Tangy Homemade Caesar Dressing

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Why You’ll Love This Caesar Dressing

  • Tangy Flavor—This dressing is built on classic Caesar flavor—think Parmesan, Dijon mustard, and umami-rich anchovy paste. However, this version has a bright, tangy kick from lots of fresh lemon juice plus two different kinds of vinegar. It’s Caesar but with a bit of extra zing!
  • Quick & Easy—Just throw all the ingredients into your food processor, pulse it, and you’ll have smooth Caesar dressing in no time.
  • Versatile—Of course, it’s perfect for drizzling on a crispy romaine salad, but this dressing also goes perfectly in wraps and can even serve as a dipping sauce. 
Tangy Homemade Caesar Dressing

Offering a tangy take on classic Caesar, this homemade dressing is perfect for salads, wraps, and more. It’s packed with freshly-squeezed lemon juice, not one but two kinds of vinegar, plus Caesar staples—like anchovy paste, Parmesan cheese, and Dijon mustard. Just throw all the ingredients into a food processor and, just like that, you’ll have one of my favorite dressings of all time!

Tangy Caesar Dressing Ingredients

You’ll find some Caesar classics in the list below, along with a few extras that bring this dressing to the next level.

  • Mayonnaise
  • Sour cream
  • Garlic powder—Or a clove of fresh-pressed garlic.
  • Salt
  • Black pepper—I prefer finely-ground black pepper. 
  • Anchovy paste
  • Dijon mustard—Specifically, Grey Poupon.
  • Lemon juice—I use the juice of a medium lemon, which is typically 2-3 tbsp. Lean on the heavier side (3 tbsp) if you want the dressing extra tangy.
  • Parmesan cheese—Honestly, I’ve found that good old Kraft Parmesan is actually the best (and most convenient) choice for creating a smooth Caesar dressing. Some Parm varieties can give the dressing an almost gritty texture. If you want to use a block of Parm, make sure you finely grate it before adding it to the food processor.
  • Green onions—Remove the tough outer layers before adding to the food processor. 
  • Vinegar (Two Kinds!)—White wine vinegar and rice wine vinegar add some extra tang to the dressing.
  • Sugar—Just a little to balance out the acid. 
Caesar Dressing Being Drizzled Over a Fresh Salad With Homemade Croutons

How to Make Caesar Dressing

Add all of the ingredients to the bowl of a food processor—I use this mini KitchenAid one for this dressing (shop on Amazon). Pulse until the dressing is smooth and all ingredients are well-incorporated. 

Storage

Store this tangy Caesar dressing in an airtight container or jar (I use a pint Mason jar for this dressing). Keep it in the fridge—I recommend using up the dressing in the same week you make it for the best flavor. 

Serving Ideas

Drizzle this dressing over Caesar salad (duh!), add it to chicken Caesar wraps, toss pasta salad in it, or use it as a dipping sauce for chicken, shrimp, and more. 

Read on for the full recipe for this homemade Caesar dressing!

Once you’ve given it a try, come back and leave a rating and review to let me know how you liked it.

Tangy Homemade Caesar Dressing COVER IMAGE

Tangy Caesar Dressing

This take on classic Caesar dressing has some zing, thanks to extra vinegar and a shot of lemon juice. Drizzle it onto salads, add to wraps, or use it as a dipping sauce—it's one of my favorites!
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Course: Dressing
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Yield: 2 cups
Author: Camy

Ingredients

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • ½ tsp garlic powder or a clove of fresh-pressed garlic
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • tsp finely ground black pepper
  • 2-3 tsp anchovy paste
  • 2 tsp grey poupon dijon mustard
  • 2-3 tbsp lemon juice or to taste
  • ¼-½ cup Parmesan cheese Kraft Parmesan or very finely grated Parm; see ingredient notes above
  • 2 green onions tough outer layers removed
  • 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
  • 2 tsp white wine vinegar
  • 1 tsp white granulated sugar

Instructions

  • Add all of the ingredients to a small food processor/food chopper. Pulse well, until the dressing is smooth and all ingredients are well combined.
    1 cup mayonnaise, ½ cup sour cream, ½ tsp garlic powder, ¼ tsp salt, ⅛ tsp finely ground black pepper, 2-3 tsp anchovy paste, 2 tsp grey poupon dijon mustard, 2-3 tbsp lemon juice, ¼-½ cup Parmesan cheese, 2 green onions, 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar, 2 tsp white wine vinegar, 1 tsp white granulated sugar
  • Drizzle over salads, add to wraps, or use this dressing as a dipping sauce. Store in an airtight jar or container in the fridge.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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Camy

Happy To Be Here Blog is my cozy corner of the internet where I share delicious (and approachable) recipes, reviews of my kitchen favorites, cozy seasonal inspiration, and more lifestyle content meant to capture the magic of being happy right where you are.

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