Easy Homemade Caesar Sauce – Creamy and Quick Recipe

Updated: July 9, 2025 • Reading time ≈ 20 min (optimized recipe).

1. Why make your own Caesar sauce ?

Honestly, why settle for a commercial Caesar dressing when you can make it yourself, with fresh ingredients and a killer taste? Caesar dressing

With your homemade sauce, you can forget about the slightly too salty or too sweet chemical taste of store-bought versions. It's also a smart way to recycle leftover ingredients, and, between us, it always makes a splash when you take your salad to the office or prepare a barbecue with friends.

Bonus: This recipe can be made in 10 minutes flat, perfect when you want homemade food without the hassle. Let's go!

2. Ingredients & Substitutions

2.1. The essential basis

For a Caesar sauce worthy of the name, you can't miss:

• 2 fresh egg yolks (or 2 tbsp. of mayonnaise if you prefer to avoid raw)
• 2 anchovy fillets (optional but essential for the umami taste)
• 1 pressed garlic clove
• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 2 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp strong mustard
• Salt & pepper from the mill

2.2. What if you don’t have…?

• No anchovies? ➜ Add a spoonful of Worcestershire sauce for a kick.
• No raw eggs? ➜ Replace them with Greek yogurt for texture.
• No olive oil? ➜ Sunflower or grapeseed oil are also suitable.

With these basics, you can already create a flavorful Caesar dressing tailored to your tastes. Feel free to adjust as you experiment.

3. Calories and nutritional values

Caesar dressing is relatively high in calories due to the oil and egg yolks, but it's a real treat that provides essential nutrients. Plus, it's much better than industrial sauces full of additives!

4. Easy steps for your Caesar dressing

1. 🔪 Prepare your base : in a bowl, crush the garlic clove with a little salt.
2. 🐟 Blend the anchovies : add them to the garlic, crush with a pestle or blend briefly for an almost smooth texture.
3. 🥚 Incorporate the egg yolks with the mustard, whisk vigorously until creamy.
4. 🍋 Pour in the lemon juice in a thin stream while continuing to whisk: this will emulsify the sauce.
5. 🫒 Add the olive oil in a very thin stream while whisking to stabilize the emulsion and create the velvety texture.
6. 🧀 Finish with grated parmesan cheese , adjust the seasoning with salt & pepper to taste.
7. 🥗 Taste and adjust : if necessary, add a little water to lighten or more lemon for a kick.

5. Fun & original variations

5.1. Vegan Caesar Sauce

Replace eggs with avocado puree, olive oil with sunflower oil, and anchovies with blended capers. Add a touch of malted yeast instead of Parmesan. Creamy and fragrant results guaranteed!

5.2. Light version

Opt for plain Greek yogurt instead of egg yolks and cut the oil in half. The sauce retains body while being lighter in calories.

5.3. Barbecue Twist

Add a pinch of smoked paprika and a drizzle of honey to spice up your Caesar dressing, perfect for accompanying summer barbecues. Be sure to check out our Barbecue & Grilling - Summer Celebration collection for inspiration!

6. Conservation & batch cooking

🔸 Fridge : 3 to 4 days max in an airtight container, well covered to prevent oxidation.
🔸 Freezer : not recommended because the texture is not great after freezing.
🔸 Batch cooking tip : prepare the sauce in double doses, keep one half in the fridge, and use the other as a base for a dip sauce by adding a little natural yogurt.

7. Gourmet use ideas

• 🥗 Classic Caesar salad : romaine lettuce, croutons, grilled chicken & parmesan…
• 🍔 As a burger topping : replaces mayo for a flavorful twist.
• 🥒 Fresh dip for raw vegetables or chicken wings (you can use an air fryer for crispy-soft wings – check out the best Air Fryers 2025 if you're looking for buying advice!).
• 🥪 In a chicken or smoked salmon wrap , it changes everything.
• 🍳 Eggs Benedict revisited by replacing the hollandaise sauce with your homemade Caesar dressing.

8. Caesar Sauce FAQ

9. Pro tips & mistakes to avoid

• Mistake 1: Neglecting egg freshness. ➜ Choose ultra-fresh eggs to avoid any harsh taste or health risks.
• Mistake 2: Skipping the slow oil whisking step. ➜ This step makes all the difference in the final texture.
• Tip: If using an immersion blender, pulse to control the emulsion.
• Pro hack: Grate a thin slice of lime zest for a fresh, unexpected note.

10. Anti-waste & smart budget

Recycle leftover grated Parmesan by freezing it for your gratins or pasta dishes. Use untreated lemons to zest the skin and flavor your sauce. Your homemade Caesar dressing is much cheaper and healthier than jarred preparation. To discover more budget-friendly kitchen gadgets, head to our summer barbecue and frying selection here , and for quick and healthy cooking, take a look at our guide to the best air fryers 2025 !

↑ Back to top