Easy Caesar Salad Dressing (No Mayo!)

Learn how to make this easy and delicious Caesar Salad Dressing (no mayo) from a dietitian!

This dressing with a 'healthy' twist is THE answer to welcoming Caesar salad into your weekly dinner rotation. Your kids will want to lick their plates clean - it's that good!

A small glass bowl with Caesar dressing with a spoon in the middle of a bowl of Caesar salad.

Don't let the thought of making homemade Caesar salad dressing intimidate you. It's easier than you think!

While most traditional Caesar dressings use raw egg yolks, this one does not. It turns out that you can make a creamy Caesar salad dressing using Greek yogurt instead!

As a dietitian mom, I figure if I can make homemade salad dressings that taste the same or better as store-bought dressing that my kids actually like, then why not? Especially when all I need to do is put everything in a blender or food processor and serve. So easy!

So, the next time you're at the grocery store, grab some crisp romaine lettuce, and top it with grilled or shredded chicken breast, store-bought or homemade croutons and toss it all in this creamy dressing for an easy weeknight meal!

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredient Notes
How to Make This Homemade Caesar Dressing Recipe
Helpful Tips
Dietitian Tip
Questions You May Have
Related Recipes
More Salads & Salad Dressings
📖 Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Easy Recipe No cooking, just measure and blend!
Kid-Approved My oldest daughter's favorite salad is a Caesar salad, and even she approves of this recipe. 😍 This recipe is made with all of the familiar and favorite flavors of a classic Caesar dressing, like anchovies, parmesan cheese, and garlic.
Homemade Dressing A classic dressing made from scratch, using simple ingredients. Canned anchovies and anchovy paste can be found by the canned tuna in most grocery stores.
Made without Raw Eggs Raw egg yolks are one of the main ingredients in many Caesar dressing recipes. This recipe uses chia seeds and Greek yogurt instead of raw egg yolk and mayonnaise to reduce the amount of saturated fat, increase protein, lessen your chance of getting a foodborne illness, and so kids with an egg allergy can enjoy it, too.
'Healthy' Caesar Salad Dressing I use the term 'healthy' loosely because it can mean something different for everyone. Still, because Greek yogurt adds protein and calcium, while anchovies and Chia seeds add healthy Omega-3 fats (which most store-bought dressings do not have), it feels fitting to describe it this way.

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients for making homemade Caesar dressing, labeled.

Greek yogurt Greek yogurt is high in protein. It also contains calcium and vitamin D. I use plain 2% Greek yogurt.
Lemon juice Fresh lemon juice helps to balance out the flavor. Lemon juice is high in vitamin C.
Worcestershire sauce This is added to give this dressing the flavor you would expect from a Ceasar dressing. There is not an equal substitute.
Parmesan Cheese Added for flavor and texture. Use freshly grated or pre-shredded cheese. I use pre-shredded Parmigiano Reggiano cheese from Costco. Using pre-grated cheese (finely grated, almost powder-like) will give this dressing a gritty texture.
Anchovies Believe it or not, anchovies are one of the key ingredients that give Caesar salad dressing its 'signature' salty, umami flavor that we all love. Anchovies contain vitamin D, iron, and Omega-3 fatty acids (known as healthy fats). Use either whole anchovies from a can or anchovy paste.
Dijon mustard Added for flavor. This can be substituted with mustard powder. I do not suggest using Grey Poupon mustard.
Garlic If you don't have fresh garlic cloves, garlic powder can be used instead. If you are sensitive to garlic, you can leave it out, but it won't taste quite as good (in my opinion;).
Chia seeds Added to achieve a thicker consistency. Chia seeds are a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids.
Salt & Black Pepper Added for flavor.

How to Make This Homemade Caesar Dressing Recipe

Two numbered images showing how to make homemade Caesar dressing.

Here's a quick overview of the steps to make this healthy dressing. For the full list of ingredients and specific instructions, scroll down to the recipe card.

Add all of the ingredients to a blender or bowl (if using an immersion blender).
Blend until you get a nice, creamy texture. That's it!

Helpful Tips

Use a small blender or immersion blender. Personally, I think you get the best texture when using an immersion blender to make this recipe.
To thicken this salad dressing, add more chia seeds.
Use either one anchovy fillet or one-half teaspoon of anchovy paste to make this recipe
Anchovy fillets (in a can) are easier to find and less expensive, per serving, than anchovy paste. However, unless you have plans to use up the rest of the anchovies in the can, it ends up wasted. For me, it ends up being less expensive over time to use anchovy paste.
You can make your own anchovy paste simply by mashing up the anchovies to form a paste-like consistency. This really isn't necessary though, since all of the ingredients will be blended together anyway. Still, I prefer to do this for precise measurement when my local store is out of anchovy paste.
If your kids won't mind a gritty consistency, you could substitute grated parmesan cheese (the kind used to top spaghetti) in place of shredded. Personally, I don't like it this way, but some people do.

Dietitian Tip

Swapping out or adding ingredients to blended recipes can be an easy way to increase fiber and protein intake.

For instance, by using Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise and adding some chia seeds to make this Caesar dressing, I've added almost 3 grams of protein and one gram of fiber per 2 tablespoons. It might not sound like much of a difference, but it all adds up 🙂

Questions You May Have

What is the difference between canned anchovies and anchovy paste?

The difference is in the consistency and how they are packaged. The ingredients are the same (anchovies, oil, and salt). Anchovy fillets typically come in a can, while anchovy paste is packaged in a tube.

How do you store leftover dressing?

Store this dressing refrigerated in an airtight container. I prefer to use a glass mason jar so I can easily spoon out the creamy dressing when I go to use it.

How else can you make Caesar dressing with mayo?

There are two type of Caesar dressing that I know of. The first and most common type has a creamy base, like this recipe which I make using Greek yogurt instead of mayo.

The second type of homemade Caesar dressing that I'm familiar with is more like a vinaigrette, which is typically make using a high-quality extra virgin olive oil instead of mayo.

How much sodium is in a serving?

About 70mg per tablespoon. The amount of sodium will vary depending on the type of cheese used, type of Worcestershire sauce (regular vs less-sodium), and the amount of added salt used 'to taste'. If you or your child have been instructed to follow a sodium-restricted diet, either use this dressing sparingly or use a lower sodium salad dressing instead (like my Healthy Strawberry Vinaigrette)