Caesar Salad Dressing (No Anchovies)

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Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing is better than the bottle! So creamy with fresh garlic, dijon mustard, mayonnaise, and seasoning! No anchovies!

A Deliciously Creamy Salad Dressing

A lot of people may not realize this but there is actually anchovy paste in Caesar Salad Dressing. I love the taste of Caesar Salad Dressing and I never get a fishy taste from it so I clearly enjoy it. But once you learn that and decide to make your own, suddenly you are questioning all your life choices – ha! I don’t keep tinned anchovies or anchovy paste in my pantry and it’s not something I will go out of my way to buy so I wanted to figure out a way to make it without anchovies. Turns out, you can make a delicious Caesar dressing without the additional anchovies!

A salad with Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing.

Best version of Caesar salad dressing I’ve ever made! My husband couldn’t stop raving. Thank you!
– Georgia

Frequently Asked Questions:

Does this Homemade Caesar Dressing contain anchovies?

There is no anchovy paste in this recipe. So, this isn’t an authentic Caesar dressing. They do use anchovies in the making of Worcestershire sauce, but for this recipe, when I say “no anchovies”, I mean that we are not adding additional anchovies or anchovy paste like traditional Caesar dressing for those that are sticklers for that kind of thing. Plus we’re only using the very tiniest amount per serving but you could leave it out if you really wanted.

Can I add anchovies in to this homemade dressing?

You sure can! If you would like to add anchovies, I’d suggest adding about 3-5 anchovies (packed in oil). I am told the whole anchovies add better flavor than the tube of anchovy paste. Add them in with the garlic in the food processor.

Do I have to use the food processor?

This recipe can be made by hand but the food processor just makes it a whole lot easier and it combines much better..

Is it safe to add a raw egg to this dressing?

Yes. However, if this bothers you or concerns you in any way, just purchase pasteurized eggs (not an affiliate link). Also, crack the egg and inspect before using if there are any concerns and keep the dressing refrigerated when not using.

Is this a sweet Caesar Dressing?

There is a little bit of sugar in this recipe. It does not make it sweet though. It just offsets the tanginess from the mustard and Worcestershire sauce.

How to store homemade dressing?

Homemade Caesar Dressing should be stored in a container with a lid, like a mason jar and should be kept in the fridge for about a week.

A spoon holding a scoop of homemade Caesar Salad Dressing above a jar of it.

Ingredients Needed: (See Recipe Card Below For The Full Recipe)

garlic – it needs to be fresh garlic cloves (not the jarred kind) for best flavor!
mayonnaise – again, use your favorite mayonnaise. I like Hellmans, JFG or Dukes.
egg yolk– this is totally safe. However, if you’re concerned still, check the Frequently Asked Questions for what you can use instead.
Parmesan cheese – I like to use freshly shredded but you use what you prefer.
water
extra virgin olive oil – you could use avocado oil as well.
freshly squeezed lemon juice – again, use fresh not bottled. The bottled stuff is super acidic and can throw off the flavors.
sugar – see my Frequently Asked Questions above concerning this ingredient.
Worcestershire sauce – see my Frequently Asked Questions above about anchovies.
dijon mustard– Dd not use yellow mustard – it has to be dijon here. The yellow mustard is too vinegary for this recipe.
salt and pepper

Mayo, lemon, olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, garlic cloves, egg yolk, Parmesan cheese, water, and sugar.

How To Make Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing:

In a food processor, finely process the garlic until minced. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until smooth.

Three food processors, one with just processed garlic, one with all the ingredients for Caesar dressing waiting to be mixed, and one with homemade Caesar Dressing.

Put dressing into a lidded container and pop it into the fridge for a few hours (or overnight) to give the flavors time to blend together (trust me, this makes a BIG difference in taste.) This salad dressing is absolutely amazing on a Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad too!