable recipe card down below. Here are my step by step directions for putting this salad together:

1. Marinate the Chicken

In a medium bowl combine olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper. Stir it up to marinate and set aside.

Trim chicken breasts of any excess fat and cut into thin strips. Place the bowl with marinade and set aside while preparing other recipe elements. 

2. Grill Romaine Lettuce

Preheat indoor or outdoor grill to high. The idea is to char the lettuce as quickly as possible to reduce the wilting. Cooked, wilted lettuce is gross, but a quick grill to get that smoky flavor and grill marks is delicious!

We’re going to take 3 hearts of romaine lettuce and slice them right down the center lengthwise. Brush with some olive oil, season with a little salt, and set aside.

Next, place hearts of romaine onto the grill and char quickly on each side. Remove from grill and set aside.

3. Grill the Garlic

Reduce the heat of the grill. Slice the head of garlic in half to reveal cloves. Drizzle with olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Place onto the grill, cut side down to char and soften, about 7-10 minutes. 

Remove garlic from grill when it has sufficient grill marks and has somewhat softened. Squeeze out 4 cloves and set aside for dressing. 

Pro Tip: You can skip grilling the garlic if you don’t want to take the time for this step. You only need 4 cloves of garlic for the dressing and can use raw, if desired. If you do grill your garlic head, you can save the rest for another recipe like garlic mashed potatoes or homemade bone broth. 

4. Cook and Crumble Bacon

Meanwhile, cook some bacon. Feel free to pan-fry your bacon or even use this super easy oven method for cooking bacon. Chop all of your bacon up and set it aside.

5. Grill Chicken

Add the chicken to the grill and cook about 1-2 minutes per side or until internal temperature reaches 165° F. Remove chicken from the grill and cut into bite-size pieces.

6. Make Caesar Dressing

Add all dressing ingredients (mayonnaise, mustard, garlic, parmesan cheese, anchovies, pepper, and lemon juice) 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.)

Pro Tip: 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.

7. Assemble the Salad

Chop up charred lettuce into bite-size pieces or leave the leaves large and place them in the bottom of a serving platter. Toss together with chicken, bacon, dressing, parmesan cheese, and chives if desired. Serve cold.

Storage + Make Ahead Directions

If you have any leftovers, store the ingredients separately in airtight containers in the fridge. The dressing can last for about 3-4 days, but the grilled romaine is best eaten fresh.

To Make Ahead: You can grill the chicken and make the dressing ahead of time, but for the best results, grill the romaine just before serving to keep it fresh and crisp.

What To Serve with Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad

This grilled romaine caesar salad would make a great meal all by itself. But if you’re looking to serve it alongside another side dish or even a main course, here are some suggestions:

• Fettuccine Alfredo
• Lasagna Soup
• Zuppa Toscana
• Margherita Pizza
• Simple Bruschetta
• Garlic Bread
• Focaccia

More Caesar Salad Recipes to Try!

• Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
• Caesar Avocado Dressing
• Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad
• Caesar Salad Recipe (without Anchovies)

This grilled romaine caesar salad recipe is a fun twist on the classic caesar salad. The charred lettuce and smoky flavors are the perfect way to kick it up a notch, and the homemade caesar dressing brings everything together. Whether it’s a side dish or a main dish salad, this recipe is a must-try! 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.