Charred Chicken Caesar Salad
A proper Caesar that pulls its weight as dinner. Charred chicken breast, crisp romaine, homemade whole grain croutons, and a Greek yogurt Caesar dressing with real anchovy and parmesan that tastes like the original at a fraction of the fat. 46 grams of protein a bowl.
Method
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Preheat the oven to 200C / 400F. Spread the bread chunks on a tray, mist with oil spray, season, and bake 8 to 10 minutes until golden.
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Whisk the yogurt, mayo, grated parmesan, anchovy paste, Dijon, lemon juice, garlic, and Worcestershire with a splash of water until smooth.
💡 Tip: It should just pour. Loosen with water a teaspoon at a time. -
Toss the chicken with the oil, Italian seasoning, and salt. Sear in a screaming hot pan or griddle 5 to 6 minutes a side until charred and cooked through.
💡 Tip: Butterfly thick breasts first so the outside chars as the inside finishes. -
Rest the chicken 5 minutes, then slice.
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Toss the romaine with the dressing, top with chicken, croutons, and shaved parmesan.
Notes
The anchovies are non-negotiable for real Caesar flavor. Two fillets dissolve completely into the dressing.
Get the pan properly hot before the chicken goes in. Char is the flavor here.
Dress the leaves just before serving. Dressed romaine wilts in minutes.
The dressing keeps a week in the fridge and is worth doubling.
Nutrition Information
| Calories | 375kcal |
| Total Fat | 14g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 15g |
| Protein | 46g |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How does this compare to a restaurant Caesar?
A restaurant chicken Caesar routinely clears 800 calories, most of it dressing oil and fried croutons. Swapping the emulsion base to Greek yogurt and baking the croutons keeps the flavor architecture and roughly halves the calories while doubling the protein.
Can I skip the anchovies?
You can, but the dressing becomes creamy lemon-garlic rather than Caesar. If fillets feel like a step too far, a teaspoon of anchovy paste from a tube does the same job.
Does it meal prep?
As components, yes: cooked chicken, dressing, croutons, and washed romaine all hold 4 days stored separately. Assembled, it is a same-day salad.
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