Homemade Caesar Dressing Without Mayo

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With just a little bit of chopping and whisking, you can whip up this scrumptious Homemade Caesar Dressing in the comfort of your own home in no time at all (with the ingredients you want to use).

Caesar salad dressing in a white bowl with wooden salad tongs.

Traditionally, Caesar salad dressing is made using an egg emulsion (like in this recipe).

An egg emulsion is made with raw egg. If you don’t want to use raw eggs, you can make this delicious Caesar dressing from mayo.

If you’ve made homemade mayonnaise before, you can easily make Caesar dressing. The process is the same (drizzling the oil while whisking, or while blending, to create an emulsion with the egg).

To be clear, the process is like making mayo, but this homemade Caesar dressing doesn’t actually have mayonnaise in it.

Tools Needed to Make this recipe

Food Processor – My preference for egg emulsion recipes like this one is to use a food processor. You can also make it with a whisk, but it takes longer (and more muscles). We use this brand and it has been going strong for 10+ years! I know some people have great success with using an immersion blender, but I prefer the food processor.
Storage containers – To store homemade salad dressings, we love to use these mason jars.
Salad bowl – You can use any bowl to serve your salad. Wood, glass, or ceramic bowls make lovely serving dishes. This acacia wooden salad bowl is beautiful!

Ingredients to make This recipe

Ingredients to make homemade Caesar dressing without mayo

Eggs – As much as you can, try to find the best and freshest eggs you can.
Lemon juice – Lemon juice adds zest and a little tang to your homemade Caesar dressing salad. Use fresh lemons and squeeze it out, or keep a bottle of this single ingredient lemon juice in your fridge.
Olive oil / Avocado Oil – I recommend using either extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil in this recipe. The stronger the flavor of the oil that you use, the stronger the flavor o your dressing.
Anchovy paste – This recipe uses anchovy paste, which adds a ton of umami flavor. Check the ingredients on your anchovy paste to make sure there’s just anchovies, olive oil, and salt. I use this brand.
Mustard – Use what you like best, and what you have. Yellow mustard or Dijon will work well.
Garlic cloves – Fresh garlic cloves (zested) adds a nice kick to your Caesar dressing.
Parmesan cheese – To add that delicious cheesy flavor (optional). Omit for a dairy-free Caesar dressing.
Black pepper – Add as much as you’d like.

How to Make Your Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing Without Mayo

I’ll show you how to make Caesar dressing using a food processor. If you don’t already have a food processor, I highly recommend this one!

caesar dressing ingredients in food processor bowl — Ingredients in the food processor

food processor mixing — Blending it all up

oil emulsion for caesar dressing — Adding oil to the “pusher” to drizzle the oil

Step 1: Put all the ingredients (except one cup of the avocado oil and parmesan) in the bowl of your food processor. Turn it on for 30 seconds to blend everything together.

Step 2: With the food processor on, pour the last cup of the avocado oil into the “pusher”. This is the part of the food processor that fits in the lid and has a tiny hole at the bottom. The hole in the bottom lets the oil drip in so you don’t have to stand there and pour slowly.

Note: If you don’t have a “pusher” with a hole in it, just drizzle the oil in slowly with the food processor on. I aim for a thin stream (somewhere between dripping it in and dumping). Drizzling the oil should take a minute or two, not thirty.

Your dressing should be perfectly thick now. If you want to add Parmesan, now would be the time to do that.

Caesar Salad Recipe

Once you’ve made the dressing, it’s time to put your Caesar salad together. Put these items in a bowl for the perfect Caesar salad:

Romaine lettuce – Washed, dried, and chopped.
Croutons – You can make your own or use a gluten-free and keto-friendly option if needed.
Parmesan – Omit for a dairy-free Caesar salad.
Salad dressing – I (obviously) recommend this recipe (find the full recipe below).
Extra black pepper – If you’re a pepper lover.

FAQ & Recipe Tips

What can I substitute for anchovy paste?

Worcestershire sauce, capers, or kalamata olives are options for a substitute for anchovy paste (although I haven’t tested these personally).

Is the homemade Caesar dressing gluten free?

This recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free (just leave out the parmesan), and Paleo-friendly all in one. In this recipe, avocado oil (or olive oil) is used, which is good for your health as well as your taste buds.

Is homemade Caesar dressing keto-friendly?

Traditional Caesar salads contain croutons, which are usually not keto-friendly. Most Caesar salad dressings will be keto-friendly because of their high-fat content and low-carbs.

Can you make the homemade Caesar dressing ahead of time?

Yes! This homemade Caesar dressing may be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. I don’t recommend dressing the salad until you’re ready to eat it though (as the lettuce will get mushy).

close up view of caesar salad in white bowl

Looking for more delicious homemade salad dressings? Here are a few more on the blog: