Lemon Chicken Caesar Salad with Cottage Cheese
My fresh Lemon Chicken Caesar Salad features a homemade cottage cheese-based Caesar dressing with parmesan, lemon juice, and dijon mustard. Tossed with fresh romaine, cucumbers, gluten-free croutons, and juicy lemon garlic chicken, this easy recipe is perfect for lunch or dinner without anchovies or raw eggs.
You’re going to love this delicious Lemon Chicken Caesar Salad with Cottage Cheese, a fresh twist on the classic Caesar salad. This recipe uses clean and simple ingredients for an easy homemade dressing that’s creamy, flavorful, and completely free of anchovies or raw eggs. I’ve created the perfect blend of cottage cheese, parmesan, almond milk, and fresh lemon juice for a light yet satisfying dressing.
Tossed with crisp romaine, mini cucumbers, gluten-free croutons, and topped with my golden, pan-seared lemon garlic marinated chicken, this salad is as hearty as it is refreshing. Whether you’re making this for a quick lunch or a beautiful dinner, it’s a meal you’ll want to enjoy again and again.
Why You’ll Love This Caesar Salad Dressing with Lemon Chicken Recipe
- No raw eggs or anchovies: This Caesar dressing is creamy and flavorful without the traditional ingredients some prefer to avoid.
- Fresh and vibrant flavors: The tangy lemon pairs perfectly with tender pan-seared chicken and crisp romaine.
- Gluten-free option: The salad is gluten-free, topped with crunchy, gluten-free croutons that everyone can enjoy.
- Quick and easy: This recipe comes together in no time, making it a great option for a nutritious lunch or light dinner.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here is everything you need to make the best-tasting Lemon Chicken Cesar Salad With Cottage Cheese.
Romain Lettuce: You can use spinach, kale, green leafy lettuce, or any other leafy green.
Shredded Parmesan Cheese: Grated pecorino romano, asiago parmigiano reggiano cheese, or any grated cheese can be used as an alternative to shredded Parmesan.
Lemon Chicken Breasts: For best results, make my Pan-Seared Lemon Garlic Marinated Chicken with boneless skinless chicken breast. You can also broil chicken or use any leftover chicken, rotisserie chicken, or chicken thighs.
Cottage Cheese: You can substitute with Greek yogurt, cream cheese, or mayonnaise as creamy alternatives.
Light Olive Oil: Avocado oil or grapeseed oil can be used as alternatives.
Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice gives the best lemon flavor. But you can also storebought lemon juice.
Dijon Mustard: You can omit or use yellow mustard or mustard powder instead.
Garlic Powder: Fresh garlic cloves can be used instead of garlic powder.
Milk: You can use any milk, including almond milk, regular dairy milk, soy milk, or coconut milk.
Mini Cucumbers: These are optional or can be replaced with regular cucumbers.
Pumpkin Seeds: You can omit or replace them with sunflower seeds, pine nuts or chopped almonds for added crunch.
Crunchy Croutons (Gluten-Free): You can omit or use homemade croutons, gluten-free crackers, bread cubes, garlicky croutons or parmesan crisps.
How to Make My Lemon Chicken Caesar Salad
Step 1: Make the Lemon Garlic Marinated Chicken
Make my Lemon Garlic Marinated Chicken, or use your favorite chicken. You can also omit the chicken.
Step 2: Make the Salad Dressing
In a blender, food processor, or the chopper cup with an immersion blender, combine parmesan cheese, cottage cheese, almond milk, light olive oil, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Blend until the dressing is smooth and well combined. Adjust the consistency by adding more milk if needed.
Step 3: Assemble the Salad
In a large salad bowl, add the chopped romaine lettuce. Pour the desired amount of salad dressing over the lettuce and toss with tongs until the lettuce is well coated.
Add the sliced mini cucumbers, croutons, shredded parmesan cheese, chopped lemon chicken breasts, and pumpkin seeds.
Serve immediately, and enjoy a delicious and satisfying meal!
Lemon Caesar Salad with Chicken Recipe Notes
Dressing Consistency: Add more milk for a thinner dressing
Additional Seasoning: Taste the dressing and adjust the salt and seasonings as needed.
Dressing Storage: This recipe makes about 1-1/2 cups of lemon caesar dressing. One serving is 1-2 tablespoons, so you will have plenty of dressing to store in the fridge. You can cut the recipe in half if you prefer less leftover.
Serving Suggestions:
Dress up your salad with some gluten-free croutons. You can also add fresh lemon zest or an additional tablespoon of lemon juice to increase the lemon flavor.
Do you love salads? Check out more of my easy and nutritious salad recipes:
Lemon Chicken Caesar Salad with Cottage Cheese
Ingredients
- 4 cups romain lettuce (chopped)
- 2 mini cucumbers (optional)
- 1 cup croutons (gluten-free)
- 1/4 cup shaved parmesan cheese (or shredded)
- 2 cups lemon chicken breasts (chopped)
- 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds (optional)
Parmesan Garlic Ceasar Salad Dressing:
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
- 1/3 cup cottage cheese (blended)
- 1/4 cup light olive oil
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce (gluten-free)
- 1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/3 cup milk (almond milk)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- dash pepper
Instructions
- Make my Lemon Garlic Marinated Chicken, or use your favorite chicken. You can also omit the chicken.
- In a blender, food processor, or the chopper cup with an immersion blender, combine parmesan cheese, cottage cheese, almond milk, light olive oil, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.Blend until the dressing is smooth and well combined. Adjust the consistency by adding more milk if needed.
- In a large salad bowl, add the chopped romaine lettuce. Pour the desired amount of salad dressing over the lettuce and toss with tongs until the lettuce is well coated.Add the sliced mini cucumbers, croutons, shredded parmesan cheese, chopped lemon chicken breasts, and pumpkin seeds.Serve immediately, and enjoy a delicious and satisfying meal!
Video
My first time making Caesar dressing…I’m hooked! Tastes so much better than store bought!! Thx for the recipe!
I’m so glad you tried making your salad dressing, Diane! I couldn’t believe how easy it was the first time I made it, too. You’re welcome for the recipe 🙂
I made it and it is DELICIOUS!! I used half of the olive oil, a couple of extra tablespoons(ish) of cottage cheese and a couple of extra tablespoons of milk to thin it out (since I didn’t use as much oil) and it is yummy! Thank you so very much for making one of my favorite meals much more healthy!
Thank you, Pamela! I love your modifications 🙂 Thank you for sharing!!
I made this dressing last night. I didn’t tell my husband it had cottage cheese in it. He loved it! The flavor is rich and creamy. This will become our new staple caesar dressing!!
Hi Patricia! Ha ha…I’m so glad your husband liked the dressing…cottage cheese and all 🙂 Thank you for sharing this with me!
This was so delicious!! Easy to make … we even have leftovers/dressing to use as a dip for veggies. The kiddos didn’t know a difference is the switch!! Thank you again for helping me make healthier choices!!
That is so awesome, Karrie! I’m thrilled your kids liked it too 🙂 Thank you for sharing this with me!