Description
Classic Caesar salad gets a keto-friendly makeover with grilled chicken, crisp romaine, and a creamy homemade dressing. Crunchy parmesan crisps and tender chicken elevate this low-carb meal, delivering bold Mediterranean flavors without the carb overload.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 450 g / 2 x 8 ounces cooked chicken breasts
Fresh Vegetables and Produce:
- 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
- 300 g / 2 cups grape tomatoes, halved (optional)
Dressing and Toppings:
- 80 milliliters / ⅓ cup Caesar salad dressing
- 75 g / ¾ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup / 30 g croutons (use gluten-free or low-carb if preferred)
Instructions
- Whisk together the Caesar dressing ingredients, ensuring a smooth and creamy consistency. Reserve for the salad and store the remaining dressing in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Select your preferred chicken cooking method – oven-baking at 375°F (190°C), outdoor grilling, or stovetop pan-searing. Season the chicken breasts with salt and black pepper before cooking to enhance flavor.
- Cook the chicken until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Remove from heat and allow the meat to rest for 5 to 7 minutes, which helps retain moisture and makes slicing easier.
- Slice the rested chicken breasts against the grain into thin, uniform strips approximately 1/4-inch (0.6 centimeters) thick to ensure tenderness and easy eating.
- Prepare the romaine lettuce by washing thoroughly, then chopping into bite-sized pieces. Pat dry with paper towels to prevent the salad from becoming watery.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the chopped romaine, sliced chicken, halved grape tomatoes, and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
- Scatter crisp croutons over the salad mixture just before serving to maintain their crunchy texture.
- Drizzle the reserved Caesar dressing evenly across the salad and gently toss to coat all ingredients, ensuring a harmonious blend of flavors.
- Serve immediately to preserve the salad’s optimal temperature and textural contrast between crisp lettuce and tender chicken.
Notes
- Cook chicken moments before assembling to ensure maximum flavor and succulent texture, allowing it to rest briefly before slicing thinly against the grain.
- Rinse romaine leaves carefully and thoroughly dry using a clean kitchen towel or salad spinner to prevent watery dressing and maintain crisp salad integrity.
- Warm homemade Caesar dressing subtly by letting it rest at room temperature, which helps ingredients blend smoothly and enhances overall taste profile.
- Sprinkle crunchy, golden croutons immediately before serving to preserve their delightful crispy texture and prevent unwanted sogginess.
- Slice chicken while it’s still warm to help seasonings penetrate deeply, creating more robust and delicious bites throughout the salad.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 433
- Sugar: 2.7g
- Sodium: 710mg
- Fat: 22.5g
- Saturated Fat: 7.1g
- Carbohydrates: 11.9g
- Fiber: 4.3g
- Protein: 45.4g
- Cholesterol: 126mg