This 10-minute creamy Caesar dressing is luxuriously thick, tangy, and savory — the kind that rivals a high-end restaurant and makes bottled dressings taste flat. Mayonnaise, lemon, garlic, anchovy, and Worcestershire whisk together into a bold, classic dressing at 0.8 g net carbs per serving. Chill it for half an hour and it gets even better.
Forget bland, bottled dressings forever! The secret to a truly spectacular Caesar salad lies in a killer dressing, and this recipe is exactly that. In just 10 minutes, you can create a luxuriously creamy, tangy, and savory dressing that rivals any high-end restaurant. It’s packed with bold, fresh flavors and none of the questionable preservatives you’ll find on store shelves. Get ready to elevate your salads from simple to sensational!
Ingredients
• MAKES: 1¼ cups · PREP TIME: 10 minutes
• 1 cup / 225g (7.9 oz) mayonnaise, store-bought or homemade
• 2 tablespoons / 30ml (1 fl oz) fresh lemon juice
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 anchovy fillets, minced
• 1 tablespoon / 15ml (0.5 fl oz) Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon / 5g (0.18 oz) Dijon mustard
• ½ teaspoon / 3g (0.11 oz) sea salt
• ½ teaspoon / 1g (0.04 oz) ground black pepper
Instructions
1. In a small mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, fresh lemon juice, minced garlic, minced anchovies, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, sea salt, and black pepper.
2. Whisk vigorously until all are fully incorporated and the dressing is smooth and creamy.
3. Serve immediately or transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. For best results, allow the dressing to chill for at least 30 minutes before serving to let the flavors meld.
Nutritional Information
• PER SERVING (2 tablespoons)
• CALORIES: 150
• FAT: 16.1g
• PROTEIN: 0.5g
• TOTAL CARBS: 0.9g (0.03 oz)
• FIBER: 0.1g
• NET CARBS: 0.8g (0.03 oz)
Pro Tips
• For an ultra-smooth consistency, blend all in a small food processor or with an immersion blender. This fully incorporates the garlic and anchovies.
• To achieve the classic Caesar flavor, add ¼ cup (25g / 0.88 oz) of freshly grated Parmesan cheese to the dressing.
• For a dairy-free cheesy flavor, mix in 2 teaspoons (10 ml / 0.3 fl oz) of nutritional yeast.
• If you’re hesitant about anchovies, start with 1/2 teaspoon (10 ml / 0.3 fl oz) of anchovy paste and add more to taste. It provides the savory depth without the texture.
• Let the dressing chill for at least 30 minutes before serving. This simple step makes a huge difference by allowing the bold flavors to meld together.
FAQ
Q: How long does this homemade Caesar dressing last
A: You can store this dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. For the best flavor, allow it to chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Q: How do I get an ultra-smooth consistency
A: For the smoothest dressing, blend all the ingredients in a small food processor or with an immersion blender. This fully incorporates the minced garlic and anchovies for a perfectly creamy texture.
Q: Can I add cheese to this Caesar dressing
A: Yes, to achieve the classic Caesar flavor, you can add ¼ cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese. For a dairy-free option, the recipe suggests mixing in 2 teaspoons (10 ml / 0.3 fl oz) of nutritional yeast.
Q: Is there a substitute for anchovy fillets in this recipe
A: Absolutely. If you’re hesitant about using anchovy fillets, you can use anchovy paste instead. Start with 1/2 teaspoon (10 ml / 0.3 fl oz) and add more to taste. It provides the same savory depth without the texture of minced fish.
Pro Tips
- Blend everything in a small food processor or with an immersion blender for an ultra-smooth dressing — it fully incorporates the minced garlic and anchovies instead of leaving little bits.
- Chill the dressing for at least 30 minutes before serving. That rest lets the bold flavors meld and is the single biggest upgrade to the finished taste.
- For the classic Caesar finish, whisk in ¼ cup of freshly grated Parmesan; for a dairy-free cheesy note, use 2 teaspoons of nutritional yeast instead.
- If you are hesitant about anchovies, start with ½ teaspoon of anchovy paste and add more to taste — it gives the savory depth without the texture.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Caesar dressing keep in the fridge?
Up to 2 weeks in an airtight container. Let it chill at least 30 minutes before the first serving so the garlic and anchovy flavors have time to meld.
Can I make it without anchovies?
You can start with ½ teaspoon of anchovy paste instead of fillets for the savory depth without the texture, but plain omission changes the flavor — it becomes a creamy garlic-lemon dressing rather than a true Caesar.
Is this Caesar dressing keto?
Per 2-tablespoon serving it has 0.9 g total carbs with 0.1 g fiber, about 0.8 g net carbs, with 16.1 g of fat from the mayonnaise base.
What can I use instead of Worcestershire sauce?
The Worcestershire adds umami depth alongside the anchovies; if you need a swap, a little extra anchovy paste keeps the savory backbone while staying keto.
Recipe card below.
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Ingredients
Method
- In a small mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, fresh lemon juice, minced garlic, minced anchovies, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, sea salt, and black pepper.
- Whisk vigorously until all are fully incorporated and the dressing is smooth and creamy.
- Serve immediately or transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. For best results, allow the dressing to chill for at least 30 minutes before serving to let the flavors meld.
- Let the dressing chill for at least 30 minutes before serving. This simple step makes a huge difference by allowing the bold flavors to meld together.
