Name: Classic Caesar Salad with Homemade Croutons Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 18 min
Total time: 38 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 4 cups cubed crusty bread; Extra-virgin olive oil (for drizzling); Sea salt (for sprinkling); 1 cup mayonnaise; ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil; 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice; 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard; 1 garlic clove (grated); 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce; Pinch sea salt; Freshly ground black pepper; ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese; 1 pound romaine lettuce (about 2 medium heads, chopped or torn into bite-size pieces); ½ cup shaved Parmesan cheese; Freshly ground black pepper (for garnish)

There’s something irresistibly fresh and crunchy about a homemade Caesar salad, especially when you add that extra love with crisp, golden croutons made from scratch. This Classic Caesar Salad with Homemade Croutons Recipe is my go-to whenever I want a salad that’s simple yet bursting with flavor and texture. Trust me, once you toss it all together, you’ll see why it’s a timeless favorite.

A large white bowl is filled with a Caesar salad made of bright green romaine lettuce pieces layered evenly. Scattered throughout are golden brown croutons with a crunchy texture and thin pale yellow shavings of cheese. Two wooden salad forks with green handles rest inside the bowl on the right side. In the background, there is a white marble surface holding a stack of white plates with three old-fashioned silver forks on top. To the upper right, a glass of pale golden white wine is being filled from a green bottle next to a white bowl with a blue cloth featuring white triangles. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Classic Caesar Salad with Homemade Croutons Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Classic Caesar Salad with Homemade Croutons Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Classic Caesar Salad with Homemade Croutons Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Making a Caesar salad from scratch, especially with homemade croutons, feels like such a satisfying accomplishment in the kitchen. It’s not just a side dish—it’s a crunchy, creamy, tangy experience every time.

Freshness at Its Best: Using crispy, toasted bread cubes you make yourself really elevates this salad beyond the usual.
Perfectly Balanced Dressing: The creamy, lemony dressing brings all the flavors together with just the right zing.
Easy to Customize: You can adjust the garlic, cheese, or dressing thickness to suit your taste exactly.
Quick Prep: This salad comes together in about 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights or weekend gatherings.

A large white bowl filled with a Caesar salad showing three main layers: the bottom layer is green romaine lettuce leaves, the middle layer has golden brown croutons with a crunchy texture, and the top layer features thin, pale yellow slices of Parmesan cheese scattered unevenly. Creamy light yellow Caesar dressing is drizzled over the salad, adding a slightly shiny look. Two wooden salad spoons with smooth, warm brown tones are held by woman's hands at the bottom right side, mixing the salad. Around the bowl on a white marbled surface, there is a small white plate with a chunk of Parmesan cheese and a cheese slicer, a small glass jar of golden olive oil, a wooden pepper grinder, and a glass bowl of more Caesar dressing. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient in this Classic Caesar Salad with Homemade Croutons Recipe plays a special role, creating a salad that sings with flavor. Here’s why these particular ingredients work so well together, along with a few tips I’ve picked up shopping and prepping:

Flat lay of fresh romaine lettuce leaves torn into bite-size pieces, a small pile of golden cubed crusty bread, a whole uncracked garlic clove, a fresh lemon halved to show bright yellow flesh, two whole brown eggs, a small white ceramic bowl of creamy mayonnaise, a small white bowl filled with extra-virgin olive oil, a separate small white bowl with Dijon mustard, a small white bowl of freshly grated Parmesan cheese, a small white bowl of shaved Parmesan cheese, a small white bowl containing sea salt crystals, and a few twists of freshly ground black pepper all arranged in perfect symmetry on a clean white ceramic surface placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Crusty Bread: Opt for a sturdy, rustic bread with a thick crust so your croutons stay crunchy and don’t get soggy too quickly.
Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: I love this oil for both drizzling over the croutons and adding richness to the dressing; it’s flavorful but subtle.
Mayonnaise: This adds creaminess and helps bind the dressing without overpowering the other flavors.
Fresh Lemon Juice: The lemon adds the perfect bright acidity that wakes up the whole salad.
Dijon Mustard: It gives a nice subtle tang and helps emulsify the dressing so it stays creamy.
Garlic Clove: Grated fresh garlic brings that essential bite; not too much, just enough to balance the flavor.
Worcestershire Sauce: Just a tiny splash amps up the umami and deepens the dressing’s flavor profile.
Sea Salt & Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that bring all the ingredients to life.
Parmesan Cheese: The freshly grated and shaved cheese adds nuttiness and richness—using good quality cheese makes a big difference.
Romaine Lettuce: Choose firm, crisp romaine for the best crunch and freshness.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of the best parts about this Classic Caesar Salad with Homemade Croutons Recipe is how easy it is to tweak. I often adjust the dressing thickness with a splash of water when I want it lighter, and sometimes add anchovy paste if I’m feeling traditional. Feel free to make it your own!

Variation: I tried adding grilled chicken or roasted vegetables to turn this salad into a hearty meal, which was a real crowd-pleaser at family dinners.
Dietary Swap: For a dairy-free version, swap Parmesan for nutritional yeast and use a dairy-free mayo—still delicious!
Seasonal Twist: Adding fresh herbs like parsley or chives can brighten the salad during spring and summer months.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Classic Caesar Salad with Homemade Croutons Recipe

Step 1: Toast Your Croutons to Golden Perfection

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F. Cube up that crusty bread and toss it with a generous drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and a pinch of sea salt. Spread the cubes evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment to make clean up easy. Bake them for about 10 to 18 minutes—keep an eye out because ovens vary—until they turn a gorgeous golden brown and feel crisp to the touch. Let them cool completely while you move on to the dressing; this step really unlocks the crunchiness that makes the salad shine.

Step 2: Whisk Together the Creamy Dressing

In a large bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the mayonnaise, extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, Dijon mustard, grated garlic, Worcestershire sauce, a pinch of sea salt, and some freshly ground black pepper. The key here is to whisk until smooth and creamy—no clumps! Stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese last. If the dressing feels too thick for your liking, add water a teaspoon at a time until it’s just right. This way, it clings beautifully to the lettuce without weighing it down.

Step 3: Toss and Layer the Salad

Place the chopped or torn romaine lettuce into a large bowl. Add half the dressing, half the croutons, and half the Parmesan cheese. Gently toss everything together so that every leaf is coated with that creamy dressing and dotted with crunchy croutons. Taste and add more dressing if you like it saucier. Finish by topping with the remaining croutons, shaved Parmesan, and a few extra grinds of black pepper for a pretty, flavorful finish. Serve immediately to enjoy every crisp bite.

Top Tip

Through making this Classic Caesar Salad with Homemade Croutons Recipe several times, I found a few little tricks that help every batch turn out perfectly balanced and delicious. Here’s what I’ve learned along the way:

Crusty Bread Choice: Use day-old bread or slightly stale bread—it toasts up crispier without turning to crumbs.
Garlic Intensity: Grate fresh garlic rather than mincing or crushing—it blends more smoothly into the dressing and won’t overpower the salad.
Parmesan Timing: Stir some Parmesan into the dressing and reserve some for sprinkling on top. This way, you get layers of flavor with every bite.
Toss Just Before Serving: To keep the lettuce crisp, wait until the last minute to toss it with dressing and croutons.

How to Serve Classic Caesar Salad with Homemade Croutons Recipe

Garnishes

For garnishes, I love adding extra shaved Parmesan for elegance and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for brightness. Sometimes I sprinkle a bit of cracked black pepper on top to add a subtle kick that wakes up the flavors even more.

Side Dishes

This salad pairs beautifully with grilled chicken, seared shrimp, or even a juicy steak to make a full meal. For a lighter touch, I sometimes serve it alongside roasted vegetables or hearty soups.

Creative Ways to Present

For special gatherings, try serving the salad in individual glass bowls or mason jars layered with croutons, cheese, and dressing on the bottom to keep the lettuce crisp until you’re ready to toss and eat. It’s a fun, elegant twist that always sparks conversation!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you have leftovers, keep the salad without the dressing sealed in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a day. I usually store croutons separately so they don’t get soggy. The dressing itself keeps well for up to 5 days, so it’s great to make ahead.

Freezing

I don’t recommend freezing this salad because fresh greens and homemade croutons lose their texture and crunch once thawed. Instead, freeze the bread cubes if you want to prep croutons in advance.

Reheating

The best “reheat” for this salad is really just making fresh croutons and tossing. If you must warm up leftover croutons, a quick few minutes in a hot oven restores their crunch nicely. The salad itself is always best cold and freshly tossed.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use store-bought croutons instead of making them from scratch?

You can absolutely use store-bought croutons in a pinch, but homemade croutons made from crusty bread add a fresh crunch and flavor that really stands out in this recipe.

How long does the Caesar dressing keep in the refrigerator?

The dressing keeps well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Just give it a good whisk before using, as it might thicken slightly upon chilling.

Can I make this salad vegan or dairy-free?

Definitely! Substitute the mayonnaise with a vegan alternative, use nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan cheese, and skip the Worcestershire sauce or use a vegan version. The salad remains tasty and fresh.

What’s the best type of lettuce to use for Caesar salad?

I recommend using romaine lettuce because it’s crisp and sturdy enough to hold the creamy dressing without wilting quickly. It also has a mild flavor that pairs well with the dressing and toppings.

Final Thoughts

I’ve been making this Classic Caesar Salad with Homemade Croutons Recipe for years, and it’s always a hit whether I bring it to a potluck or serve it as a quick lunch. The homemade croutons really make it stand out, and the dressing is just the right blend of tangy, creamy, and savory. I can’t wait for you to try it yourself—I’m sure it’s going to become one of your favorites too!