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My all-time favorite salad has always been a good Caesar Salad, but it’s also the one I’ve had a love-hate relationship with. I can never resist that creamy dressing, crunchy lettuce, and salty kick; it’s comfort food disguised as a salad.
But let’s be honest, a traditional Caesar can be heavy on the calories and fat. That’s why I came up with this Skinny Caesar Salad, a lighter and healthy Caesar salad that keeps all the flavor and texture you love, just without the guilt.
What Makes This Recipe So Good
This Skinny Caesar Salad has everything you love about the classic version with crisp romaine, juicy chicken, creamy dressing, and a sprinkle of parmesan, all at a fraction of the calories. The secret is in the skinny Caesar salad dressing, made lighter with Greek yogurt while keeping that signature tang and richness intact.
It’s proof that a healthy Caesar salad doesn’t have to taste “healthy.” You still get that satisfying crunch and flavor balance that makes it impossible to stop eating. Whether you’re watching your macros or just craving something fresh, this skinny Caesar salad recipe gives you all the indulgence, minus the regret.
What Goes Into Skinny Caesar Salad
This Skinny Caesar Salad has all the flavor of the classic but with lighter, smarter swaps that make it perfect for a healthy meal. Here are the key ingredients that bring it all together:
- Greek Yogurt: The base of the skinny Caesar salad dressing, giving you that creamy texture and tangy flavor without the heavy mayo.
- Chicken Breast: Lean and full of protein, it keeps the salad satisfying while staying light enough for a healthy lunch or dinner.
- Avocado: Adds richness and creaminess naturally, so you can enjoy that luxurious feel without overdoing the fat.
- Parmesan Cheese: Just enough to add a nutty, salty punch that ties everything together and keeps the flavor authentic.
Note: Please see recipe card at the bottom for a full list of ingredients with measurements.
How To Make Skinny Caesar Salad
- Prepare Bread: Preheat oven to grill or broil on medium to high heat. Arrange ciabatta on a tray, drizzle with olive oil, and toast on the middle shelf until golden.
- Season the Chicken: Rub the chicken breast fillets with garlic powder, parsley flakes, and a pinch of salt until evenly coated and ready for grilling.
- Cook Chicken: Heat a non-stick grill pan or skillet with a drizzle of olive oil. Cook chicken on both sides until golden and cooked through, then transfer to plate.
- Crisp the Bacon: In the same pan, add the bacon strips and fry until golden and crispy, soaking up the leftover flavor from the chicken.
- Boil the Eggs: While the bacon cooks, boil your eggs to your preferred doneness, soft for a creamy center or hard for a firmer bite.
- Make Dressing: In a bowl, whisk the yogurt, olive oil, garlic, anchovies, lemon juice, and parmesan until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
- Prep the Salad Base: Add the washed and dried baby cos lettuce to a large serving bowl along with the avocado slices and shaved parmesan cheese.
- Assemble and Serve: Add the chicken, bacon, eggs, and bread pieces to the lettuce. Pour over dressing, toss gently to coat, and serve immediately.
This Skinny Caesar Salad goes with just about anything. It’s light enough to serve beside something hearty, yet satisfying enough to stand on its own. I love pairing it with Garlic Butter Salmon for a fresh and balanced meal, or Steak Fajita Grilled Cheese when I’m craving something indulgent but still want a hit of greens.
If you’re keeping things simple, try it alongside a slice of Super Moist Cornbread for a comforting, easy combo. Whether it’s lunch, dinner, or meal prep for the week, this salad fits right in with whatever you’re serving.
Tips For Making Skinny Caesar Salad
- Use freshly grated parmesan and fresh lemon juice for the best flavor. Pre-grated cheese and bottled juice can dull the bright, tangy taste that makes this skinny Caesar salad recipe stand out.
- If you prefer a creamier texture, add an extra spoon of Greek yogurt to the dressing. For a sharper bite, toss in an extra squeeze of lemon or a dash of Dijon mustard.
- Grill the chicken just until golden and juicy so it stays tender in the salad. And if you’re short on time, rotisserie chicken works perfectly too.
Recipe FAQ’s
If you’re not a fan of anchovies, try finely chopped black olives with a splash of fish sauce. You’ll still get that salty, umami flavor without the fishy taste.
Wash and dry the lettuce thoroughly, then chill it in the fridge before assembling. Adding the dressing only when ready to serve helps keep it fresh and crunchy.
Ciabatta is perfect for that crispy, chewy bite, but any crusty bread will do. Just make sure to toast it well for the best crunch.
Skinny Chicken and Avocado Caesar Salad
Ingredients
Salad:
- 1/2 loaf ciabatta sliced
- 1 lbs whole Chicken Breast fillets skinless and boneless, halved horizontally to make 4 fillets
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons dried parsley flakes
- 1 pinch salt
- 7 oz shortcut bacon cut into strips
- 2 large eggs boiled soft of hard boiled, sliced
- 2 heads baby cos lettuce washed and dried
- 1 medium Avocado sliced
- 1/2 cup shaved parmesan cheese
Dressing:
- 2/3 cup greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- 2 fillets anchovy finely chopped, or sub with 2 tablespoons black pitted olives, chopped finely and 1 teaspoon fish sauce
- 1/2 large lemon juiced
- 3 tablespoons freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 2 pinches salt and pepper for seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to grill/broil settings on medium – high heat. Place the bread slices onto an oven tray; drizzle with olive oil and bake in the oven (on middle shelf) until crispy. While bread is grilling, prepare chicken:
- Rub the chicken breast with the garlic powder, parsley flakes and salt. Heat a non stick grilling pan/skillet with a drizzle of olive oil and fry chicken until golden on both sides. Remove the chicken and set aside onto a warm plate. Add the bacon strips to the same pan, and fry until golden and crispy. While the bacon is frying, boil your eggs to your liking (and don’t forget to check your bread in the oven)!
To make the Caesar Yogurt Dressing:
- Combine yogurt, oil, garlic, anchovies, lemon juice and parmesan. Whisk until well combined; add salt and pepper to your tastes, and whisk again. Taste test.
Assemble Salad:
- Combine lettuce with the chicken and bacon strips; eggs (halved); avocado slices; shaved parmesan cheese; and bread pieces (halved). Pour over the dressing; mix well to combine, and serve!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Delicious! Made last night with a few modifications – dressing was a little thick so I used the juice of the entire lemon and swapped out the shortcut bacon for turkey bacon. Added one extra anchovy filet too! Leftovers held up great for lunch today too!
Just made this with lime juice as I couldn’t find lemons, it tastes so authentic! Added shrimp too. Thanks for sharing 🙂
That’s so awesome Emi!
Do you use plain Greek yogurt?
Yes
Love this salad but my dressing is way thicker than yours. Please help!
Hi Susan! Hmmm not sure why BUT you can add a small amount of water or oil to thin it out 🙂
Can you substitute the fish sauce? Salad looks amazing but don’t do fish of any kind.
Hi Val! You can leave it out entirely with any substitutions.
Hi Karina! This recipe looks delicious, but I’m curious…how many anchovies do you recommend?
Thanks!!
I made this salad last week and it was fantastic! This salad is going to be made a number of times this summer. Tonight I’m making the Cilantro Lime Chicken salad. Thank You.
You’re welcome Stephanie! I’m so happy to read this! And I hope you liked the Cilantro Lime Salad too!
This is fabulous!!! Thanks for posting.
You’re welcome Stacey!
Your recipes all look so yummy and appetizing, going to start trying them right away
I hope you like them Lucy 🙂
Capers would be great instead of the fish sauce or anchovies. I would think so anyway. I love the large capers and only rinse them slightly
Pat that’s a great idea too! I never thought of capers! Thank you for adding your comment. I’m sure others will find it helpful if looking for a substitution 🙂