Nothing beats the classic crunch and deep flavors of a Caesar salad – that is, until you transform it into a grilled chicken Caesar salad. This elevated twist on the beloved original takes everything you love and kicks it up a notch.
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Say goodbye to boring chicken recipes. It’s time to upgrade your salad. Salad? Trust us. We’ve perfected the art of grilling juicy chicken and piling it over crisp romaine, infusing smoky char into every bite without losing that signature Caesar crunch. Paired with our creamy homemade Caesar dressing, it’s a harmonious blend of warm and cool, crisp and tender.
Our trick for quick cooking crazy juicy chicken? We pound the chicken thin to make more surface area to lock in the flame-kissed flavor and then use our chicken marinade to deepen the flavor. And, this guide delivers the step-by-step instructions to create this meal in your own kitchen.
Why you need this Grilled Chicken Salad
Grilled chicken Caesar salad is a beloved classic, and our recipe brings it up a notch with perfectly marinated and grilled chicken that stays juicy and flavorful. Paired with a creamy Caesar dressing loaded with hat umami you can only get from anchovies, crisp romaine, and sharp Parmesan, this salad is balanced in textures and tastes.
Chicken Caesar Ingredients
Think the restaurant staple has to be complicated. Let us break down marinating, grilling, and assembling this iconic salad, ensuring every bite is a blend of smoky, creamy, and crunchy goodness.
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs
- Grilled Chicken marinade
- Romaine lettuce, chopped
- Shaved Parmesan cheese
- Croutons
- Salt and pepper to taste – we love thick corse pepper for this salad.
- Creamy Caesar salad dressing
How to make grilled chicken caesar Salad
A lot of grilled Caesars actually grill the romaine lettuce. We’re skipping that part, not because grilled romaine isn’t delicious; it is. But because we wanted the best snap and crisp from the greens.
- Prep the Chicken:
- Remove chicken from packaging and pat dry.
- Flatten the chicken to an even thickness and marinate for 6 to 8 hours in the refrigerator.
- Grill the Chicken:
- Preheat your grill for medium-high heat, around 400°F for indirect heat. See our recipe card notes for charcoal or gas grills.
- Remove chicken from the marinade, pat dry, and grill on hot grates until well-marked and cooked to 165°F.
- Let the chicken rest before slicing into bite-sized strips.
- Assemble the Salad:
- Prepare the Creamy Caesar Dressing or use your favorite bottled version.
- Toss chopped romaine lettuce in a large bowl with half the dressing, adding more as needed.
- Mix in grilled chicken slices, shaved Parmesan, and croutons.
- Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Girl Carnivore Caesar Salad Recipe Tips
- Marinating: Allow the chicken to marinate long enough to absorb the flavors fully.
- Grill Setup: Use indirect heat to avoid burns and ensure even cooking. Transfer the chicken to the hot side of the grill when it’s almost to temperature to lock in a good char and the flame-kissed flavor.
- Resting: Let the chicken rest after grilling to keep it juicy.
- Make your own grilled croutons. Slice a baguette and toss it in olive oil. Grill the bread until crispy and allow it to cool before slicing into bite-sized pieces. When it comes to store-bought croutons, we really like Fresh Gourmet brand seasoned croutons. We buy these in big bags at Costco to save money.
How to Serve this Caesar Salad
Serve this grilled chicken Caesar salad immediately after assembling over platters or bowls, perfect for a summer lunch or a light dinner. A classic Caesar is simple, with just the lettuce, parm, dressing and chicken. You can add extras like sliced avocado and cherry tomatoes if you want to beef it up.
It pairs wonderfully with a chilled glass of white wine, like Sauvignon blanc, or a crisp summer ale.
Leftovers
The dressed salad will not hold well for leftovers. The lettuce gets quite wilted. But you can store leftover grilled chicken, wrapped in foil, in the fridge for up to 4 days. Simply whip up a new salad (or wrap) when ready to use up the leftover chicken.
With this Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad recipe, you have everything you need to whip up a quick, delicious meal that will impress at any occasion. Whether you’re hosting a casual backyard BBQ or a more formal dinner, this salad is sure to delight your guests with its perfect blend of flavors and textures.
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Transform the classic Caesar salad into a smoky, flavor-packed delight with our recipe that’ll make you fall in love with your salad game. Paired with our luscious homemade creamy Caesar dressing, this dish marries the char of the grill with cool, tangy creaminess, creating a salad so good, you’ll forget you’re eating your greens.
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Prep the Chicken
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Prep your chicken by removing it from the package and patting it dry with paper towels.
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Place the chicken between two sheets of plastic wrap, or in a resealable plastic bag, and pound it to about ¼ inch thick.
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Place the chicken in the marinade and let it rest in the fridge for 6 to 8 hours.
Grill the chicken
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When ready to grill, preheat the grill for indirect heat at around 400 degrees F. See our notes for charcoal or gas grills.
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Remove the chicken from the marinade and pat it dry with paper towels.
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Clean and oil the grill grates.
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Place the chicken over the hot side of the grill and cook, for 3 to 5 minutes, until grill marks appear.
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Carefully flip the chicken and continue cooking until the chicken reaches 165 degrees F with a digital thermometer, about 5 to 7 minutes longer.
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If flare-ups occur, transfer the chicken to the cooler side of the grill.
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Transfer the grilled chicken to a baking sheet to rest.
Toss the Salad
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Meanwhile, make the dressing.
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When the chicken has cooled, chop it into bite-sized pieces.
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In a large bowl, toss the romaine lettuce, and chopped chicken with ½ cup dressing. Add more dressing, if desired.
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Add the shaved parm and croutons and toss once more to combine.
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Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Don’t shortcut or skip the steps pounding the chicken thin or the marinade. Both of these steps are crucial for juicy grilled chicken.
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 677kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 54g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 29g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 75mg | Sodium: 2.364mg | Potassium: 328mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 1.925IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 127mg | Iron: 1mg
FAQs
Umami. It’s the deep umami flavors from the garlic, parmesan, and anchovies that make a simple Caesar salad so incredibly good.
This can easily be used to whip up a grilled Caesar wrap, which is perfect for meal prepping and quick lunch recipes. Dress the lettuce and arrange it in the center of a large wrap. Layer grilled chicken slices on top. fFold the wrap and slice down the middle. This will hold for a few hours in a lunch box, making it a great make-and-take lunch.
Omit the croutons. Use our homemade creamy Caesar dressing for a low-carb dressing option.
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