Here’s Chef Ed’s Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad with Bacon — a bold, smoky twist on the classic. Juicy grilled chicken, crispy bacon, crunchy romaine, and creamy Caesar dressing come together for a hearty, satisfying salad perfect as a meal or side.

🥗 Chef Ed’s Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad with Bacon

Smoky grilled chicken, crisp bacon, shaved Parmesan, and homemade Caesar dressing over romaine

🕒 Prep Time: 20 minutes

🕒 Cook Time: 15–20 minutes

🍽️ Serves: 4

✅ Ingredients

For the Salad:

  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • 6 slices bacon
  • 2 heads romaine lettuce, chopped
  • ½ cup shaved or grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1½ cups croutons (store-bought or homemade)
  • Optional: halved cherry tomatoes or sliced avocado

For the Caesar Dressing (makes ~1 cup):

  • 1 egg yolk (or 1 tbsp mayo for shortcut)
  • 2 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan
  • ½ cup olive oil
  • Salt & black pepper, to taste
  • Optional: 1 anchovy filet or ½ tsp anchovy paste (for classic flavor)

🔥 Instructions

1. Prep and Grill the Chicken

  • Rub chicken breasts with olive oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
  • Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high. Grill chicken 5–6 minutes per side until fully cooked (internal temp 165°F). Let rest, then slice thinly.

2. Cook the Bacon

  • While chicken grills, cook bacon until crispy. Drain on paper towels and chop into bite-sized pieces.

3. Make the Caesar Dressing

  • In a bowl, whisk egg yolk (or mayo), mustard, lemon juice, Worcestershire, garlic, and anchovy (if using).
  • Slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking to emulsify. Stir in grated Parmesan and season with salt and pepper. Chill until ready.

4. Assemble the Salad

  • In a large bowl, toss chopped romaine with enough dressing to lightly coat.
  • Top with sliced grilled chicken, bacon, croutons, and shaved Parmesan.
  • Optional: Add cherry tomatoes or avocado for color and richness.

🧑‍🍳 Chef Ed’s Tips:

  • For extra flavor, grill halved romaine hearts briefly (1–2 min) before chopping — a smoky Caesar twist!
  • Make your own croutons by toasting cubed sourdough in olive oil, garlic, and salt.
  • Shortcut dressing: Blend mayo, lemon juice, garlic, Parmesan, and Worcestershire if you’re short on time.

 

Chef Ed’s Grilled Chicken

 

Chef Ed’s Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad with Bacon