Love Caesar dressing but not the anchovies? This creamy Caesar Salad Dressing without Anchovies is for you! It shakes up in a mason jar and tastes so much better than any store-bought brand. You'll love how simple it is to make.
I developed this Caesar dressing for one of my personal chef clients who had a fish allergy. She loved it!
A Quick Look At This Recipe
- Recipe Name: No Anchovy Caesar Salad Dressing
- Ready In: 10 minutes prep, 5 minutes rest time
- Serves: 10
- Calories: 159 per serving
- Main Ingredients: Extra virgin olive oil, mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, no anchovy Worcestershire sauce
- Difficulty: Easy
"I will never buy store Caesar dressing again - this is super easy & super tasty!"
Carroll, reader review
My Caesar salad dressing is ultra creamy and so easy to make. The basic ingredients are most likely already in your pantry and refrigerator. And it's quicker to make than running to pick up a store-bought salad dressing.
A no-anchovy Worcestershire sauce brings that savory umami flavor, and mayonnaise stands in for the raw eggs. The result is thick, creamy and totally fish-free. Now it's one of my go-to dressings for salads, dips and so much more. I think you'll love it!
Jump to:
- A Quick Look At This Recipe
- Why You'll Love This Anchovy-Free Caesar Dressing
- Ingredients & Substitutions
- How To Make Caesar Dressing With No Anchovies
- Amy's Top Tips
- Easy Variations
- How To Store Caesar Salad Dressing
- What To Serve With This Dressing
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Recipes Like This One
- Did You Make My Homemade Caesar Dressing?
- Recipe
Why You'll Love This Anchovy-Free Caesar Dressing
- Fish-free. I developed the recipe for a personal chef client with a fish allergy, so there are no anchovies.
- No raw eggs. Mayonnaise makes the dressing creamy. It's safe for kids and grandparents too.
- Super easy. Just add all the ingredients to a mason jar and shake. No blender needed.
- Quick to make. It's ready in about 15 minutes, including resting time.
- Make ahead. It keeps in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- It goes with everything. It's delicious on salads and as a dip.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Simple ingredients combine for a Caesar dressing that's loaded with savory, tart and umami flavors. Substitutes for the recipe's basic ingredients are listed. Scroll to the recipe card for full quantities of the ingredients.
- Extra virgin olive oil ~ Substitutes include olive oil, avocado oil, grapeseed oil or canola oil.
- Mayonnaise ~ This Caesar dressing skips the raw eggs and uses mayonnaise to make it creamy. Sour cream or plain Greek yogurt can be used as alternatives, but the dressing won't be as thick and rich.
- Fresh lemon juice
- Grated fresh Parmesan cheese ~ Freshly grating cheese produces the best flavor. In a pinch use an already grated cheese.
- Dijon mustard ~ Spicy or yellow mustards can also be used in the recipe.
- No anchovy Worcestershire sauce ~ This is the key ingredient! Most Worcestershire sauces contain anchovies, so read the label. I use this brand. It's gluten-free and vegan too. Or try soy sauce, miso paste or distilled white vinegar as alternatives.
- Garlic powder ~ If you're a fan of fresh garlic, substitute 1 minced garlic clove. Fresh garlic gives the dressing a bolder, sharper bite.
- Kosher salt ~ The larger grain salt enhances the flavor of food without making it overly salty.
- Fresh ground black pepper ~ More flavorful than already ground pepper.
How To Make Caesar Dressing With No Anchovies
Gather the ingredients and everyday kitchen tools to make the Caesar dressing (no anchovies!). This is a brief overview of the flavorful recipe. Scroll to the recipe card for the complete instructions.
- In a mason jar, add extra virgin olive oil, mayonnaise, and grated Parmesan cheese.
2. Add the juice of half a lemon, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper.
3. Screw the lid on the jar and give the ingredients a vigorous shake.
4. For best results, let the dressing sit for about 5-10 minutes so the ingredients emulsify and become creamy.
Hint: A mason jar makes for easy mixing and storage of the salad dressing. An immersion blender or a whisk can also be used to combine the ingredients for the dressing.
Amy's Top Tips
- Let the Caesar salad dressing sit for 5 to 10 minutes after making it. Then give it another vigorous shake for a minute or so. The resting time and second shake help the ingredients combine and emulsify resulting in a creamy and luxurious dressing.
- Grate your own Parmesan. Freshly grated cheese has the best flavor.
- Dress the salad right before serving. The romaine stays crisp.
- Dry your lettuce well. The dressing clings instead of sliding off.
Easy Variations
My recipe for Caesar salad dressing without anchovies is gluten free, keto-friendly and low carb. Try one of these easy twists.
- Spicy - Add a pinch or more of chili pepper flakes along with the spices.
- Smoky - Add ½ teaspoon of smoked paprika along with the spices.
- Sweet - Make this easy Caesar dressing a bit sweet by adding 1-2 teaspoons of honey.
- Lighter - Swap out the mayonnaise for plain Greek yogurt or sour cream. The dressing will be a little thinner, but still tangy and delicious.
How To Store Caesar Salad Dressing
Make ahead. Store the salad dressing in an airtight container. A mason jar works great! The dressing will stay fresh for about a week. If it starts to look discolored or have an off smell, toss it out. It's time to whip up a new batch.
Freezer-friendly? No. Skip the freezer. This recipe doesn't stand up well to freezing.
What To Serve With This Dressing
This dressing also makes a delicious dip. These are my favorite dishes to serve with this recipe.
- Toss it with crisp romaine and homemade croutons for a classic Caesar salad. It's also a tasty dip for my Everything Chicken Bites and Crispy Oven Fries.
- For a healthy twist, dip roasted carrot and parsnip fries in Caesar dressing.
- You can't serve my buttermilk chicken tenders without a delicious dip.
- Lemon herb chicken served over a salad and drizzled with Caesar dressing is perfect for lunch or dinner.
- Swap out the melted butter and dip microwaved artichokes in the dressing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Traditional Worcestershire sauce does contain anchovies, so use a no-anchovy brand. It's my favorite swap. It gives you the classic savory flavor without any fish. Try soy sauce or miso paste too.
Many Caesar dressings include anchovies. But the original recipe didn't include them. The recipe used olive oil, raw eggs, Parmesan cheese, and Worcestershire sauce. You can make this creamy dressing without any anchovies at all.
My simple Caesar dressing recipe substitutes mayonnaise for the raw eggs. The dressing is creamy, delicious, and safe for kids and older persons. Mayonnaise does contain eggs. For a completely egg-free dressing, use an egg-free, vegan mayo.
Substitute vegan brands of mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce and Parmesan cheese to make the dressing vegan.
Definitely! Use a Worcestershire sauce that includes anchovies. And add a few anchovies to the salad too!
Yes! I made it for a personal chef client who had a fish allergy. Be sure to check the Worcestershire label every time you buy it. Many brands contain anchovies.
More Recipes Like This One
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these favorites.
- Love homemade dressings? Shake up a batch of my fresh cilantro lime dressing. It's delicious on my southwest chicken salad.
- This cool and creamy yogurt and cucumber tzatziki sauce makes for a tasty dip or dressing.
- Just a few everyday ingredients including sour cream and mayonnaise are in this 5 minute dill dip recipe.
- No summer cookout is complete without homemade barbecue sauce.
- For a healthy dip with vegetables or a spread for sandwiches, whip up a batch of fresh basil hummus.
- This balsamic vinaigrette can also be a marinade for steak, chicken, seafood, and vegetables.
Did You Make My Homemade Caesar Dressing?
Did you try this recipe?
Let me know by leaving a comment and a star rating below. Share it on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook.
Thanks ~ Amy
Recipe
Caesar Salad Dressing without Anchovies
Equipment
- mason jar
Ingredients
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 5 tablespoons mayonnaise
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- juice of ½ lemon about 2 tablespoons
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon no anchovy Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a mason jar add the extra virgin olive oil, mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, kosher salt, and pepper.½ cup extra virgin olive oil, 5 tablespoons mayonnaise, ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese, juice of ½ lemon, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon no anchovy Worcestershire sauce, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- Screw on the lid and give the jar a vigorous shake to combine the ingredients.
- Let the dressing sit for 5-10 minutes to combine and emulsify. Give the jar another vigorous shake. The dressing should be creamy and thick.
- Store the dressing in the mason jar in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Shake before using.
Carroll says
I will never buy store Caesar dressing again - this is super easy & super tasty!
Amy Casey says
I feel the same way Carroll. And I love I control all the ingredients that go into the dressing.
Rosary De Filippis says
Thanks Amy for this easy AND VERY TASTY recipe! Keep them coming!!
Amy Casey says
I'm so glad you enjoyed my recipe Rosary. I've made this dressing for more years than I care to count 🙂
Tammy says
Thank you again for another great recipe. This dressing is creamy and lite.
Amy Casey says
You're so welcome Tammy! I love having a jar of this dressing in the fridge to make quit salads.