Gluten-Free Caesar Salad with Croutons
By the Gluten Free Recipes team ·
Crisp romaine lettuce is tossed in a creamy, tangy homemade Caesar dressing, complemented by satisfyingly crunchy gluten-free croutons. This salad offers a delightful balance of fresh, savory, and zesty flavors with a satisfying textural contrast.
At a glance: This easy salads and sides recipe yields 4 servings in about 25 minutes (5 min prep, 20 min cook). It uses 12 ingredients — including romaine lettuce, gluten-free bread, extra virgin olive oil — and walks through 5 steps. Updated . Browse more salads and sides recipes or return to all gluten-free recipes.
Cross-Contamination Warning for Gluten-Free Caesar Salad with Croutons: When preparing this salads and sides recipe, in a shared kitchen, avoid porous materials — wooden spoons, wooden cutting boards, and scratched non-stick pans can harbor gluten proteins even after washing. Prefer glass, metal, or silicone tools. Some Worcestershire sauces contain malt vinegar (from barley); use a certified gluten-free version.
Gluten-Free Notes for Gluten-Free Caesar Salad with Croutons: This recipe is naturally gluten-free by using certified gluten-free bread and ensuring all other ingredients are free from gluten-containing grains.
Ingredients
- 1 lb Romaine lettuce, chopped
- 2 cups Gluten-free bread, cubed
- 2 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 clove Garlic, minced
- 0.5 cup Mayonnaise (verify GF)
- 2 tbsp Lemon juice, fresh
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard (verify GF)
- 1 clove Garlic, minced
- 0.5 tsp Worcestershire sauce (verify GF)
- 0.25 cup Parmesan cheese, grated (optional)
- 0.5 tsp Salt
- 0.25 tsp Black pepper
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). In a medium bowl, toss the cubed gluten-free bread with 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil and the minced garlic. Spread the bread cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp, turning halfway through. Remove from oven and let cool completely.
- 2
While the croutons are baking, prepare the Caesar dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, fresh lemon juice, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, and gluten-free Worcestershire sauce until well combined and smooth. This should take about 1-2 minutes.
- 3
In a large salad bowl, combine the chopped romaine lettuce with the prepared Caesar dressing. Gently toss the lettuce to ensure every leaf is evenly coated with the creamy dressing. This process should take about 1-2 minutes.
- 4
Add the cooled gluten-free croutons and grated Parmesan cheese (if using) to the salad. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Toss the salad gently for another minute to distribute the croutons and cheese.
- 5
Serve the gluten-free Caesar salad immediately to enjoy the crispness of the lettuce and croutons. The total preparation and cooking time for this vibrant salad is approximately 25 minutes.
Nutrition (per serving)
Tips & Notes
- If substituting olive oil for butter, use about 3/4 the amount (olive oil is 100% fat, butter is ~80%).
- Freshly grated Parmesan melts better and has far more flavor than pre-grated powders.
- Zest the lemon before juicing — it's nearly impossible to zest after the lemon is squeezed.
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