Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad (Printable)

A fresh, protein-packed salad featuring grilled chicken, romaine, yogurt dressing, and sourdough croutons.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grilled Chicken

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
04 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
05 - ½ teaspoon salt
06 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Sourdough Croutons

07 - 2 cups sourdough bread, cut into ¾-inch cubes
08 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
09 - ½ teaspoon garlic powder
10 - ¼ teaspoon salt
11 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Greek Yogurt Caesar Dressing

12 - ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
13 - 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
14 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
15 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
16 - 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
17 - 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
18 - 1 garlic clove, minced
19 - ¼ teaspoon salt
20 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Salad Assembly

21 - 2 large heads romaine lettuce, chopped
22 - ¼ cup shaved Parmesan cheese
23 - Freshly cracked black pepper to taste

# Directions:

01 - Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
02 - Rub chicken breasts with olive oil, garlic powder, oregano, salt, and pepper. Grill for 5-6 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Remove from grill and rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly.
03 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Toss sourdough bread cubes with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Spread on baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes, turning once, until golden and crisp.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper until smooth. Adjust seasoning to taste.
05 - In a large bowl, toss romaine lettuce with half the dressing. Add sliced grilled chicken, croutons, and shaved Parmesan. Drizzle with additional dressing as desired.
06 - Garnish with extra Parmesan cheese and freshly cracked black pepper. Serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Greek yogurt makes the dressing creamy without the heaviness of mayo, so you feel satisfied but not sluggish afterward.
  • Homemade sourdough croutons taste infinitely better than anything store-bought and crisp up in just minutes.
  • It's protein-packed enough to be a real meal, not just a side dish that leaves you hungry an hour later.
02 -
  • If you let the salad sit too long before eating, the croutons start losing their crunch—assemble right before serving, or keep them separate until the last second.
  • The dressing can be made up to a day ahead and stored in the fridge, which actually lets the flavors develop, but don't dress the lettuce until you're ready to eat.
03 -
  • If you have time, let the chicken marinate in the seasoning for 30 minutes before grilling—the flavors go deeper and the meat tastes intentional.
  • Anchovy paste (just half a teaspoon) whisked into the dressing brings it closer to traditional Caesar if that's what you're craving, though it's completely optional.
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