5-Minute Homemade Creamy Caesar Dressing Recipe

This homemade Caesar dressing is so quick and simple to make that you’ll wonder why you ever bought the stuff at the store. 

Now, technically this recipe isn’t authentic. It doesn’t contain some of the classic ingredients such as anchovies or raw egg yolks, but the flavors are bold and delicious all the same. It’s really easy to make and it only requires a few simple ingredients. 

The fact that you can make this dressing without a blender, and all in one jar makes it ideal for those of us cooking in a tight space.

AND…there is no cleanup. Once it’s made, just pop the jar in the fridge and store it for up to a week. Easy right?

My whole family loves this creamy Caesar dressing. We like to use it on salads, in wraps, or even as a topping for burgers or chicken sandwiches. Let your imagination run wild.

You are going to love this easy shortcut. I promise it tastes just as good as the real deal!

Let’s gather up the ingredients

• Mayonnaise– Traditional Caesar dressing recipes call for extra-virgin olive oil and egg yolk, which turn into homemade mayonnaise during the process of making the recipe. We’re taking a shortcut and starting with store-bought mayonnaise. The good thing is you don’t have to worry if you are squeamish about the risk of salmonella from raw eggs. Just be sure to use a high-quality brand for the best flavor. 

• Garlic– Just one large clove of fresh garlic will do the trick unless you REALLY love garlic, then, what the heck, throw in two cloves of garlic! Use a garlic press, grate it on your Microplane, or mince it into a paste using the back of your knife and a cutting board.

• Lemon Juice– Fresh lemon juice is one of several tangy ingredients in this dressing, so we only need a couple of teaspoons (one lemon will be more than plenty).

• Dijon Mustard– Dijon mustard lends a distinct flavor to Caesar dressing. You probably won’t discern it in the final product, but it makes a big difference.

• Worcestershire Sauce– Just a small amount of Worcestershire sauce makes this Caesar dressing taste complete! It adds a rich flavor that makes this dressing taste complex and irresistible. In the absence of anchovies, Worcestershire sauce is key.

• Parmesan Cheese– Finely grated Parmesan gives the dressing an additional salty, umami flavor and a rich, cheesy texture.  

• Salt, Pepper & Water– Many of the ingredients in this recipe are already salty, so be careful when adding additional salt. Remember that you can always add more, but you can’t take it away. We will, however, load up this dressing with fresh cracked black pepper! Lastly, the dressing will be thick so add enough water so it reaches a drizzly consistency. Start with 1 tablespoon and then add more until you get the consistency that you like. 

Tips for success: Classic Caesar dressing contains anchovy filets or anchovy paste. We don’t find it necessary, but if you want to add that fishy flavor and you don’t have any on hand, you could substitute the anchovies for a little bit of fish sauce. 

I make this easy Caesar dressing in a Mason Jar. We use them for all sorts of things like making dressings and saving bacon grease, to storing soups and sauces. You can even use them to layer salads for a quick and convenient lunch option.

If you don’t have a mason jar, you could certainly make this dressing in a medium bowl with a whisk. Just transfer any leftover dressing to an airtight container before refrigerating.

Now let’s get cooking!

Actually… there will be NO cooking today. Simply add all of the ingredients to a wide-mouth mason jar and give it a shake. Once everything is well combined, taste and adjust the seasoning. Add more water to thin it out if necessary. 

That’s it! Now all that is left to do is decide on all of the delicious ways you can use it.

Tonight we are making a Restaurant-Style Caesar Salad. It’s getting tossed with some romaine lettuce and homemade croutons and being served with my husband’s favorite Italian Bowtie Pasta, but sometimes, if we are in the soup and salad kind of mood, we serve it with this amazing Tomato Gnocchi Soup.

Tomorrow I’ll use it in the Ceasar Chicken Wraps with Bacon and Avocado that I’m making for lunch!

Frequently Asked Questions

If you decide to make this homemade Caesar salad dressing, please be sure to give it a star rating and let me know how yours turned out and how you incorporated it into your recipes. I love hearing your feedback and I will do my best to answer any questions you have as quickly as I can. 

As always, I will be back next week with more delicious recipes from my RV kitchen to yours!