What is Wendy's Caesar dressing made of?

Wendy’s uses a creamy Caesar dressing that includes Parmesan cheese, garlic, lemon, anchovy paste, and a blend of spices. Our homemade version mimics that with real, fresh ingredients and no preservatives.

What’s on a Wendy’s Caesar Salad?

Caesar dressing, grilled chicken breast, shaved Parmesan, crunchy Parmesan crisps, and chopped romaine lettuce are all included. You can customize this at home with croutons, cherry tomatoes, or your favorite add-ins.

What is the secret ingredient in a Caesar salad?

Anchovy paste! Even in small amounts, it adds a rich, salty depth that gives Caesar dressing its iconic flavor. Don’t skip it—even people who dislike anchovies often don’t realize it’s there.

Is a Caesar Salad from Wendy’s healthy?

While it’s better than many fast-food meals, it can be calorie-dense. Making it at home allows you to reduce fat, sodium, and processed ingredients for a fresher and lighter version.

Homemade Wendy’s Caesar Salad: 1 Perfect Copycat You’ll Love

Ingredients

Scale

1 large head romaine lettuce, chopped

2 grilled chicken breasts, sliced

1/4 cup shaved Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup homemade Caesar dressing (see notes)

Optional: baked Parmesan crisps or garlic croutons

Fresh lemon wedges for garnish

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Instructions

1. Wash and dry romaine lettuce thoroughly, then chop and add to a large salad bowl.

2. Season and grill chicken breasts until cooked through; let rest and slice.

3. In a separate bowl, prepare Caesar dressing (see notes).

4. Add lettuce to bowls or plates and top with grilled chicken.

5. Sprinkle shaved Parmesan and add Parmesan crisps or croutons.

6. Drizzle Caesar dressing on top and serve with lemon wedges.

Notes

For the dressing: whisk together 1/2 cup mayo, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan, 1 tsp anchovy paste, 1 clove minced garlic, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 tbsp lemon juice, and 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce.

For crispier texture, refrigerate salad ingredients separately and assemble just before serving.

Swap chicken for tofu or salmon to customize.

Dressing stores well in the fridge for 5–6 days.

Author: EmilyFrost
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: Salad
Method: Grill
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 salad bowl
Calories: 390
Sugar: 3g
Sodium: 680mg
Fat: 22g
Saturated Fat: 5g
Unsaturated Fat: 15g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 11g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 34g
Cholesterol: 85mg