Description
A creamy, tangy Caesar salad with homemade dressing, crispy herbed croutons, and juicy grilled chicken. Perfect for dietary restrictions including no pork or alcohol, while maintaining bold flavor and satisfying texture.
Ingredients
Extra-virgin olive oil, high-quality oil for flavor (3 tbsp for croutons + 3 tbsp for chicken)
Chopped parsley leaves (2 tbsp, or substitute basil/cilantro)
Garlic (1 clove for croutons + 1 for dressing + 1 for chicken, grated)
Romano or kosher salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Ciabatta bread, day-old (4 cups cubed)
Skinless, boneless chicken breast (1¼ pounds)
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese (1½ cups)
Lemon juice and zest (2 tbsp juice + 2 tsp zest, from organic lemons)
Dijon mustard (1 tsp for tangy boost)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°F (crouton prep)
Whisk olive oil with parsley, 1 clove garlic, salt, and pepper
Spread cubed ciabatta on baking sheet
Distribute oil mixture evenly
Toast croutons until golden (13-15 minutes)
Transfer to cooling rack to remove moisture
In a bowl, whisk 3 tbsp oil, 1 clove garlic, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 2 tsp zest, salt, and pepper
Marinate chicken in mixture for 2 hours
Grill chicken over medium heat 5-7 minutes per side
Meanwhile, combine grated Parmesan, lemon zest, 1 clove raw garlic, Dijon mustard, and 2 tbsp oil in a large bowl
Whisk in 1-2 tbsp lemon juice to create dressing
Toss salad greens with dressing, add croutons, grilled chicken, and Parmesan
Serve fresh, optionally garnished with extra Parm and lemon zest
Notes
Use high-quality olive oil for best flavor
Ensure croutons are fully cooled to maintain crispness
Check Parmesan cheese for rennet content if using in a halal/kosher diet
Dressing can be prepared 1 day ahead and refrigerated
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 25
- Category: Easy Chicken Recipes
- Method: Grilling + Baking
- Cuisine: Contemporary American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (¼ recipe)
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 2800mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Carbohydrates: 31g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 58g
- Cholesterol: 260mg