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This homemade Caesar Dressing recipe has all the richness and flavor you’ve come to expect, but it’s healthy and easy to make too! Toss it (generously) with buttery croutons, crisp romaine and salty Parmesan cheese for a delicious, lightened-up Caesar salad that you can enjoy without guilt.

caesar dressing in a jar with caesar salad

While I adore traditional Caesar dressing’s garlicky flavor and decadent texture, I often shy away from ordering Caesar salads when I’m out or purchasing Caesar dressing at the grocery store.

Most are overloaded with heavy, processed ingredients, which practically negate the positive effects of ordering a salad in the first place.

Sold on the idea that I can enjoy Caesar salad AND earn my salad bonus points, I decided to create a homemade healthy Caesar dressing recipe.

Adding healthy, homemade Caesar dressing to a salad from a mason jar

5 Star Review

“Love love LOVE this recipe! We make it just about once a week for kale caesar salads. Thank you!”

— Samantha —

About Caesar Salad Dressing

First, for the sake of comparison, let’s talk about what’s in classic Caesar dressings.

Standard recipes typically contain some combination of the following ingredients, which are emulsified together to achieve a thick, creamy consistency.

  • Olive Oil
  • Anchovies
  • Garlic
  • Parmesan Cheese
  • Egg Yolk

Caesar Dressing Nutrition 101

If you’re wondering if classic Caesar dressing is healthy, the answer is: not usually. 

  • Made with heavy ingredients, like egg yolks, cheese, and oil, traditional Caesar dressings (even homemade) can be high in fat and calories.
  • Store-bought Caesar dressings are often loaded with processed ingredients and even added sugars, which don’t do you any favors. 
  • Most short-cut dressings call for mayonnaise, which can also contain hidden processed ingredients and added sugars. No thanks!

About this Healthy Caesar Dressing

Unlike traditional Caesar dressing, my healthy Caesar dressing is made with lighter, nutrient-packed ingredients with the following benefits:

  • Greek yogurt offers calcium, vitamins, protein, and probiotics.
  • Olive oil, garlic, and anchovy paste provide omega-3 fatty acids, anti-inflammatory properties, protein, antioxidants, and numerous vitamins and minerals (again, you CANNOT taste the anchovy!).
  • Drizzle or drench. With just over 100 calories per serving and 10g of fat, you can indulge as little or as much as you want with this Caesar dressing.
Ingredients for healthy Caesar salad dressing made with Greek yogurt

How to Make Caesar Dressing

If you’re frequently craving Caesar salad too, you may be wondering, “what is the best Caesar salad dressing?” Well, I believe it’s this one!

It’s healthier than classic homemade Caesar dressing, has full-on Caesar flavor, and it’s easy to make too.

Don’t believe the reviews!


The Ingredients

  • Greek Yogurt. My secret ingredient that makes this recipe creamy. I used non-fat plain Greek yogurt to keep this dressing light and make it a Caesar dressing without mayo or raw eggs. Also the creamy base for Green Goddess Salad Dressing.

Go Egg Free!

Many Caesar dressings recipes contain raw eggs, which means Caesar salads are generally off the menu if you’re pregnant to the risk of salmonella.

Luckily, this Greek yogurt-based recipe contains zero raw eggs so if baby is craving a Caesar salad, mama can eat a Caesar salad.

  • Parmesan Cheese. Freshly grated Parmesan cheese is a key component for the most perfectly salty and nutty Caesar dressing.
  • Olive Oil. A salad dressing MVP. Plus, olive oil is packed with monounsaturated oleic acid, antioxidants, and nutrients that help fight inflammation.
  • Lemon Juice. For a little acidity and brightness.
  • Anchovy Paste. Before you ask: yes, Caesar dressing, including this one includes anchovies. Anchovy fillets (or anchovy paste—either will work) give the dressing its captivating, savory quality and provide essential saltiness.

Substitution Tip!

If you’d like to make this Caesar dressing without anchovies, I have yet to find a spot-on substitute. In all honesty, only anchovies can truly capture Caesar dressing’s special somethin’ somethin’. However, if you’re set on swapping them for another ingredient here a few options:

  • Worcestershire Sauce. Is made with anchovies (or sardines) and probably as close to the real thing as it gets in terms of flavor.
  • Capers. A vegan and vegetarian anchovy substitute that will provide the dressing an acidic, savory flavor.
  • Olives. Choose an olive with a salty brine like kalamata or Castelvetrano for best results. 
  • Dijon Mustard. Adds delicious zip to the dressing.
  • Garlic. Fresh garlic completes our tasty dressing.

Dietary Note

This healthy Caesar dressing is gluten-free. If you’re looking for a vegan, vegetarian or dairy-free Caesar dressing, feel free to use this recipe as a base and swap in ingredients that suit your personal dietary preferences.

  • Substitute your favorite non-dairy yogurt in place of Greek yogurt.
  • Opt for vegan parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast instead of the real thing.
  • Use one of my suggested anchovy alternatives above.
Pouring healthy Caesar dressing onto a green salad from a mason jar

The Directions

  1. Place all ingredients in a blender, and puree until smooth. ENJOY!

Yes, it really is that easy!

Ways to use this Caesar dressing

Storage Tips

  • To Store. Store in an airtight jar or container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Shake or mix gently before serving.
  • To Freeze. Unfortunately, the ingredients in this recipe don’t lend themselves well to freezing and thawing. Therefore, I don’t recommend freezing this dressing.

Pair this with

Caesar Dressing

4.76 from 50 votes
Healthy Caesar Dressing made with Greek yogurt is a homemade twist on traditional Caesar dressing that's so much better than storebought!

Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 0 minutes
Total: 5 minutes

Servings: 6 2-tablespoon servings, about 3/4 cup total

Ingredients
  

  • 3/4  cup non-fat plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon anchovy paste or 2 anchovy fillets
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 large garlic clove

Instructions
 

  • Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor.
  • Puree until smooth and emulsified.

Video

Notes

  • To Store. Store in an airtight jar or container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Shake or mix gently before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 2tablespoonsCalories: 119kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 6gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 10mgPotassium: 65mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 75IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 126mgIron: 1mg

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Erin Clarke

Hi, I'm Erin Clarke, and I'm fearlessly dedicated to making healthy food that's affordable, easy-to-make, and best of all DELISH. I'm the author and recipe developer here at wellplated.com and of The Well Plated Cookbook. I adore both sweets and veggies, and I am on a mission to save you time and dishes. WELCOME!

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97 Comments

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  1. Hello,

    I was going to make this today and wondered how much Worcestershire you use instead of anchovy paste?

    Thank you :)

    1. Hi Stacy! You can omit the anchovy paste or you can use 1 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire, hope this helps!

  2. I’ve made this dressing several times, firstly with anchovies from a can, and today with anchovy paste, being the only difference. I think the ones with whole anchovies tasted better than today’s paste, so I think I’ll add some extra anchovy paste next time, but other than that, I have REALLY eoyed making this recipe! Thank you4 stars

  3. This doesn’t taste like Caesar, despite all the crossover ingredients, but it is a yummy garlic citrus yogurt dressing. I made a Caesar salad with it and I was disappointed, but when used other ways (like on a turkey burger) it was good.4 stars

    1. I’m sorry this recipe wasn’t to your tastes, Sue. I (and many other readers) have truly enjoyed it, so I wish you would’ve too!

  4. Just made this for tonight’s Caesar salad. I added a slash of Worcestershire sauce. So very good. I’ll be making this again and again.5 stars

  5. I’ve been making this dressing for years and it is unbeatable. I always add way more anchovies than it calls for, but that’s my only change. Love this recipe and thanks for making a healthy version of one of my faves!5 stars

  6. I have to say, I was extremely disappointed with this dressing. Word to the wise: don’t think that you can just substitute Worcestershire sauce for anchovies/anchovy paste. After adding everything except the anchovies, the dressing was bland and needed something tart desperately. No matter what I added (more Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, even a splash of apple cider vinegar!) nothing worked and my dressing didn’t ever taste like Caesar dressing. Clearly this is not the recipe for me. I’ll hunt for anchovy free recipes!

    1. Hi Kate! Sorry to hear this wasn’t to your taste. Authentic classic caesar dressing has anchovies so using anything different will definitely affect the result.

  7. Found this recipe about 2 months ago and I make a batch every week. It’s so good I now prefer it over regular Caesar.5 stars

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