Attention avocado lovers! You need this avocado caesar salad in your life: with an umami-packed creamy avocado caesar dressing that goes perfectly with crispy bacon, crunchy romaine, croutons and parmesan cheese.
Caesar salad is a total guilty pleasure of mine: I love the salty, tangy flavors, the crunchy romaine and croutons. For a healthier version, check out this kale caesar salad with crispy chickpeas or this healthy caesar salad dressing.
For an amazingly delicious (and indulgent) twist? This avocado caesar salad is where it's at.
With a creamy, luscious, flavor-bomb of an avocado caesar salad dressing that ditches the eggs (or mayo), crispy bacon and all the classic caesar salad ingredients, this is one salad remix you are going to absolutely love.
Reasons you'll ♡ avocado caesar salad
- it's egg and mayo-free as well as gluten-free friendly
- it's ready in under 30 minutes
- with creamy avocado dressing, crispy bacon and crunchy romaine, it might just be better than the classic caesar salad!
Avocado caesar dressing
For this recipe, you will need a food processor (here’s my favorite one). You may be alright to use a high powered blender, but I have not tried.
To prepare the dressing, add a ripe avocado, lemon juice, olive oil, anchovy paste, parmesan cheese, dijon mustard and a clove of garlic. Blend until smooth and no lumps remain. If needed, scrape down the sides of the food processor several times to get all ingredients blended properly.
Salad ingredients
We are going pretty classic for our caesar salad, with the addition of a cubed ripe avocado.
- Romaine lettuce- chop, wash, then dry thoroughly. I highly recommend investing in a salad spinner to do this.
- Croutons- go for a classic crouton, or gluten-free if necessary. You can prep your own croutons using this tutorial
- Bacon- adds a crispy salty bite of bacon to this salad. I love to bake bacon in the oven, it's so easy and always crispy.
- Parmesan cheese- go for fresh grated parmesan and avoid the scary shelf-stable stuff
- Cubed Avocado- adds a creamy texture to the salad and compliments the dressing. See how to cut an avocado
Variations
- Swap the romaine for kale (give it a massage first to remove bitterness)
- Add some cooked chicken and make it a whole meal
- Add some quartered hard boiled eggs or serve with a poached egg
- Add pasta to make it a pasta salad (you may need to increase the dressing)
Recipe tips
- once dressed, this salad must be served right away
- romaine can be washed, chopped and dried ahead. Store in an air tight container lined with a paper towel for up to 4 days.
- bacon may be cooked, cooled and chopped ahead. Store in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
- caesar dressing may be prepared ahead and stored in an air tight jar in the fridge for up to 48 hours.
More tasty salad dressings
- Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing
- Green Goddess Dressing
- Classic Greek Salad Dressing
- 5 Minute Asian Sesame Dressing
- Healthy Homemade Ranch Dressing
Recipe video
Watch the video below to see exactly how I prepped this avocado caesar salad dressing. It’s so easy! You can find more of my recipe videos on my YouTube channel, or on Facebook.
Avocado Caesar Salad Dressing
Ingredients
Dressing:
- 1 avocado (ripe)
- 1 lemon (juiced)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoon anchovy paste
- 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese (finely grated)
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic
Salad
- 1 head romaine lettuce (washed and torn into bite-sized pieces)
- 4 slices bacon (cooked, cooled, and cut into pieces)
- 1 avocado (cut into small cubes)
- 1 cup croutons
- 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese (finely grated)
Instructions
Avocado Caesar Salad Dressing:
- In a food processor fitted with a steel blade, combine all dressing ingredients.
- Blend for 30 seconds on high.
- Scrape down the sides with a spatula and blend for another 30 seconds - 1 minute, until dressing is creamy (as pictured above).
Avocado Caesar Salad
- Wash and dry lettuce, and tear into bite-sized pieces.
- Toss the lettuce with the dressing until completely coated and evenly distributed.
- Serve with the bacon, avocado, croutons, and additional Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- romaine may be washed, chopped and stored in an air tight container with a paper towel for up to 4 days
- avocado caesar dressing can be prepped up to 48 hours ahead
- bacon can be cooked, cooled, chopped and stored in the fridge for up to 1 week ahead
- Swap the romaine for kale (give it a massage first to remove bitterness)
- Add some cooked chicken and make it a whole meal
- Add some quartered hard boiled eggs or serve with a poached egg
- Add pasta to make it a pasta salad (you may need to increase the dressing)
swathi
Delicious salad with avocado, Love to try it, Pinning.
Danielle
Ok I'm obsessed with this salad and that dressing! This is just genius! I'm adding this to my list of recipes to try, plus I'll find any reason to eat avocados. Thanks for linking back to my chicken salad too, that made my day 🙂
Denise
Your chicken salad sandwich totally inspired this recipe, Danielle! Now I'm wondering how else to use avocado...the possibilities are endless 😉
Izzy
I love crazy salad lady 🙂 I feel like I've been being one lately too! I also love avocado and how you can use it in so many dishes! I just made some cookies using avocado that are surprisingly good! That dressing sounds like the type of dressing I would pour over everything!!
Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel
This is such a great idea! I bet the avocado makes the dressing SO creamy. Even though I've made homemade Caesar with raw eggs before, I know it creeps some people out, so this is such a perfect alternative! Love!
Kathy @ Olives & Garlic
Thank you wonderful crazy salad lady for another wonderful salad!!!
Denise
Ha ha, anytime, Kathy 🙂
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter
This salad looks amazing, Denise! I love that you used avocado in the dressing, such a great idea! I adore avocados so I can't wait to try this!
Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor
Caesar salad is a classic favorite. I love adding avocados to anything and everything! The dressing sounds amazing!
Alyssa @ My Sequined Life
Yessss yes yes. I'm a little finicky with eggs/mayo, so the fact that this delish salad is made with avocado is music to my ears! Plus parmesan and bacon... <3
Helen @ Scrummy Lane
If I had to eat one meal and one meal only for a very long time, I may well choose something like this! Mmm ... I can taste it now. I especially love that there's a double dose of avocado in there!
katie
ah! I love avocados! This salad looks so fresh and Spring-like. Love it. And you're right about avocados, they are so creamy and rich you really don't need anything else. Pinning 🙂
marcie
I agree completely -- I normally like lettuce with more nutrition but Caesars are all about romaine! And adding salty bacon and parmesan is even better. Very creative making an avocado dressing for this! Pinned.
April @ Girl Gone Gourmet
Yay! A new way to use avocado! And the anchovy paste... sounds very interesting, have to admit I've avoided anchovies my whole life, but I may need to rethink it 🙂
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice
I love how creative this salad is, Denise! Such a great idea to add in avocados for creaminess! I'm obsessed with them, so this salad is right up my alley! Delish!
Lynn | The Road to Honey
Hey. . .it's A-Okay to be a crazy salad lady. There are worse things that we could be eating. I love a good Caesar salad and I love that you are making the dressing healthier with those avocados.
Denise
Thanks, Cailee! Avocados are definitely versatile!
Geraldine | Green Valley Kitchen
I love a good caesar salad and adding a double dose of avocado just ups the yum factor, Denise. I'll have to think of a swap for the bacon…maybe crispy tofu would be good.
Denise
Thanks, Geraldine! I'm not sure what a vegetarian anchovy paste substitute would be...let me know if you know the answer!
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely
I love that you used avocado in the dressing! That is so smart. Don't you just love avocados? I buy a big bag of them at costco every week and keep them in my fridge. I have ripe and ready avocados at all times : )
Denise
I love avocados!!!! My problem is by the time they ripen I forget about them and then they go mushy. At least this dressing can use up the mushy ones 🙂
Annie @Maebells
You are officially my hero! I love avocado and I love caesar salad, but I have never but them together before! I am making this pronto!
Denise
Thanks, Annie! I wondered if I was crazy thinking these flavors would go together, but they really did! Hope you like it!
Erin @ Miss Scrambled Egg
Avocado caesar dressing...my mind is blown. What a wonderful idea, Denise. I'm a huge salad-lover myself. Romaine is my go-to, but I'm all about arugula and spinach as well.
Denise
Thanks, Erin! I haven't eaten that much arugula, but I will have to give it a try this spring...nice and fresh and peppery!
[email protected] Whole and Heavenly Oven
Denise, this salad is just BEYOND gorgeous, girl! I am pretty much flipping out over the fact that you used avocados instead of mayo in the dressing. Um, prettiest AND healthiest caesar salad ever right here! Pinned. 🙂
Denise
Thanks so much, Sarah! And thanks for pinning!