This Easy Caesar Salad Recipe is going to have you makin' the bacon every time you get a chance - Crisp lettuce, croutons, bacon, parmesan, creamy dressing… do I need to go on?

Caesar Salad - Can it get any better than a classic Caesar salad? Crisp lettuce, croutons, bacon, parmesan, creamy dressing… do I need to go on?

Caesar salad is one of those go to dinners you have to have in your repertoire of recipes, because honestly, it’s a crowd pleaser every time, and it’s just so delicious. Sometimes people say it can take a little long to put together, but I've created a recipe that you can get on the table in just half an hour.

Our Easy Caesar Salad Recipe has a few little tricks to make it even TASTIER.

We’re baking the bacon, baby - this makes it perfectly crispy (and not burnt), while also meaning that we can cook the croutons in the bacon fat and it makes them all the more delicious.
Parmesan in the sauce - yes please. And big chunks that we’ll whizz up and turn into creamy deliciousness.
We’ve added some more crunch with cucumber and radicchio, and more creaminess with avocado.
Anchovies. Okay these aren’t special, everyone has them, but they are so, so good.

What is this Easy Caesar Salad dressing made of?

Our caesar dressing is made using garlic, parmesan, olive oil, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, and of course, anchovies. Okay, if you don’t like anchovies, you can of course skip them, but I URGE you not to. They make this Caesar salad taste exactly like it should.

Why are there anchovies in Caesar salad dressing?

The anchovies give this salty, umami taste that DOESN’T taste like fish, just a really delicious dressing. When you blitz them up you won't even be able to tell that they're in there. Give them a try.

How to make this Easy Caesar Salad Recipe

1. Preheat the oven to 200 C, and line a tray with foil.

2. Place eggs in a saucepan, half fill with cold water and put over medium heat. Keep an eye out for it starting to simmer. Continue to next step >

4 eggs

3. If using, slice bacon into 1 cm strips and lay on the baking tray. Place in the oven for 10 minutes. Keep an eye on it and if you think it’s crispy enough, remove it earlier.

TIP: You can also add garlic cloves to the oven now to soften the garlic flavour in the dressing.

200g bacon
2 garlic cloves

Prep cos lettuce, radicchio, avocado and cucumber and add to a bowl.

4. Chop the base from cos lettuce and radicchio, then slice into wedges and place in a serving bowl. Peel and slice avocado. Slice cucumber into 2 cm batons. Add to the bowl.

1 baby cos lettuce
1 radicchio
1 avocado
1 Lebanese cucumber

5. The saucepan with eggs should be bubbling now, set a timer for 5 minutes, drain and place eggs in a bowl of cold water (with ice if you have it).

Shave half the parmesan and chop the rest into cubes. Smash garlic to peel it.

6. Shave half the parmesan using a potato peeler and chop the rest into 1-2 cm cubes. Smash garlic with the flat of your knife to peel it (removing from the oven if you had it in there).

120g parmesan
2 garlic cloves

Add garlic, cubed parmesan cheese, olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, anchovies (opt.), salt and pepper to a small food processor or blender to make Caesar salad dressing.

7. Add garlic, cubed parmesan cheese, olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, anchovies (opt.) to a small food processor or blender. Hold the salt and pepper for later.

2 garlic cloves
60g cubed parmesan
¼ cup olive oil
1 medium lemon
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
3 anchovies (opt.)

Tear bread into croutons, add to the tray and drizzle over oil, season with salt and pepper.

8. Take bacon from the oven and turn on the grill. Set bacon aside on a plate. Tear bread into croutons, add to the tray and drizzle over oil, season with salt and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes under the grill.

½ baguette
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and pepper

Easy Caesar Salad Recipe - To serve, peel eggs and slice in half, then top the salad with croutons, eggs, bacon and shaved parmesan, then pour over the dressing.

9. To serve, peel eggs and slice in half, then top the salad with croutons, eggs and shaved parmesan, then pour over the dressing. You may want to season the adult’s plates with salt and pepper.

When serving little ones, they may need their salad cut up into smaller pieces.

60g shaved parmesan

Top tip for easy boiled eggs

Pop your boiled eggs in iced water when you’ve finished cooking them. This will make it easier to remove the shells.

Substitutions

Alternative proteins - Add grilled or poached chicken to this dinner if you want.
Vegetarian - Skip the bacon and the anchovies.
Dairy Free - Parmesan is pretty key in this dish, but instead use lightly roasted garlic in place of parmesan in the dressing, and use either dairy free parmesan in the topping or skip the parmesan.
Gluten Free - Use gluten free bread in the croutons.

Kid-Friendly Variations

Serve elements separately - cucumber, avocado spears, boiled egg, bacon bits and croutons

Easy Caesar Salad Recipe - Serve elements separately - cucumber, avocado spears, boiled egg, bacon bits and croutons

Equipment to make this Easy Caesar Salad Recipe

You will need an oven, a baking tray, a saucepan, a stovetop, a small food processor or blender.

More Bacon Recipes

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They all feature delectable, delightful, crispy bacon.

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