Healthy Caesar Dressing

This post may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure.

This healthy caesar dressing is bright, rich, and creamy. It features notes of coarse black pepper, garlic, Parmesan and savory seasonings without a strong fishy flavor. Made with tangy Greek yogurt it’s yummy homemade salad dressing. Drizzle it over a crisp green salad tossed with Parmesan cheese and sourdough croutons.

📌 Pin Healthy Caesar Dressing

💚 Why We Love This Recipe

• Tangy, bold and freshly made, it boasts a traditional balanced flavor. So much better than bottled dressing, and no preservatives.
• Make this easy recipe in 10 minutes or less. It’s so simple.
• It’s a healthy no-guilt condiment. We don’t use raw egg yolks and oil to achieve a thick creamy texture for this healthy Caesar dressing. We use Greek yogurt which is lower in fat and cholesterol. And no raw egg yolks means no contamination with Salmonella bacteria.
• No overpowering fishy flavor. For our recipe we use just 1 anchovy filet for a classic layer of saltiness, complexity and funk. But if you adore a fishy flavor, double the amount. Or to skip anchovies completely, add more Worcestershire sauce to taste.
• More than just a salad dressing. Use this tasty mixture as a sandwich spread, or as dipping sauce for veggies.

🛒 Ingredients

• Garlic Clove: Use fresh garlic not pre-minced. The stuff in jars has a very distinct flavor – it’s not what we want. Use a microplane grater to finely grate the garlic into a paste. Or smash the clove into a paste. [America’s Test Kitchen can show you how to make garlic paste.] We want a smooth puree that can be well distributed into the dressing.
• Anchovy Filet: Adds a punch of salty, oily umami flavor. The most flavorful anchovies are often found in a jar (not in a can) at specialty Spanish or Italian markets. If anchovy filets aren’t your thing, use 1/2 teaspoon anchovy paste instead.
• Small Lemon: It adds brightness and acidity to the dressing. For maximum flavor, we’re using both the zest and juice.
• Plain Greek Yogurt: This ingredient has a rich, slightly sour taste with a creamy velvety texture. It helps make this luscious mixture a healthy Caesar dressing. In a pinch, you can also use low-fat sour cream.
• Parmesan Cheese: Helps enhance the salty nutty flavor of the dressing. Use high-quality parmesan cheese that’s freshly grated.
• Dijon Mustard: Has a nutty, tangy, spicy flavor. It adds a subtle bite to the mixture. I prefer Maille, but use whatever brand you have on hand.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Savory, salty, tangy and sweet it delivers that all-important deep umami flavor.
• Freshly-cracked Black Pepper: Adds an earthy flavor with a bit of heat.
• Kosher Salt: Enhances the flavor of the other ingredients to everything tastes delicious. Anchovies have a lot of salt, so start with just a little as you can always add more.
• Water: Helps thin the dressing to your desired consistency. Or if preferred, use milk or cream instead.

📖 Recipe Steps

⭐️ Using a Food Processor

• STEP 1: Add garlic, anchovy filet, lemon juice and lemon zest to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until ingredients are finely minced.
• STEP 2: Add Greek yogurt, parmesan, dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. Pulse until mixture is completely smooth. We don’t want any chunks of anchovy or bits of garlic in the dressing.
• STEP 3: For an easy pourable dressing, add 1 tablespoon water then pulse to combine. For a thicker dressing, skip the water. For an even thinner dressing, add 2 tablespoons water.
• STEP 4: Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if needed. Store the dressing in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to use. For a classic Caesar salad, serve over crisp romaine lettuce with mini sourdough croutons and shaved parmesan cheese.

👉🏻 No food processor? No problem. See the recipe steps below this image.

🥣 Without a Food Processor

Making healthy Caesar dressing without a food processor is easy to do. You’ll need a cutting board, knife, mixing bowl and a whisk. And a jar with lid.

1. Mince and mash the garlic clove into a paste.
2. Instead of an anchovy filet, use 1/2 teaspoon anchovy paste.
3. Whisk all of the ingredients together in a medium bowl.
4. Transfer dressing to a jar. Store in the fridge until ready to use.

👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQ

These are the most common questions for achieving the BEST healthy Caesar dressing, and helpful answers for recipe success.

🥗 More Salad Dressing Recipes

There are many benefits to making your own salad dressing. They’re more cost-effective, have no preservatives, and no artificial colors or flavors. You control the amount of sodium. Making them at home they’re always fresh.

• Creamy Balsamic Dressing
• Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
• Asian Salad Dressing
• Homemade Italian Dressing
• Tahini Salad Dressing
• Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing

Rate This Recipe ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Flavor testers rated this the BEST healthy Caesar dressing. They loved the rich creamy texture and delicious mouthfeel. They said the flavor is spot-on compared to similar dressings served at sit-down restaurants. They appreciated the ability to swap out Greek yogurt for mayo if desired.

If you agree this recipe’s a keeper, give it a 5-star rating in the comments. Then be a recipe hero. Share it with friends. 📌 Pin it to Pinterest.

Print

Healthy Caesar Dressing 👉🏻 Join the Convo

Do you enjoy making homemade dressings? What do you think of this easy recipe? Share your thoughts on this Caesar dressing in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you.