Steak Caesar Salad

With tender steak, crisp greens and a creamy homemade dressing, this steak Caesar salad tastes like a restaurant quality dinner yet comes together with just a few ingredients. See the full post for prep tips and more.

Jump to:

• The Ingredients
• The Method
• Leftovers and Storage
• Make it Your Own
• Serving Ideas
• Tips for the Best Steak Caesar Salad
• And if you liked this recipe...
• Recipe Card
• Comments

I can't even begin to count the number of times I've ordered a Caesar salad as an entree at a restaurant. Chicken Caesar, steak Caesar, shrimp Caesar- the flavors just never disappoint!

But a small part of me is always a little dissatisfied with myself for defaulting to it so often (and missing out on trying something new), especially because it is actually so easy to recreate that same restaurant quality meal at home (this Teriyaki salmon bowl also feels like something you'd get at a restaurant!).

This steak Caesar salad has everything that I'm looking for when I order out yet comes together without a lot of effort, making it perfect for both a weeknight dinner or when I want something more elevated.

And I think you'll love it too because it:

• Feels fancy. While it comes together easily, it features quality ingredients and flavors that feel like something you might get at a steakhouse.
• All in one meal. Protein, greens, carbs and healthy fats are all here so you can easily serve this as a dinner without the need to make anything else.
• Perfect for summer. The crisp, creamy flavors of the salad along with the grilled steak just sound like summer, no? (Pork Banh Mi burgers also feel like a summer meal!).

The Ingredients

• Steak- Use whatever cut you like best and feel most comfortable cooking. Ribeye is my favorite but picanha, striploin and sirloin are also good options.
• Romaine Lettuce- Caesar salad is classically made with Romaine but another lettuce or mix of greens can be used if you'd like.
• Parmesan Cheese- For best results, use a good quality block of parmigiano reggiano and shred it yourself.
• Bacon Bits- You can make them yourself by cooking, cooling and then slicing bacon or simply using some prepared ones.
• Croutons- I love making my own croutons with leftover bread but boughten works as well.
• Dressing- Feel free to use your favorite store-bought dressing or your go-to homemade version. Or make mine! You'll need:
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil- This is the place to opt for good quality as the flavor will impact the dressing. If you do the mayo swap (below), you can leave it out.
  • Greek Yogurt (and/or mayo)- If you find the flavor of Greek yogurt in dressings to be too pronounced, use half mayo for a milder flavor.
  • Garlic- One clove or ¼ teaspoon of ground garlic both work.
  • Anchovy Paste- This really is key for that signature Caesar flavor and I don't recommend skipping it.
  • Lemon Juice- It is a small amount needed so bottled or fresh work.
  • Dijon Mustard- Don't use regular mustard. Dijon has a distinct flavor that works really well in this dressing.
  • Parmesan Cheese- Like above, I recommend using a good quality block and shredding your own.
  • Salt- Taste and add if needed. The anchovy paste and Dijon add some salt so depending on the brand used and your preferences, you may add a bit more or less.

The Method

Leftovers and Storage

To Store: This Steak Caesar Salad is best eaten right after assembling. Once the dressing has been added, the lettuce begins to soften and it doesn't store well so only assemble as much as you plan to eat at a time.

The individual components, however, can be prepared ahead and stored separately. Up to two days in advance you can:

• Prep the bacon bits. Cook and cool the bacon and then slice or crumble and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
• Mix the dressing. Stir everything together and store in an airtight container or jar in the fridge. If you don't use all of the dressing for the salad, it will stay good in the fridge for 4-5 days and tastes great as a veggie dip too.
• Cut the lettuce. Wash and thoroughly dry the lettuce and store it in an airtight container with a slice of paper towel to absorb extra moisture and keep it crisp.
• Make the croutons. Check out my sourdough croutons tutorial for exactly how to make and store them.
• I recommend not cooking the steak until ready to serve as it tastes best fresh.

Make it Your Own

• Swap the protein. Instead of steak, you can add chicken or shrimp (cooked accordingly). Or leave it out.
• Add more veggies. While Caesar salad is typically made with just lettuce, I love adding all sorts of extra veggies depending on what I have on hand in order to add some extra plant diversity. Tomatoes, cucumber, avocado and white beans are some of my favorite additions.
• Switch up the greens. While Romaine lettuce is classic for Caesar salad, you could use another type of lettuce or even kale, spinach or arugula. Or you can use a blend of greens.

Serving Ideas

This salad is great as a stand-alone meal all on it's own (something about it just says summer dinner, no?) but it can also be accompanied by other dishes depending on how many people you are serving.

• Soup: This pairs great with some cherry tomato soup or borscht.
• Bread: Serve it up with a piece of crusty sourdough garlic toast or a slice of homemade honey oat bread.
• Potatoes: A plate of crispy fries or onion roasted potatoes would be great.

Or if you decide to leave the steak off, you have a classic side dish that is perfect for so many mains such as:

• The Best Sugar Free Pulled Pork
• Simple Beef Burgers (No Egg)
• Oven Baked Chicken Skewers

Tips for the Best Steak Caesar Salad

• Assemble just before serving. Caesar salad starts to get wilty once assembled so don't mix together until just ready to serve to ensure the lettuce and croutons are crisp.
• Cook the steak fresh. Steak is best enjoyed fresh so cook it, allow to rest for about 5 minutes and then slice and add to the salad. For the best steak, I recommend using an instant read thermometer to make sure it is done to your preference. And if you need more tips for cooking the steak, I highly recommend checking out this tutorial.
• Include bacon. To me, it's not really a Caesar salad unless it has bacon so although a lot of people don't include it in the steak version, I think everything is better with bacon including this!

And if you liked this recipe...

...you might also like:

• Mediterranean Salad
• Santa Fe Salad
• Cilantro Lime Pasta Salad

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